Jessica Gutzwiller, ’19, was awarded with the Young Alumni Award from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). The Best of Eastern Alumni Awards, presented annually during Homecoming weekend, celebrate excellence among EKU alumni. The Young Alumni Award recognizes individuals who graduated from EKU in the last 10 years and have demonstrated exceptional talent in their professions.
Growing up in a blue-collar family in Cincinnati, Ohio, Gutzwiller learned the values of hard work, integrity and perseverance early on. As a first-generation college student, she brought those lessons to EKU, where mentorship and opportunity set her on the path to a career she loves. A pivotal conversation at the EKU Career Center introduced her to occupational safety—a field that perfectly matched her drive to help others.
“Family has always been an important influence in my life, and their support has given me the confidence to pursue big goals,” said Gutzwiller. “Today, I’m proud to work on projects that protect and serve the community. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that the work I do contributes to safer environments for the people who need them most.”
Gutzwiller is a project safety manager with Turner Construction in Columbus, Ohio, where she has already made her mark on complex, high-impact projects. She has managed safety across nine simultaneous projects at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, ensuring safer environments for patients, families, healthcare professionals and trade partners. From reviewing environmental hazards to leading high-risk safety reviews, incident investigations and ergonomics programs, Gutzwiller is recognized for fostering a positive safety culture and building trust on every job site.
She credits her EKU professors—Barry Spurlock and Dr. David Stumbo—for inspiring her with both technical expertise and passion for the profession, as well as the friendships and experiences she gained through Colonel Camp, which became a defining start to her college journey.
For Gutzwiller, success is about impact: creating environments where people are safe, supported and able to thrive. Proud to represent EKU in her field, she carries forward the values she learned—integrity, adaptability and service—into every project and every life she touches.
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