The Golden Seed Award
This award is to be given to an individual who has made significant contributions to industrial hygiene in the area of student development, mentoring or early career guidance. The recipient is a national AIHA member and must have demonstrated a commitment to promoting the profession of industrial hygiene, advancing the profession among students and early career professionals.
Learn more about the nomination process.
Previous awardees are highlighted here:
2011: Dr. James McGlothlin, professor at Purdue University, was awarded the 2011 Golden Seed Award for his commitment to the field of industrial hygiene, both inside and outside the classroom. Nominations were received from the Indiana Local AIHA Section, the Purdue Student Local Section (PIHSA), students, and colleagues that he has touched through his involvement in the field of industrial hygiene. The nominations described how Dr. McGlothlin has inspired students to move into or continue to grow in the field of industrial hygiene, energizing them about the field, the opportunities and the effect they can have on the health and lives of workers. They pointed out how he shares his expertise, creating opportunities for them to be involved in a variety of projects and providing them with challenging and innovative learning experiences. One of the opportunities Dr. McGlothlin created was the annual summer study-abroad program, which allows students to learn industrial hygiene around the world. The nominations discussed his active participation with the Indiana Local Section and support and engagement with the Purdue Student Local Section and how he diligently works to involve students in AIHA committees and activities, which has helped introduce “new blood” into the field and into AIHA, enabling them to become leaders in the future of industrial hygiene. With his help, PIHSA has won AIHA Student Local Section of the Year Award in 1999 and 2009.
2010: Dr. Dennis Cesarotti, professor for Northern Illinois University Department of Engineering and Technology, was awarded the 2010 Golden Seed Award for his commitment to the field of industrial hygiene, both inside and outside the classroom. Nominations from faculty, students, previous employees and colleagues highlighted his passion, his willingness to share his time and gifts, talents, keen-eye and expertise with others who wish to learn and his commitment to the development of knowledgeable professionals (inside and outside the classroom). Due to his challenging and fun teaching style and his engagement with undergraduate and graduate students, the Department of Health and Safety at the University of Illinois experienced growth during the recent economic downturn. Many of his students recognized Dr. Cesarotti as the professor that made a long-lasting impact in their life. Dr. Cesarotti passed away in January of 2010. His dedication to the field and his selfless commitment to the growth and development of industrial hygienists have earned him the Golden Seed Award for 2010.
2009: Julia Rosen, a certified industrial hygienist for the University of Arizona’s Risk Management, was awarded the 2009 Golden Seed Award for her commitment to students in Arizona’s industrial hygiene program. Nominations from faculty and students highlighted her enthusiastic involvement with the Arizona student local section of AIHA. Julia was also instrumental in coordinating Student Night with the AZ Local Section, soliciting the assistance of IH students to fit-test incoming medical residents, and coordinating fundraising events for the student section (tours at the UA Mirror lab and selling hearing protection at University-sponsored concerts). In addition, she continues to volunteer to provide lectures on a variety of industrial hygiene topics for MPH students and has served as preceptor for internships and advisor for technical report projects to countless students. Julia has worked to mentor early career professionals by helping mentor junior faculty in practical aspects of industrial hygiene. Her dedication to the field and to providing students with practical skills, both technical and communication, have earned Julia the Golden Seed Award for 2009.
2008: Andrew Burgie, from the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH) at Hunter College, was awarded the 2008 Golden Seed for his extraordinary involvement in community outreach. Among Andrew's many accomplishments are the incorporation of industrial hygiene into the science curriculum for multiple outlets, including preparation courses for the NY State Regent's exam in chemistry, and a course on environmental monitoring for the "Building Works" program which he himself teaches.
2007: The inaugural award was presented to Kent Oestenstad, PhD, CIH, from the University of Alabama "for cultivating interest in the profession among students through his tireless dedication to the AIHce Graduate Poster session for over a decade."