Young is 2015 Binder Prize Recipient

Seen as “the heart and cornerstone of the Department of Chemistry,” Kim Young, administrative assistant, was selected to receive the 2015 Mary G. Binder Prize, announced the Selection Committee.

The Mary G. Binder Prize honors a member of HMC’s support staff “who combines a record of exceptional service with a truly helpful and friendly attitude toward students, faculty and fellow staff members all across the college.” The prize was established in 1996 by engineering Professor Emeritus Sam Tanenbaum and his wife, Carol, in honor of Carol’s mother. It includes a $750 award, the addition of the recipient’s names to the Mary G. Binder Prize plaque in the Galileo foyer and a commemorative certificate.

Young said, “What an honor! I am thrilled to have received this year’s Binder Prize and to work in such a fantastic department as chemistry. My coworkers, faculty and students make everyday an adventure, and I truly enjoy coming to work.”

Young began working at Harvey Mudd in February 1989 in the Office of College Advancement and transferred to the chemistry department in 1999. The decision to award Young the Mary G. Binder Prize was influenced by many positive comments from nominators:

“Kim is the public face of the department, interacting on a daily basis with every single constituent at the College. … Everyone who interacts with her finds her to be an incredibly friendly, caring and knowledgeable individual. … It is fair to say that Kim thrives on a variety of challenging tasks. She shows great personal initiative, is proactive about making suggestions, is always thinking ahead and is alert for ways to improve even our most routine procedures. … Her position is more than simply performing a broad range of highly skilled secretarial, clerical and administrative duties for the chemistry department. She steers the department into a coherent and functioning unit. … Kim is the heart and cornerstone of our department, contributing to every aspect of the department.”

Young will be honored as the Binder Prize recipient at the annual Harvey Mudd year-end celebration on Monday, May 18.