UCM Students Capture First Place in 2023 Safety Olympics in Oklahoma

University of Central Missouri’s Safety Management students display first-place awards received during the 2023 Safety Olympics at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Students celebrating the team victory are: front row, left to right, Fin Kimsey, Russell Sproat and Carson Sears; second row, Avery Kern, Gage Shook, Steven Nevels, Eliel Campbell, and Jesse Matthes.

WARRENSBURG, MO – Academic teams from the University of Central Missouri are enjoying a banner spring in regional and national competitions with one of the most recent victories coming from participation at the 2023 Safety Olympics hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The competition, March 23-25, was an opportunity to showcase students’ knowledge and skills in multiple safety events over a two-day period. It included teams from the host site, Southeastern Oklahoma State, as well as UCM, Oklahoma State University, and Pittsburg State University in Kansas.

Wes Tinker, assistant professor in the UCM Department of Occupational Risk and Safety Management,said a group of six students who are enrolled in Safety Management programs competed in six categories. According to Tinker and the competition website, students were evaluated in the areas of Safety Jeopardy, Hazard Recognition, Presentation Preparation, Safety Innovation, Incident Investigation and Safety Culture.

The first two events, Safety Jeopardy and Hazard Recognition, required full team participation. Teams of three competed in the remaining contests, and winners were announced and recognized during an awards luncheon on Saturday, March 25.

“All six of the students were standouts in the entire competition,” Tinker said. He added that there was an Occupational Safety and Health Career Fair held on Friday, March 24, “and all of the employers wanted our students for full-time positions and internships.”

Tinker said the Department of Occupational Risk and Safety Management is “extremely proud of our students.” He called the department a ‘hidden gem,” noting that he and his colleagues take pride in a 100 percent job placement rate for program graduates, and a 100 percent student retention rate. Additionally, program graduates command starting salaries that range from $75,000 to $105,000 in a profession that also includes many UCM alumni across all industries.

To learn more about the 2023 Safety Olympics, contact Tinker at wtinker@ucmo.edu. More information about Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management academic programs is available online.