The Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering has announced the recipients of its 2026 safety awards.
The Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering has announced the recipients of its 2026 safety awards, recognizing individuals and groups who demonstrate exceptional commitment to fostering a culture of safety in research, teaching and daily operations.
The college established two awards: the SafeRaider Award for individuals and the Safety Champion Award for groups to highlight excellence in safe practices and reinforce its priority on health and safety.
The SafeRaider Award honors faculty, staff and students who exceed expectations in advocating for safety, maintaining safe laboratories and research practices, and contributing to a secure learning and working environment. Awards are presented annually in two categories: faculty and staff, and graduate students.
Changwon Son, assistant professor in the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering received the 2026 SafeRaider Award in the faculty and staff category. Son was recognized for his leadership and sustained commitment to advancing safety through research, teaching and service.
The committee cited his success in securing safety-related research funding, his role as departmental safety officer, and his efforts to integrate “safety moments” into faculty meetings as key contributions to strengthening the department’s safety culture.
Nishat Paul, a graduate student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, received the SafeRaider Award in the graduate student category. The committee highlighted Paul’s leadership in helping transition his research group to a biosafety level 2-certified laboratory.
His contributions included developing biosafety documentation, refining standard operating procedures, maintaining the Work Area Safety Plan, and implementing a chemical lifecycle system to improve efficiency and reduce errors. He was also recognized for earning the respect of peers through his dedication to safety.
The Engineering Safety Champion Award recognizes groups that demonstrate best practices in safety, maintain excellent laboratory conditions, and actively promote a culture of safety.
The research group led by Thanakorn Khamvilai in the Department of Mechanical Engineering was named the 2026 Safety Champion Award recipient. The selection committee commended the group’s proactive safety measures, including proper battery storage, safe flight-testing procedures and well-organized operational workflows.
The group also received high marks for inspection performance, strong documentation, and clear risk communication. Committee members noted the group’s efforts to ensure compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations as particularly noteworthy.
The awards reflect the Whitacre College of Engineering’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff.