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CSHEMA is accepting Scholarship Applications from November 3rd through March 31st, 2026
CSHEMA bestows the following awards and honors yearly.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Dr. Fay Thompson Scholarship
CSHEMA offers a $3,000 scholarship (and a waiver to attend the CSHEMA annual conference) to encourage the study of environmental and occupational health, safety, and related disciplines. The program is open to all college undergraduate students who
- Are enrolled in majors geared toward an EHS career (such as, but not limited to, environmental science, fire protection, health physics, industrial engineering, industrial hygiene, occupational health, safety, etc.)
- Are registered as full-time undergraduate students in a 4-year degree-granting course of study.
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS
Innovation Awards
Recognizes higher education institutions of each constituent type (community colleges, comprehensive and doctoral institutions, research universities, and small institutions) in three areas of business and financial administration: process improvement, resource enhancement, and safety culture.
Marketing & Communications Awards
Recognizes campuses that have implemented comprehensive marketing and communications programs, campaigns, or single media initiatives to promote EHS to their communities.
CSHEMA Laboratory Safety Week Awards
Seek to honor the efforts of higher education institutions in promoting CSHEMA’s laboratory safety week through marketing and engagement initiatives. Awards will be provided for each EHS department size (small, medium and large).
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Honorary Life Award
Granted to retired individuals who have made significant and meaningful contributions to EHS programs for at least 10 years as a member of CSHEMA.
Campus Leaders Who Care
Recognizes outstanding involvement and support of senior administrators for their understanding of how important environmental stewardship and health and safety issues are to their institutions.
Excellence in Volunteerism Award
Honors outstanding volunteer service to CSHEMA based on professionals' commitment and success over the last 12 months within the Association.
Rising Star Award
Recognizes those who are new to the safety field and making measurable change at their institution.
Safety Professional Award
The CSHEMA Safety Professional Award seeks to honor individual CSHEMA members who have made significant contributions in the field of safety.
Past Award Winners
2026
Individual Awards
- Safety Professional: Mark Hlebichuk, University of Montana
- Campus Leaders Who Care: Amy Sebring, Virginia Tech
- Excellence in Volunteerism: Beth Welmaker, Nova Southeastern University
- Honorary Life: Francis Churchill, University of Vermont
- Rising Star: Haleigh Machost, University of Minnesota - Duluth
Institutional Awards
- Innovation - Process Improvement (Large): Virginia Commonwealth University
- Innovation - Process Improvement (Medium): California State University - San Marcos
- Innovation - Process Improvement (Small): South Dakota Mines, Carleton College, and St. Olaf College
- Innovation - Resource Enhancement (Large): University of Florida
- Innovation - Resource Enhancement (Medium): California State University - San Marcos
- Innovation - Resource Enhancement (Small): Carleton College
- Innovation - Safety Culture (Large): University of Florida
- Innovation - Safety Culture (Medium): California State University - San Marcos
- Innovation - Safety Culture (Small): Carleton College
Marketing & Communications Awards
- Marketing Campaign (Large): University of Maryland
- Marketing Campaign (Medium): Nova Southeastern University - EHS Updates
- Comprehensive EHS Marketing (Large): University of Florida
- Comprehensive EHS Marketing (Medium): Oklahoma State University
- Single Media (Large): Iowa State University
- Single Media (Medium): Oklahoma State University
- Single Media (Small): Montgomery College - Lab Cleaning
2025
Individual Awards
- Campus Leaders Who Care: Mary Dorman, University of Maryland
- Rising Star: Alicia Musselwhite, Mississippi State University
- Safety Professional: Sharon Coope, Montgomery College
- Honorary Life Award: No Submission
- Excellence in Volunteerism: No Submission
Institutional Awards
- Innovation - Process Improvement (Large): Elizabeth Henry, Georgia Tech - "Respiratory Protection Program - The Maker Protection Program"
- Innovation - Process Improvement (Medium): Tamece Knowles, Florida International University - "Emergency Signage Program Revamp"
- Innovation - Process Improvement (Small): Zoe Harris, Kirkwood Community College - "Used Lamp Storage"
- Innovation - Resource Enhancement (Medium): Alex Christy, Oklahoma State University - "Erosion Control Plan - Daily Construction Review"
- Innovation - Resource Enhancement (Large): Andrea Ladd, University of Wisconsin-Madison - "Biosafety Cabinet Replacement Program"
- Innovation - Safety Culture (Small): Patricia Delaney, Bridgewater State University - "Comprehensive Laboratory Hazardous Materials Assessment"
- Innovation - Safety Culture (Medium): Colorado Robertson, Mississippi State University - "Excellence in Safety - Graded Reviews Initiative"
- Innovation - Safety Culture (Large): Elizabeth Henry, Georgia Tech - "General Safety Team Initiatives"
- Innovation - Resource Enhancement (Small): No Award
Marketing & Communications Awards
- Lab Safety Awareness Week (Large): Cindy Mercado, University of Florida
- Lab Safety Awareness Week (Medium): Michelle Rinehart, University of Texas at Dallas
- Lab Safety Awareness Week (Small): Rachael Dailey, Rollins College
- Marketing Single Media (Small): Zoe Harris, Kirkwood Community College - "Chemical Inventory Training Flier"
- Marketing Single Media (Medium): Tamece Knowles, Florida International University - "EH&S Newsletter, October 2024"
- Marketing Single Media (Medium): Colorado Robertson, Mississippi State University - "Excellence in Safety Message Video"
- Marketing Single Media (Large): Alfred Bouziane, University of Southern California - "USC EH&S Annual Summary for 2024"
- Marketing Campaign (Medium): Tamece Knowles, Florida International University - "FIU EH&S Safety Shoutout Campaign"
- Marketing Campaign (Large): Elizabeth Henry, Georgia Tech - "Chemical Reconciliation Campaign"
- Comprehensive EHS Marketing (Medium): Alex Christy, Oklahoma State University - "Humanizing Safety - EHS Staff Awareness Campaign, Year 2"
- Comprehensive EHS Marketing (Large): Elizabeth Henry, Georgia Tech - "The Makers' Protection Initiative"
- Marketing Campaign (Small): No Submission
- Comprehensive EHS Marketing (Small): No Submission