American Society of Safety Engineers News |
Michael Nowak |
for immediate release |
DES PLAINES, IL (June 28, 2005) — Recognizing his commitment to safety education, Dr. Carter J. Kerk, P.E., CSP, CPE, of Rapid City, SD, is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Foundation. Dr. Kerk received the award during ASSE's Professional Development Conference this June 12 in New Orleans.
The ASSE Foundation Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have helped continue the Foundation's mission of advancing the safety, health and environmental profession through research, scholarships and professional development. Dr. Kerk previously served as Vice-Chair and Trustee for the ASSE Foundation and also as the Chair of its scholarship awards committee. As part of the award, a $2,000 scholarship in Dr. Kerk's name will be presented next spring to an occupational safety and health undergraduate.
ASSE Foundation Chair Kennith D. Brock, CSP, said, " Dr. Kerk not only made a difference to the Foundation, but also to countless student members, ASSE and the profession. During his term as a Foundation Trustee, chapter donations increased from four percent to 24 percent, Bechtel developed a construction safety scholarship program, and five chapters established a scholarship program as a result of his efforts."
An ASSE member for over 10 years, Dr. Kerk is an associate professor at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT), and he specializes in education, research and consulting in ergonomics, human factors, biomechanics and safety engineering. He has also taught at Texas A&M University and worked for Dorsey Laboratories, Central Nebraska Tubing and the Nebraska Energy Office. He has a B.S. and an M.S. in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska as well as a Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. He also chaired the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics (NACE).
Chartered in 1990, the ASSE Foundation is committed to ensuring the future of the occupational safety and health profession by providing financial resources to individuals and organizations. Funding for the Foundation comes from corporations and voluntary donations from ASSE members - individual and through chapters countrywide for applied safety research, scholarships, fellowships, internships and professional development. For more information on the Foundation and its programs visit www.asse.org/foundat.htm.
Formed in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and has more than 30,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members who manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor and education. For more information check ASSE's website at www.asse.org.