Empowering professionals dedicated to advancing safety excellence.
As part of the National Safety Council Scholarship program, the Advanced Safety Certificate Assistance Program helps support individuals on a safety career path to obtain their NSC Advanced Safety Certificate®. The ASC Assistance program equips individuals transitioning into safety careers or advancing in current safety roles with best practices to build more proactive safety and health programs.
This year, NSC awarded scholarships to five safety heroes to complete the ASC program. Congratulations to all!
Asha-Leigh Ashton is an environmental health and safety specialist who is motivated to make a positive impact through data analytics and effective training methods. Her strong commitment to workplace safety shows in how she uses data to identify trends, close gaps and push for a safer work environment where employees can recognize that their mental and physical wellbeing is a priority. As a safety professional in the grocery wholesale and distribution industry, she works to make sure employees feel informed, engaged and cared for.
Ronald Cole has been working as a determined safety professional for nearly a decade with a proactive approach to making workplaces safer. Although not originally planning for a career in occupational health and safety, Ronald has developed a strong passion for finding innovative solutions to prevent workplace injuries. He began his career in safety at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and currently serves as an operations safety manager for a nationwide power generation organization.
Ian Sarmiento is an operations and EHS manager who actively supports safety for industrial demolition, heavy construction, energy and petrochemical projects all across the nation. He fulfills his passion for protecting workers by building safety programs, implementing digital safety tools and enhancing training to uphold safety in work environments with a high risk for hazards. Ian strives to ensure that safety isn’t just a requirement, but is represented as a core value in every decision, process and project he leads.
Matthew Shrum is an industrial hygienist with the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, where he assesses safety hazards, trains employers to maintain injury-free workplaces and provides consultation services. He has devoted his career to improving employee safety through a lifelong mission to prevent the tragedies of workplace injuries. He’s advancing his safety journey through continuing education, furthering standards and elevating safety culture across Arizona.
Alyssa Vance is a risk management consultant and emergency services professional who has spent over two decades enhancing safety measures for frontline healthcare and emergency response workers. She has a strong track record of facilitating safety best practices, administering safety education programs and making sure employees are better equipped to be safer. Alyssa prioritizes constant progress in protecting the health and wellbeing of others as she uses evidence-based safety practices to keep protocols up to date and champions safety and preparedness.
NSC congratulates these individuals for their commitment to saving lives and preventing injuries. For those interested in applying for a 2026 scholarship award, applications will open in April.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
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