Valerie Boksa, a University of Iowa master’s student in industrial and systems engineering, has been awarded the Jack Beno Memorial Scholarship at the Iowa Governor’s Safety and Health Conference, Nov. 1-2, 2022.  

The scholarship recognizes Boksa’s work in occupational safety. The Des Moines native applies a background in human factors and ergonomics to finding new ways to ensure safety is designed into work systems. Her thesis examines burnout in telemedicine providers and how technology can both contribute to and alleviate workplace stress. 

The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Council organizes the conference to support the next generation of health and safety professionals. The awards, given annually, acknowledge those who have made significant contributions to the health and safety of Iowans.  

The Jack Beno award pays tribute to a man whose “ideas, guidance, and tenacity contributed greatly to the many successes of the Iowa Governor’s Safety Conference and to the importance of workplace safety and health throughout Iowa.” Beno died in 1997 at age 60 after a battle with cancer.