The Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) announces that two of its staff last week received high recognition at the Michigan Environmental Health Association’s (MEHA’s) annual conference.
Regina Young, R.S., BEDHD’s environmental health director, was awarded the LaRue L. Miller Life Achievement Award and Kasey Swanson, an environmental health sanitarian, was awarded the David H. McMullen Young Professional of the Year Award.
Young’s award, the most prestigious granted by MEHA, is for exceptional contribution(s) to MEHA and to the environmental health profession over the course of their career, with special attention given to their activities and service which bring meritorious recognition to the environmental health profession, highly beneficial contributions and commitment on behalf of MEHA, and professional involvement and contribution to community health.
Young, a Ferris State University graduate and Barry County resident, is a 30-year veteran of environmental health.
She has served as a MEHA representative on several committees, including wastewater conference planning, the Technical Advisory Council for on-site wastewater treatment (TAC), and the MDEQ groundwater permits improvement process. She also has served as the Secretary for the Michigan Association of Local Environmental Health Administrators, is a member of the Barry County Solid Waste Oversight Committee and served many years as a board member on the Charlton Park Historic Village, Museum, & Recreation Area.
Young’s skills and contributions were recognized in 2008 by the Barry County Conservation District’s Award for Service and Leadership in Natural Resource Conservation. In 2010, she was awarded the Samuel M. Stephenson Sanitarian of the Year Award by MEHA.
She believes that the cause of public health and of environmental health must be furthered through education and a common future direction.
Young and her husband, George and daughters, Rachel and Mikayla, enjoy the natural beauty and the water environment that abounds in southern Michigan and enjoys hiking, biking, caring for her family, and gardening.
Swanson’s award recognizes the recipient’s “outstanding accomplishment(s) to the environmental health profession within the first five years of employment and demonstrated quality work, dedication, innovation and potential leadership abilities.
Swanson was born in Alaska and, after her family moved to Michigan, attended Grand Ledge public schools. She received a degree in biology from Northern Michigan University and earned a degree in environmental law.
Kasey works on the Water Protection Team at BEDHD because she wants to use her interest in science to give back to her community. In her free time, Kasey enjoys spending time with her husband and year-old son.
