Wisconsin PRIMA Awards Scholarships to UW-Whitewater Students in the  Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health Program

The decision was made to increase the scholarship amounts to $3,500 and $1,500, as opposed to smaller awards in the past, to attract more applicants and highlight the value of public sector career paths. By increasing the financial support, Wisconsin PRIMA aims to elevate awareness of risk management as a dynamic and rewarding profession, especially in the public sector where professionals often wear multiple hats in areas such as safety, insurance, and HR.

Wisconsin PRIMA (Public Risk Management Association) recently recognized two exceptional students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health program by awarding them prestigious scholarships. The organization, which supports risk management professionals in the public sector, revamped its scholarship process this year, making it more competitive and extending the opportunity to students from multiple universities across the state. This year’s scholarship recipients are Abigail Falconero and Christopher Gomez. Abigail is a senior at UW-Whitewater pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety. Abigail is set to begin a summer internship with Eaton, a global power management company in Waukesha, WI specializing in electrical products like transformers and energy solutions for industrial and utility needs. Christopher is a graduate student at UW-Whitewater pursuing an Online Master of Business Administration with a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Safety. In addition to the scholarship, Christopher will serve as a student member on the Wisconsin PRIMA Board for the next year, allowing him to work closely with risk management professionals and bring a student perspective from the academic environment.

Scott Teuscher, a Wisconsin PRIMA representative who was part of the selection process, shared, “the amount of field experience and involvement in the different professional organizations was shocking and very impressive. Both candidates had a passion for their field of study and they were willing to experiment in multiple professions through internships, committees, and volunteer organizations.”

Wisconsin PRIMA, a chapter of the National Public Risk Management Association, provides education, networking, and training opportunities to public sector risk management professionals. The organization is dedicated to promoting best practices and fostering professional development within the field.

Wisconsin PRIMA's goal is to encourage more students to consider careers in public sector risk management, a field full of diverse and impactful opportunities.

Scott Teuscher expressed his advice for future applicants of this scholarship, “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! This is a simple application to fill out, but be thorough. This scholarship fund from WI PRIMA has been around for years, but we would love to see it grow more. Our desire is to encourage young professionals to look at the public sector as exciting and rewarding career options.”

For more information about Wisconsin PRIMA and its scholarship programs, please visit:  https://www.wiprima.org/scholarships.html 

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