Cornell Integrated Pest Management Pesticide Safety Education Program Lead Michael Helms and newly retired Pesticide Safety Educator Dan Wixted received awards during the annual meeting of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE) in Gulfport, Mississippi last month, according to Cornell IPM Director Alejandro Calixto.
“Mike and Dan exemplify the dedication and leadership that define the very best of pesticide safety education,” Calixto said. “Mike’s work securing liability insurance for AAPSE marks a historic milestone for the organization, while Dan’s decades of service and tireless advocacy for inclusive, science-based training have left an enduring legacy for all of us. Their recognition is not only well-deserved—it’s a reflection of the profound impact they’ve had on pesticide safety education and the communities we serve.”
Helms received the AAPSE President’s Award, which recognizes members who have made significant contributions to the association. He was honored for his work in helping AAPSE secure professional and general liability insurance for the first time in the association’s history.
Wixted was awarded life membership in AAPSE in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the organization and pesticide safety education. Wixted dedicated more than 30 years to educating about the importance of safe pesticide usage. He was instrumental in improving the process for developing training certification manuals and certification exams for pesticide applicators and provided outreach to thousands of pesticide users.
Wixted served as association treasurer for AAPSE for two terms, founded and co-chaired an ad-hoc committee to evaluate translation of certification and training materials into non-English languages, served on the AAPSE’s audit committee and lead national professional development workshops on exam development.
