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The National Safety Council honored the recipients of this year’s Safety for All Scholarship at the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando. The NSC Safety for All Scholarship supports students from diverse backgrounds who are pursuing safety as a career.
Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky
Year of Study: Graduate Student
Major: Master of Science in Environmental Health and Safety
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Commitment to Safety and Academic Excellence
Asia Blanton is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental health and safety to build a strong foundation as a safety professional, aiming for a career in the construction industry. She has a 3.0 GPA and is a member of the Rho Sigma Kappa safety honors fraternity, showcasing her dedication to academic success and leadership. Asia is determined to set a powerful example for her family as the first in her family to earn a graduate degree. Her journey is motivated by her goal of creating a better future for herself and her younger family members who look up to her.
Focus on Safety for All in the Construction Industry
Asia plans to bring her unique perspective as a young woman of color into the male-dominated construction industry, where diversity and inclusion are key to progress and crucial for boosting innovation, productivity and employee engagement. Asia is committed to being a resource and role model within her future organization, going beyond regulatory requirements to create a workplace where diverse voices are valued and supported.
Midlands Technical College, Columbia, South Carolina
Year of Study: Sophomore
Major: Nursing
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2027
Background and Interests
Nyala Brooks is a passionate nursing student at Midlands Technical College with a strong focus on health and safety. She is particularly interested in exploring advanced research and innovative methods to address current and future health and safety challenges.
Motivation for Studying Health and Safety
Nyala chose to study health and safety because of the profound, global impact these fields have. Her commitment stems from a belief that everyone deserves a safe and healthy environment. She values the interdisciplinary nature of her studies, which span public health, engineering, environmental science and psychology, providing her with a broad and comprehensive education.
Commitment to Safety for All
Nyala is focused on reducing disparities by engaging with underrepresented communities and advocating for equitable policies. Her approach combines research, education and community outreach to create impactful, evidence-based solutions tailored to marginalized populations. Nyala aims to ensure that health and safety resources and opportunities are accessible to all.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro
Year of Study: Senior
Major: Environmental Health and Safety
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Background and Interests
Amaya Fisher is a senior studying environmental health and safety at North Carolina A&T State University. With a keen attention to detail and a naturally risk-averse mindset, Amaya quickly discovered that her qualities aligned well with a career in EHS, where she can make a meaningful impact on the safety and wellbeing of others.
Motivation for Studying Safety
Amaya’s commitment to EHS stems from a desire to ensure a safe and healthy environment for both humans and other living beings. She felt an immediate connection to the safety field, as its core principles mirror her personal values. Amaya aims to empower people through education on maintaining a safe environment, ensuring that her approach is inclusive and considers diverse populations. She is particularly focused on developing safety programs that account for disabled individuals, especially in emergency scenarios, and she is dedicated to prioritizing safety for all, regardless of background or ability.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro
Year of Study: Junior
Major: Environmental Health and Safety
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2026
Safety is Personal
For Lillian Johnson, safety is more than a field of study — it’s a personal mission. She became determined to reduce workplace injuries after witnessing a severe accident where a coworker slipped on black ice, resulting in multiple fractures and an eight-month recovery period. This experience inspired her commitment to ensuring that everyone can return safely to their families at the end of the day.
Focus on Safety for All
Lillian is deeply interested in the intersection of mental health and psychological safety in the workplace. She believes that addressing these aspects is crucial to reducing rates of suicide, overdoses and depression in the workforce, fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment.
Memorable NSC Experience
Lillian’s attendance at the 2023 NSC Safety Congress & Expo was a highlight of her academic journey so far. The naloxone training session stood out as particularly impactful. This hands-on experience equipped her with the skills and confidence to potentially save a life, reinforcing her commitment to safety and wellbeing in the workplace.
Delaware State University
Year of Study: First Year Graduate Student
Major: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2026
Journey to Nursing and Mental Health Advocacy
Alexandria Kimble’s path to mental health nursing was sparked by a traumatic rollercoaster accident in 2018 that significantly impacted her mental health. After undergoing a challenging recovery process, she was inspired to pursue nursing, beginning her career in the trauma intensive care unit. Here, she developed a strong rapport with patients, particularly those from underserved communities who struggled with mental health and substance use challenges. Her natural ability to connect with patients and her commitment to safety led to her receiving the Southside Regional Key Excellence Community Cares Award. This experience, combined with her passion for therapeutic communication, inspired her to advance her career as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Commitment to Safety for All
Alexandria is dedicated to narrowing healthcare disparities by providing quality mental health care to underserved communities. Her goal is to establish a private psychiatric practice offering accessible and affordable mental health services, including virtual options. She aims to educate both patients and fellow healthcare providers about patient safety and preventative care, with a focus on addressing literacy and socioeconomic barriers. Alexandria plans to lead mandatory trainings and community seminars, emphasizing the importance of patient safety in reducing disparities and promoting equity.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida
Year of Study: Second Year Master's Program
Major: Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2025
Background
Luis Maldonado, a first-generation Mexican-American and naturalized U.S. citizen since 2019, was shaped by his family’s journey from Mexico to Forks, Washington, a small, close-knit town with a predominantly non-diverse population. Growing up, he embraced his heritage while setting new academic and career goals, becoming the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree in safety and health management from Central Washington University in 2015. Now enrolled in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s master’s program in occupational safety management, Luis is proud to be the first in his family to pursue a graduate education, driven by a dedication to break new ground.
Motivation to Pursue a Career in Safety
Luis’s commitment to occupational safety was ignited during his time as a wildland firefighter with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, where he learned the crucial role of teamwork and risk mitigation. A turning point came when he attended a safety stand-down meeting with an environmental, health and safety director, where he recognized the profound impact of a career in safety management. This realization led him to study safety and health management, a field he continues to excel in today as a safety specialist at SpaceX. There, he applies his passion for safety culture, training and risk management to make a tangible difference in creating safer work environments.
Impact on Safety for All
Luis envisions promoting safety for all by serving as a role model for young Latinos and minorities aspiring to succeed in this field. His personal journey demonstrates the importance of resilience, self-belief and representation, and he is dedicated to inspiring others from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue their goals. Luis’s long-term vision includes becoming a university professor, where he can mentor and empower future generations of safety professionals, fostering an inclusive academic environment that encourages students of all backgrounds to excel.
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond
Year of Study: Sophomore
Major: Occupational Safety
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2027
Background
Chase Payne is on a path to a meaningful career in environmental, health and safety fields, driven by a commitment to inclusivity and resilience. As a transgender male and proud LGBTQIA+ advocate, Chase has broken barriers by becoming the first individual in the Oklahoma Army National Guard to officially change his gender marker from female to male. This milestone reflects his strength and determination to bring his authentic self into every aspect of life and work, particularly as he champions inclusivity in safety roles both on campus and beyond.
Motivation to Pursue a Degree in Safety
Chase’s path to studying safety began unexpectedly but quickly evolved into a passionate career pursuit. When assigned as the additional duty safety officer in his Army National Guard unit, he initially viewed it as just another task. However, as he delved deeper, he became fascinated by the intricacies of occupational safety and the responsibility it entails. His experiences in the military, where safety is paramount, underscored the critical importance of safety officers in protecting lives. Inspired by the impact he could have in this field, Chase chose to major in environmental studies with the goal of advancing safety and health practices that safeguard diverse populations.
Impact on Safety for All
Chase envisions a more inclusive future within safety by advocating for diverse representation on safety teams, and training and mentorship programs for underrepresented communities. His proactive strategy includes creating accessible support networks for marginalized populations and using data-driven insights to identify and address disparities in safety practices. By engaging directly with diverse communities to understand their specific safety concerns, Chase is prepared to drive meaningful change in safety culture and policy.
Delaware State University, Dover
Year of Study: Freshman
Major: Pre Med
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2028
Passion for Medicine and Safety
From a young age, Naila Sudan aspired to become a doctor, motivated not by financial or societal rewards, but by a deep commitment to helping others. Her drive stems from the need she sees for accessible healthcare, particularly in communities impacted by systemic inequities. Naila’s vision of a medical career is broad, embracing opportunities to address diverse healthcare needs, from treating illness to improving the overall safety and wellbeing of people of color. She sees medicine as a field where she can make a tangible difference and save lives.
Commitment to Safety for All
Naila’s experience with family members navigating complex health conditions has strengthened her resolve to improve the healthcare field. She aims to work toward providing resources and care to those who are often marginalized, whether due to socioeconomic status or race. Her goal is to not only to treat patients but also advocate for better access to healthcare resources for underserved communities.
University of Maryland, College Park
Year of Study: Freshman
Major: Bioengineering
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2028
Passion for Bioengineering and STEM
Lydia Wong’s journey into bioengineering began with her experiences in the Global Ecology Magnet program in high school, where hands-on environmental projects sparked her interest in scientific exploration. During a summer internship at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, she studied a drug compound for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This experience captivated her and solidified her desire to explore bioengineering, a field with wide-reaching possibilities from artificial organ design to medical equipment innovation. Lydia’s goal is to blend her knowledge of biology and engineering to enhance health outcomes for people worldwide.
Commitment to Safety for All in STEM
Lydia has experienced the contrasts in inclusivity within STEM classes firsthand. In her AP Biology classes, she felt supported by classmates, most of whom were women from ethnic minority backgrounds. However, her experience in AP Chemistry and AP Computer Science, where male students dominated, revealed how isolating STEM fields can be for young women. These experiences have motivated her to advocate for inclusivity in engineering. Lydia plans to create an organization to encourage young girls to pursue STEM and safety careers. Her vision is to create a supportive environment that is psychologically safe for future generations of women and minority students in STEM fields.
Emma Conkey
Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire
Year of Study: Senior
Major: Safety and Occupational Health Applied Sciences
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2024
Path to Safety and Construction
Emma Conkey’s interest in safety began with her hands-on experience in the trades. While attending a technical high school, Emma studied HVAC and worked as a co-op student for a commercial HVAC company. Her time as a tradesperson gave her valuable insight into the daily challenges of technical work and helped her recognize her desire to make a positive impact on others’ wellbeing. Emma was drawn to a safety career, where she could incorporate her technical skills, advocate for worker welfare and help create safer workplaces. Her internships with a mechanical subcontractor and a general contractor have further shaped her understanding of safety, preparing her to engage directly with workers and ensure their voices are heard.
Commitment to Addressing Key Safety Issues
Emma believes that one of the most pressing issues in safety today is work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), particularly in industries like construction and manufacturing, where repetitive and strenuous tasks are common. She is also deeply concerned about the link between WMSDs and opioid dependency, as workers often resort to prescription opioids for pain management, increasing the risk of addiction and overdose. To combat these issues, Emma advocates for proactive measures such as ergonomic equipment, task rotation and accessible overdose kits, which include life-saving tools like Narcan.
Career Vision
Emma’s goal is to become a leader in the safety industry, improving workplace conditions by proactively addressing both physical and mental health issues. With her background in the trades and a passion for safety science, she is committed to making workplaces safer, more inclusive and more responsive to the changing needs of workers. Emma’s vision is to reduce the prevalence of injuries and support the wellbeing of workers, ensuring they can thrive both on and off the job.
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