This award recognizes an experienced safety professional who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to mentorship. Their influence extends beyond technical knowledge, fostering leadership, engagement, and a culture of continuous improvement in occupational safety and health.

Criteria:

• Community: Actively cultivates a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the EHS profession, including engagement with ASSP or similar organizations.
• Leadership: Demonstrates a sustained record of mentorship, guiding professionals in their careers and leadership development.
• Excellence: Models the highest professional standards, advancing the safety profession through mentorship.
• Accountability: Provides reliable, ethical, and constructive mentorship, ensuring mentees receive meaningful support.
• Respect: Fosters an inclusive and welcoming environment for mentees of diverse backgrounds, encouraging diverse perspectives in safety and health.
• ASSP Connection: Supports the advancement of ASSP’s mission, vision, and values through mentorship, professional development, or advocacy within the safety community.

Named in honor of Samantha Wooten, an emerging leader in occupational safety and health whose journey into the profession was shaped by mentorship and the power of community. After her father was killed in a workplace tragedy, Wooten was introduced to ASSP through its Family Scholarship program. The support and guidance she received from ASSP mentors inspired her to change careers, ultimately dedicating herself to improving workplace safety and paying that mentorship forward. She became a passionate advocate for new professionals, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for those entering the field.

This award recognizes an early- to mid-career EHS professional who demonstrates leadership in fostering the next generation of safety leaders.

Criteria:

• Community: Encourages professional engagement and networking among peers, students and early career safety professionals, including participation in industry organizations such as ASSP.
• Leadership: Takes initiative in supporting, mentoring, and empowering others, despite being early in their career.
• Excellence: Strives for professional growth and helps others navigate their early career challenges.
• Accountability: Serves as a reliable role model for professionalism, integrity, and continuous learning.
• Respect: Demonstrates inclusivity and support for diverse mentees, promoting equity in mentorship.
• ASSP Connection: Contributes to the safety profession in a way that aligns with ASSP’s mission and values, whether through direct involvement or indirect support of its objectives.

This volunteer task force will review nominations for two ASSP Member awards that recognize outstanding dedication to mentorship and leadership development in the environmental, safety and health profession. These awards honor individuals who make a lasting impact by guiding and inspiring others. These awards celebrate mentorship at different career stages, ensuring the growth and development of EHS leaders. 

The ASSP Foundation/BCSP Distinguished Mentor Award recognizes an experienced safety professional who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to mentorship. Their influence extends beyond technical knowledge, fostering leadership, engagement, and a culture of continuous improvement in occupational safety and health.

The ASSP Foundation/BCSP Wooten Next Generation Award is named in honor of Samantha Wooten, an emerging leader in occupational safety and health whose journey into the profession was shaped by mentorship and the power of community. After her father was killed in a workplace tragedy, Wooten was introduced to ASSP through its Family Scholarship program. The support and guidance she received from ASSP mentors inspired her to change careers, ultimately dedicating herself to improving workplace safety and paying that mentorship forward. She became a passionate advocate for new professionals, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for those entering the field. This award recognizes an early- to mid-career EHS professional who demonstrates leadership in fostering the next generation of safety leaders.

Members of this task force will be expected to review nomination forms for both awards via Submittable. We anticipate that this will take no more than 10 hours of review over 2-4 weeks, running from March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026. If selected for the Task Force, the ASSP Foundation will be in touch via email with next steps early next year. 

This volunteer task force will review essay questions from our scholarship applications. There are six essay questions and we anticipate that members will review up to 50 applications. 

 Members of this task force will be expected to review nomination forms via Openwater. All applications will be blind - reviewers will not know the name of the student applications they are reviewing. We anticipate that this will take an average of 15-20 hours of review, running from the end of February 2026 to early April 2026. If selected for the Task Force, the ASSP Foundation will be in touch via email with next steps and instructions for accessing the portal in early 2026. 

Members of this task force must be ASSP members in good standing without a background in academia.