Society of Industrial Hygiene and Safety Professionals (SIHSP)
At University of Houston Clear Lake
New Incoming 2026-27 SIHSP Officers
President: Rhonda Zaher (MS)
Vice President: Caleb Guldedava (BS)
Secretary: Jose Macias (MS)
Treasurer: Courtney McKinley (BS)
Supporting roles
Communications: Jasleen Escudero-Rios (MS)
Student Government Representative(SGA) Representative:
Ethan Bradt (BS)
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Past officers
UHCL Student Section Officers through Spring 2026
New officers:
President: Courtney McKinley (BS)
Vice President: Eric Huysman (MS)
Secretary: Isaac Tanner
Treasurer: Mikia Edomobi (MS)
Supporting Positions:
Communications: Jorge Romero (BS)
SGA Representative 1: Michael Gonzalez (BS)
SGA Representative 2: Daniellie Barber (BS)
Scholarships and Awards
Gulf Coast – American Industrial Hygiene Association
(GCS-AIHA) Scholarship Fund 2026 Criteria
Eligibility
- Currently enrolled at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston or the University of Houston - Clear Lake
- Maintains a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
- Currently pursuing a bachelor, graduate, or doctoral degree in the industrial hygiene program or with an emphasis or concentration in industrial hygiene
- Enrolled for Fall 2026
Award Amount - $4,000 for the fall semester
Frequency - Award recipient is eligible to receive the scholarship a maximum of two times throughout their educational career
GPA Minimum - Cumulative 3.0 GPA
Course Load Requirement - Full or Part time
Max Number of Awards/Amount - 2 awards for 2026
Recommendation Form - Recommendation form completed by 1 academic or professional reference
Application Available in Spanish? - No
Essay Question(s)
- Please provide a statement of academic and career goals. Include your relevant current and past academic accomplishments.
- Please describe how you anticipate using this scholarship award, including your financial need.
Scoring Rubric -
Academics – 50
Financial Need – 10
Essays – 20
Recommendation form – 20
Total – 100
Notes - GCS-AIHA will contact recipients to invite them to attend a GCS-AIHA meeting to give a presentation.
Industrial Hygiene Presentation:
Award recipients will be given the opportunity to give a brief presentation either on their thesis or dissertation topic or an industrial hygiene-related topic of interest.
• The presentation typically takes place within a year of receiving the scholarship at one of the regularly scheduled GCS-AIHA meetings.
• Interested recipients can give an online or in-person presentation.
Gulf Coast AIHA Scholarship 2026 Application Information
GC AIHA Scholarships Awardees by Year
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James Hammond Award
Objectives
To encourage excellence among area industrial hygiene students and recent graduates.
To recognize for outstanding accomplishments of student(s) and/or recent graduate(s) enrolled in a program of industrial hygiene or health related fields within the geographic boundaries of the local section.
This award was established in 1980 by the local section in honor of James W. Hammond, who, having given many years of outstanding service to both the local section and to the field of industrial hygiene, is exemplary of the outstanding character for which this award is given.
James Hammond was one of the original founders of the local section, served as its President in 1952, and has continued to support it as Director, counselor, and member for many years. In 1987, he was awarded honorary membership in both the National AIHA and the local section. He served as Professor and Program Head for Industrial Hygiene at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston from 1978 until his retirement in 1987. Previous to this experience, he was Director of Industrial Hygiene at Exxon Company USA, where he contributed over 31 years of service to the company and its employees.
Among his many honors and accomplishments are Certification in Comprehensive Practice by the ABIH, Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas, Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, selected to receive the Henry F. Smyth Award in 1982 from the AIHA, and a member of Who's Who in Engineering. He had over 25 publications to his credit.
Nominations
To qualify for consideration, a candidate must either be a current student or a recent graduate (i.e., less than one year since graduation from an industrial hygiene, environmental, or health related program at a university within the geographic boundaries of the local section).
In January, the AIHA Gulf Coast Nominations & Awards Committee will solicit names of candidates both from the program heads of universities known to have qualified industrial hygiene, environmental, or health programs, and also by publishing a notice in the local section website.
Resumes and other pertinent information regarding each candidate should be sent to the AIHA Gulf Coast Nominations and Awards Director: Tatum Gillespie at [email protected]
The AIHA Gulf Coast Nominations & Awards Committee will evaluate the candidates on the basis of academic achievements, research, publications, and other contributions to the field of industrial hygiene that are of an outstanding nature.
The AIHA Gulf Coast Nominations & Awards Committee will oversee the selection of this award and announce the recipient of the award at the May or June meeting.