COMMUNICATOR
December 1, 2023

Columbia Southern University Honors Air Force Staff Sergeant With Safety Award

Columbia Southern University recently awarded its second annual Outstanding Safety Professional of the Year Award to student and Air Force Staff Sgt. Brett Kiser.

“I’m truly humbled and proud to represent CSU, which has enabled myself and others to foster a safe work environment, even while deployed in austere and hostile conditions,” said Kiser, who is currently serving in Iraq.

CSU established this award in 2016 in conjunction with National Safety Month to recognize its occupational safety and health students and graduates for their commitment to safety, professionalism and their accomplishments within the industry.

Runners-up for the contest were students Jason Eaves of Manhattan, Kansas and Tricia Sweat of Costa Mesa, California. All three students work as safety managers or specialists. Kiser is pursuing a bachelor’s degree while Sweat and Eaves are working on their master’s degrees in occupational safety and health at CSU.

Both runners-up were thrilled about the recognition.

“It’s an honor to be recognized and respected for what I do every day,” said Sweat, who works for a manufacturer of packaging for commercial products.

“I am glad CSU did something like this for its students. I am very honored,” added Eaves, who is employed by the city of Manhattan.

More than 230 impassioned nominations were sent in as students and recent alumni vied for the honor of Outstanding Safety Professional. The winner and runners-up were judged by CSU occupational safety and health faculty members based on their dedication, professionalism and accomplishments in the field.

Overall, 25 finalists in the competition will be recognized as honorable mention winners. They included:

Francisco Correa Hernandez

Anthony Blodgett

Nathan Benson

Jeff Munford

Kevin McCann

Charles Branch

David Combs

Bobby Sclater

Aaron Vincent

Wardell Wright

Jason Sedivy

Eric St.Pierre

Jessica Schaefer

Ahmed Afifi

Raghuvaran Chakkravarthy

James Ramer

Glenn Speight

Michael Berry

Jennifer Staub Morin

Robert Jones

Scott Gable

Brian Hartlep

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