DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS (August 7, 2001) -- The St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently presented the ASSE Foundation with a $1,000 check to be directed to the James P. Kohn Memorial Scholarship fund. The funds were raised by the chapter's annual golf outing tournament.

Chris Patton, vice-president of the St. Louis Chapter, said, "The donation comes from our own scholarship fund, the James Hoag Memorial Scholarship. We felt the Foundation's scholarship fund, in memory of Kohn, is a worthy recipient of this money."

Kohn, Ed. D., CSP, CIH, was an outstanding and dedicated member of ASSE, serving on numerous committees as well as vice president of ASSE's Region VI. Kohn served as a professor at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.

Hoag, P.E., CSP, former ASSE president and St. Louis Chapter president, was also a highly recognized member of ASSE, receiving several awards including the ASSE Fellow Award and Safety Professional of the Year Award from his local St. Louis Chapter and Region IV.

Funding for the Foundation comes from corporations and ASSE members - individual and through chapters countrywide. It was reported at the annual ASSE conference in June that the total number of ASSE members supporting the Foundation has increased by 25 percent over the past four years.

The increase in support of the Foundation comes at a critical time. Federal agencies such as the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are reporting a drop in the number of students entering the field of occupational safety and health while the need for the expertise is on the rise nationally and internationally.

Through its programs the ASSEF is committed to ensuring the future of the occupational safety and health profession by providing financial resources to individuals and organizations. Each year the Foundation awards funds for applied safety research, scholarships, fellowships, internships and professional development. Applications for these awards are available on-line at www.asse.org/foundat.htm.

Founded in 1911, ASSE is the oldest and largest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property, and the environment. Its 32,000 members manage, supervise, and consult on safety, health, and environmental issues in industry, insurance, government and education. www.asse.org.