Nurturing and Celebrating Our Future Leaders

Feb. 1, 2010
It's not enough to ensure that our workplaces are safe today. We have to ensure they will be safe in 10, 20 or 30 years, when we're not around anymore.

I look in the mirror and my recently Lasiked eyes don't see the “real” me. They see the person I was 10 years ago. I'd like to think I look young for my age, but in truth, I'm now the person that I used to think of as old.

I won't always be the editor of this magazine. When mine is the winning lottery ticket, I have my name drawn as the winner of the HGTV dream home or retire (whichever comes first), I hopefully will have mentored someone who not only can step into my shoes and fill them, but who can walk much further along the path than I ever dreamed of doing. The same can be said of every EHS professional out there.

Today's best and brightest EHS students will shape the future of this critical profession. More importantly, they will respond to the challenges of the 21st century workplace and lead the way in keeping tomorrow's workers safe, healthy and on the job.

That's why we are proud to announce the launch of Future Leaders, a scholarship program created to recognize and encourage outstanding students in EHS-related programs.

Future Leaders is sponsored by EHS Today, the leading publication for EHS professionals, and PureSafety, the leading provider of innovative, Web-based software and information solutions designed to support and enhance workforce safety and health programs. Both organizations recognize their responsibility to support and promote EHS efforts in all aspects of daily life. By acknowledging and partnering with these future leaders, together we will steer the direction of EHS for future generations of workers, enabling them to return home safely to their families.

“Today's EHS students will shape the future of this critical profession, so it's imperative that we support their efforts to receive a solid education through financial assistance in the form of scholarships, mentoring programs, and sharing with them the important role that technology will play in their ability to keep their workforce safe and healthy, while also driving meaningful business results,” said William A. Grana Jr., president and CEO of PureSafety.

“Over the past several years, we've talked to hundreds of students through our University Outreach program and time and again, they told us that they were unaware of the vast technical resources that are available to them,” Grana added. “These tools will play a large role in their future profession and we are excited to team up with EHS Today to support and educate these future leaders so they are at the forefront of EHS management best practices.”

Requirements for consideration as Future Leaders includes, but is not limited to:

  • An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher with at least a 3.25 GPA in EHS-related courses.
  • Three recommendations from professors or professional mentors.
  • Three documented examples of outreach to the student's local community or broader EHS community.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges consisting of EHS editors, representatives from PureSafety, members of EHS Today's Editorial Advisory Board and other industry leaders.

The winner will receive a scholarship of $5,000 from EHS Today and PureSafety and will serve on the EHS Editorial Advisory Board for 2 years. The winner and runner ups will be profiled in EHS Today.

The program ultimately will expand to include even more opportunities for students, but we're kicking off the scholarship program right now - and asking professors, academic advisors, program administrators and EHS professionals to get involved by identifying top students and helping them apply.

We'll keep you updated as the Future Leaders program expands. Meanwhile, please join us in supporting and promoting those who will go on to make our profession stronger and our workplaces safer, healthier and more productive. Visit the Future Leaders in EHS Web site for more information and to download an application.

Send an e-mail with your thoughts to [email protected].

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

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