Calgary Safety Specialist Awarded for Outstanding Achievements

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Columbia Southern University (CSU), a leading safety educator, recently awarded its annual Outstanding Safety Professional of the Year Award to Sarah McCurdy of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

CSU’s occupational safety and health faculty members selected McCurdy, who holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health from the CSU, and runner-up James Junkin, who also holds a bachelor’s in occupational safety and health. Junkin is a native of Reform, Alabama.

McCurdy, a senior occupational hygienist at SunCor Energy Inc., loves that her job allows her to help employees stay safe. “I enjoy operational based work where I can support them with being able to recognize their occupational hygiene hazards and help them develop sustainable programs so they can live a long healthy life,” explained McCurdy.

She is well-qualified to do so as she has earned designations as a Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist, Canadian Registered Safety Professional and Radiation Safety Officer. She has been recognized as one of the Top Women in Safety in 2022 and 2021 by Canadian Occupational Safety. McCurdy is also involved with various national safety organizations, including serving in various officer positions of the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists from 2018 through 2022. McCurdy has participated in volunteer work with Big Brother Big Sister of Canada.

Outstanding Safety Professional Runner-up Junkin, who has more than 10 years of success across the oil, gas and safety industries, is the president of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services in New Orleans. He holds designations as Associate Safety Professional (ASP®), Certified Safety Professional (CSP®) and Certified Safety and Health Official. He is a member of the ASSP of Greater Baton Rouge chapter. Junkin began his work in occupational safety and health in 2010 in response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

The Outstanding Safety Professional Award was established by CSU to recognize National Safety Month, observed annually in June, and to celebrate occupational safety and health students and graduates for their commitments to safety, professionalism and their accomplishments.

About Columbia Southern University

For more than 25 years, Columbia Southern University has been a leader in occupational safety and health education. Taught by experienced safety experts, CSU’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in occupational safety and health are recognized by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as Graduate Safety Practitioner® Qualified Academic Programs. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more.