The Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board (ORSSAB) welcomed a new student representative at its monthly meeting. Lara Manning will serve on the board for a one-year term through April 2017.

ORSSAB is a federally chartered citizens’ panel that provides recommendations to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge Environmental Management Program, which is responsible for the cleanup of the Oak Ridge Reservation. Each year the board seats non-voting student representatives from area high schools to engage the perspectives of local students on environmental issues.

Sue Cange, Manager for DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, introduced Lara at the advisory board meeting in May. “Welcome and thank you in advance for your service. We look forward to you being a part of the board this year,” said Cange.

Board chair Belinda Price added a note of gratitude as well. “Thank you, Lara. We appreciate your time and commitment and are pleased to have you join us on the advisory board.”

Lara will be a senior at Oak Ridge High School in the fall. Her studies in advanced placement environmental science led to her interest in serving on the site-specific advisory board and learning more about DOE’s cleanup efforts in the Oak Ridge community.

Her studies in environmental science coincide with a love of nature and outdoor activities, especially hiking the many trails and greenways in and around Oak Ridge. As a summer pastime, Lara plans to go on a different hike each weekend.

Also a talented musician, Lara dedicates much of her time to playing piano and writing her own songs and lyrics for piano. She plays cello in the Oak Ridge High School orchestra, participates in the ensemble choir, and composes both orchestral and choral pieces.

Lara looks forward to taking over her responsibilities as ORSSAB’s student representative for 2016-2017.

ORSSAB meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the DOE Information Center located at 1 Science.gov Way in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Additional information about the board and its student representatives is available online at www.energy.gov/orssab or by calling ORSSAB staff at (865) 241-4583 or 241-4584.