Oct. 19, 2009
A little-known, high-dollar scholarship is benefiting two graduate students in the risk control program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie.
Graduate students Amnesty Kochanowski, of Junction City, and Tyler Murphy, of Plainview, Minn., each have been awarded a $10,000 Erma Byrd Scholarship from the U.S. Department of Education. The program, which was created by the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, provides up to two years of scholarship funding to individuals who are obtaining a degree in a program of study that will lead to a career in industrial health and safety occupations.
Kochanowski, who has worked for the National Park Service as part of the Student Career Employment Program, hopes to become an occupational health and safety manager for a western national park.
“I am grateful to have been awarded this scholarship,” Kochanowski said. “It will allow me to fully focus on classes and to earn this degree debt free.”
Since she will graduate in May with a master’s degree, Kochanowski may also be able to apply it toward her doctoral degree.
Murphy, too, said that the scholarship helped him financially.
“The money allowed me to cancel the entire amount of student loans that I would have taken through financial aid,” Murphy said. “It will also alleviate my final semester’s tuition, as well as pay a small portion of my previous student loans.”
Murphy also plans to graduate in May and pursue a career in the field of safety and health.
Brian Finder, director for the graduate program in risk control, learned of the scholarship opportunity from the university’s Research Services office and passed it along to his students. Kochanowski and Murphy decided to apply.
“Amnesty and Tyler are very career-path oriented and deserving of this scholarship,” Finder said of their scholarship awards.
Finder said enrollment in the risk control program has been strong and job placement after graduation has been high, even in the recession.
“Companies are more aware of managing risk,” Finder said. In addition, he added, “OSHA came about in the ‘70s; retirements are happening and opening up new opportunities.”
For more information, contact Finder at finder@uwstout.edu or 715-232-1422. The students may be contacted at kochanowskia@uwstout.edu and murphyty@uwstout.edu.
