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| Senior Sarah Reynolds earned the Oakland University Student Organization President of the Year award for her work with ASSE. |
By Katie Land, news editor
Oakland University senior Sarah Reynolds earned the Oakland University Student Organization President of the Year award for her commitment to the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) OU Student Section and the Occupational Safety and Health Program.
Her individual award from Oakland’s Center of Student Activities came at virtually the same time as the entire OU group won the national Outstanding Student Section Award through the ASSE organization.
“In the past year that I was president, I have put my heart into this section to make it the best I could make it,” Reynolds said. “Winning both awards together is such a big accomplishment for us.”
Reynolds currently serves as the ASSE Oakland University Student Section president and will graduate this August from Oakland’s Occupational Safety and Health Program. Reynolds is also a member of the ASSE Management Practice Specialty.
“I have so many opportunities to enhance my professional development,” Reynolds said. “Attending leadership and professional conferences and participating in our Mentoring Program … has allowed me to have real-world experience and exposure in the safety profession.”
The national award will be presented to Reynolds and Aaron Bird, the student section faculty advisor, at ASSE’s SAFETY 2009 professional development conference in San Antonio this summer.
The university will receive a $6,000 award, with $4,000 designated toward scholarships, $1,000 toward student travel to SAFETY 2009 and $1,000 to the faculty advisor to further student research.
“Within ASSE, I have had the opportunity to give back to our community by donating to local food banks, along with participating in Oakland’s Relay for Life,” Reynolds said. “ASSE has also given me the opportunity to network with students and professionals within the safety profession.”
Devoted to the organization, Reynolds believes her involvement has made her more marketable and will make her a better safety professional.
“Within ASSE, students have the opportunity to be involved in research projects, attend conferences throughout the U.S. to enhance their professional development, and most importantly, students have the opportunity to network,” Reynolds continued. “Within the past two years I have met many students and professionals who have taught me so much.”
Her major goals as president were to form a stronger organization built on teamwork, increased participation and improved communication between the executive board and other student members. Her results were an 83 percent increase in new members, the highest percentage increase of any Oakland student organization.
Encouraging all students to get involved in an organization on campus, Reynolds particularly supports finding an organization relating to their major or profession. This can only help by improving professional development skills and enhancing leadership skills, she said.
Armed with both energy and determination, Reynolds plans to run for an officer position within the Greater Detroit Chapter of ASSE and start graduate classes for a public health degree in January 2010.
For more information or to join Oakland’s Student Section of ASSE, visit the Web site at
www.oakland.edu/org/asse/.
