Award cites courageous, life-saving action

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Bonneville Power Administration, an agency under the U.S. Department of Energy, presented Chehalis, Washington, resident Jeremy Jackson with one of its highest honors as part of the agency’s 2017 Administrator’s Excellence Awards Program.

The annual program honors employees and members of the public whose innovation, initiative, superior service or courageous acts have made exceptional contributions to BPA’s mission, the electric utility industry or the local community.

“These individuals represent excellence in everything they do,” said BPA Administrator Elliot Mainzer. “No matter their corner of the organization or their specific job, they all do their work in the context of a bigger picture and greater cause. They’ve truly made a difference through their tremendous contributions to BPA’s public-service mission.”

Mainzer presented Jackson and two other members of the Chehalis line crew with their award earlier this month during a ceremony at BPA’s Portland, Oregon, headquarters. The line crew received the Administrator’s Award for an Exemplary or Courageous Act. It recognizes BPA individuals or groups for their contributions in a life-saving situation.

In June 2016, Jackson, Kurk Shriver and David Reynolds came upon a scene of a single vehicle accident on a remote highway in eastern Washington. They saw the dusty, bloody victims standing by the roadside. While state patrol was on scene, medical help had not yet arrived. In reaction, the three men used their advanced first aid and accident response training to apply bandages, a neck brace, ice packs, and comfort to the injured family of five.

AEA recipients are nominated by their peers and are evaluated on numerous criteria such as excellence in their chosen field, technical achievement, community outreach and service as an “unsung hero.”