It is the policy of the Washington State Environmental Health Association that every effort shall be made to identify and reward deserving environmental health practitioners through special recognition by their peers.

Nominees for awards and scholarships must be members of WSEHA with the exception of the "Best EH Story Award" which only a current WSEHA member can nominate. These awards shall be presented annually, (provided a qualified candidate is nominated and selected) during the WSEHA Annual Educational Conference (AEC).

The Nominations and Awards Committee shall consist of eight or more members: the President Elect, Regional Vice Presidents, and two members at large, chosen by the Committee Chair.

Primary responsibility for the identification and selection of qualified candidates shall rest with the Nominations & Awards Committee. The Committee shall solicit nominations for each of the awards of the Association except the Ed Pickett Memorial Scholarship award which is done by the Scholarship Committee.  The Nominations & Awards Committee shall consider the merits of each of the candidates so nominated; and make recommendations to the Board regarding the award of such honors.

Final selection of the candidates for the awards of the Association shall be made by the action of the Board of Directors.

All members of the Association are eligible to be nominated for any of the awards, with the exception of the officers and elected members of the Board of Directors. They are not eligible to receive any of the major awards of the Association, while serving as a member of the Board of Directors.

WSEHA List of Awards Are:   (Click Here for Definitions)

Submit Nominations & Awards Forms by August 27, 2009. 

The Scholarship Committee - The President and the Board of Directors will appoint a three (3) member Scholarship Committee which shall be a subcommittee of the Nominations & Awards Committee.

The Committee members will serve 3 year terms, except for the first year in which the members will draw lots to decide which members shall serve for a 1, 2 and 3 year term respectively. The terms of appointment will be staggered thereafter so there will be one new member appointed to the subcommittee each year for a full three-year term.  At least one member of the sub-committee shall be a faculty member of a college or university environmental health program which has been accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Environmental Health Curricula.

The Association will advise eligible institutions during January (or such other month as may be determined by the Board) of the availability of the Scholarship and request submission of applications.

The Scholarship Committee, meeting with or after having consulted with the environmental health program advisers from each school from which there are applicants, will review and select the scholarship winner(s) based on their academic excellence, community and campus activities, and potential for future contributions to the profession as an environmental health specialist.

If there are funds available for more than one scholarship, one of the scholarships should be awarded to an eligible applicant whose financial need is the primary criterion.

The Scholarship Committee shall inform the Board of Directors, the Institution(s), and the individual(s) of their selection.

The annual budget of the Association shall contain an allocation for the Scholarship Award which shall consist of part or all of the interest derived from the monies invested in the Scholarship Fund. The amount of the award shall be fixed by the Board upon recommendation of the Nominations and Awards and the Finance Committees.

The monetary award, in the form of a check drawn on the Association's account, shall be accompanied by a framed certificate imprinted similar to the example presented on the next page.

Cind Treser Memorial Scholarship Scholarship

The WSEHA scholarship program gives recognition to outstanding and deserving undergraduate students majoring in environmental health (or in an allied discipline) and who intend to take employment in the field of environmental health in Washington State upon completion of the baccalaureate degree requirements.

1. The applicant must be enrolled in a program accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Curricula, or have a curriculum comparable to the model curriculum recommended by the National Accreditation Council, i.e., the program must include substantial coursework in the following areas;

Biology & Microbiology,
Organic & Inorganic Chemistry
Epidemiology
Biostatistics, and
Environmental Health topics (i.e. food protection, air pollution, water and wastewater, solid waste, vector control & house, toxics & hazardous substances, hazardous waste, etc.)

2. Applicant must be a current member of the Washington State Environmental Health Association.

3. Applicant must demonstrate his/her intent to become employed in the field of environmental health in Washington state following graduation.

4. Applicant must have submitted a completed Scholarship Application Form, and be willing to submit a photograph if awarded the scholarship.

5. Applicant must be able to attend the WSEHA Annual Educational Conference to receive the scholarship award.

WSEHA AWARDS MANUAL ON-LINE