CSU Awards Outstanding Safety Professionals

08/10/2016

Columbia Southern University, an educational leader in online safety training, recently awarded two students its first Outstanding Safety Professional Award.

Cheryl Wirkus and John Macahan, both CSU students, were chosen from more than 100 impassioned nominations sent in by CSU Occupational Safety and Health students for fellow OSH students and recent graduates. The pair are seeking bachelor’s degrees in occupational safety and health.

The award was established to help recognize CSU occupational safety and health students and graduates for their commitment to safety, professionalism and their accomplishments in the industry.

Macahan, who works as a HSE director for a construction company in South Louisiana, was thrilled about winning the award. “I am grateful to CSU for this award and this is a great honor to be recognized,” said the Army veteran who expects to graduate from CSU this year.

Macahan added that he enjoys his education with CSU as it “offers students a challenging yet flexible academic workload.”OSP Winners

Wirkus, an ironworker/journeyperson in Wisconsin, was also thankful for her award and education with CSU. “I never thought I would be chosen,” she said excitedly. “I am so surprised and thankful for this award.”

After 17 years in the industry, Wirkus has developed a sincere love of safety and is very glad CSU shares that love. “The occupational safety and health classes are very detailed oriented and really pertain to what you need to know in the field,” she explained. “I fell in love with the CSU program in my first class.”

Honorable mention winners for the Outstanding Safety Professional Award were:

  • April Coleman, a construction safety manager in Los Angeles
  • Jeffrey Hardison, a construction safety manager in Crestview, Ill.,
    • William Thompson, OSH manager in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

CSU offers other online certificate and degree programs in various fields such as human resource management, organizational leadership, fire administration, criminal justice and business administration.