Renovation and Building Projects Take Over Campus

Summer has finally arrived, and although the number of traditional college students on campus is significantly less than two months ago, many other students, student groups, campers, community residents, and tourists utilize the campus facilities all summer long. Along with them, another prominent group has taken center stage this summer – construction crews.

Major renovation and building projects on all four corners of campus have kept the area buzzing –and rumbling and reverberating – since classes were completed in the spring. While everyone anxiously awaits the completion of all the projects, what makes the renovations even more interesting is that School of Mines alumni are tied to the construction firms handling construction on three out of four of the projects. Following is a short synopsis of each.

Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry Building (CBEC)

A groundbreaking for the long-anticipated Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry Building was held on May 18, 2009. Construction on the site, which is located between the current Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Building and the Mineral Industries Building, began in mid-June.

The renovations include a 38,000-square-foot addition which will be linked to the existing Chemistry Building and will upgrade the current 50-year-old building. In addition to the new construction, existing spaces will be renovated to create learning environments that are higher quality, safer, more flexible, and more conducive to contemporary teaching methodologies.

Because all of the more than 2,000 students who attend the School of Mines each year take classes and labs in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Building, this building project will transform the educational experience for School of Mines students today and for countless years in the future.

The CBEC Building will incorporate state-of-the art graduate and undergraduate research space with the potential for economic development for Rapid City and the state of South Dakota. This new facility will also foster the growth of rapidly-emerging technologies, such as ethanol, fuel production, food and agricultural processing, and environmentally-friendly plastics and coatings. Equally important is that the building will be a campus showpiece that will aid in the recruitment and retention of students and faculty.

Funding for the nearly $19 million project has come from the 2008 State Laboratory Bond Bill and the Higher Education Facilities Fund. More than $1 million in private donations has also been contributed.

Glenn Barber and Associates, Inc. (GBA, Inc.) was chosen as the contractor for the CBEC Building. GBA Inc.’s roots date back to 1906, and for 100 years, the company has provided a full array of construction services to the upper Midwest. Glenn Barber, who is now retired, is a 1960 civil engineering graduate of the School of Mines.

Palmerton/Connolly Hall Renovations

For more than a half century, Connolly and Palmerton Halls have provided School of Mines students with a home away from home. Last year, approximately 560 students lived in the residence halls (nearly 300 of those in Connolly and Palmerton), but by 2015, the dorms will need to provide housing for an estimated 150 more students each year.

While Connolly and Palmerton Halls are structurally sound, the mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, flooring, and other finishes have surpassed their lifespan. The renovations, which will update the dorms and also increase dorm capacity by approximately 100 beds, began in May 2009.

Both residence halls will be updated to include air conditioning throughout, new bathrooms, new flooring, kitchens/lounges on each floor, smoke detection, and fire sprinkler systems. The residence halls will also be LEED Silver Certified, an internationally recognized green building certification system which focuses on energy savings, water efficiency, CO₂ emissions reduction, and improved indoor environmental quality. Among other things, LEED certification means that the renovations will be completed using some recycled materials, the renovated dorms will include recycling areas, and the renovated areas will include some progressive features such as solar powered domestic hot water.

In addition, a new commons area will connect Connolly and Palmerton Halls. There will be an area for recreational equipment, gathering space for students, an elevator for Connolly Hall, a staff apartment and offices allowing for more student rooms within each building, and landscaping to include outdoor lounges, grilling area, and bike racks.

The estimated cost of this renovation project is $8 million, the largest portion of which will come from increased student room rent. Approximately 60,000 square feet will be remodeled, and the project is set to be completed in two phases; Connolly will be complete by late December 2009 and Palmerton by June 2010

R.C.S. Construction, Inc. was chosen to be the contractor for the renovations of Palmerton and Connolly Halls. Founded in 1992 by Bob Scull, R.C.S. Construction, Inc. began as a general construction company, and today is contracting for multi-million-dollar building projects. Scull is a 1982 civil engineering graduate of the School of Mines.

Surbeck Center

The history of the Surbeck Center dates back to the late 1950s when Guy March (EE 22) asked School of Mines alumni and friends to give students a place to work and relax together. Since opening its doors in 1963, Surbeck Center has been the student union on campus and an integral part of campus life. This bustling center of activity is the campus showcase to thousands of students and visitors each year.

In 1970 each student started to pay a fee for upkeep and activities. Beginning in the fall of 2008, students voted to increase student fees to assist with renovations and annual improvements.

Major renovations will be made to the dining center, bookstore, and office space, and will allow for increased student study space, improved infrastructure, and a redesigned food service area with flexible space options. Specific updates include: a new kitchen including equipment, new flexible seating space for the dining hall/Miner’s Shack, study lounge space that provides more compatibility with the computer/tablet needs of School of Mines students, conference room reconfigurations, and improved aesthetics of the “Back Door Entrance” (west entrance) to campus. Additional updates will be made to flooring, ceilings, and lighting throughout Surbeck Center.

Quick progress is being made as renovations to Surbeck Center occur. Approximately 30,000 square feet will be renovated at an estimated cost of $6.3 million. Revenue sources include student fees and private donors, and the renovations are set to be complete in early August.

Renovations of the Surbeck Center are being completed by J. Scull Construction Services, Inc., led by Jim Scull (CE 74). J. Scull Construction is one of the largest general contractors in western South Dakota and is a complete general construction contractor with construction management, design/build, and bid-build services.

Paleontology Building

The groundbreaking for the new Paleontology Building was held on April 7, 2009, and with some warmer spring and summer weather, the project is moving ahead quickly. Soil conditions dictate that caissons and bond beams be included in the foundation detail. The foundation is complete and the lower section of walls have been poured. The site grading is underway, the old roadway is being removed so the new truck turnaround and sidewalks can be poured on the west end of the site, and work on the interior and second floor are now underway.

The new building will house the Museum of Geology’s extensive collections of fossils and mineral specimens from around the world, rocks, historical documents, photographs, equipment, recent comparative animal skeletons, and a paleontological/geological library of books and reprints. The facility will accommodate and complement fieldwork and provide laboratories to serve as the basis for the university’s educational programs.

Unlike the current home to the museum collections, the new facility will feature large public viewing windows into laboratories and educational displays to complement the displays currently housed in the Museum of Geology in the O’Harra Building.

The planning and fundraising for the $8 million building have been in progress for more than a decade, and funding is nearly complete. The state of South Dakota invested $7 million in the new Paleontology Building via its research-based economic development, and private donors and federal earmarks have supported the new building as well. The 33,000 square-foot building is expected to be complete by next summer.

Efforts are still underway, however, to ensure that this new facility can be properly outfitted with the necessary equipment and supplies. Additional funds will be used to equip two special laboratories and to purchase special shelving where the specimens will be curated.

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Close Ups

Dr. Dimitris Anagnostou (assistant professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering), Dr. Keith Whites, (professor/Steven P. Miller Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering), and Dr. Thomas Montoya (assistant professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering) were recently awarded $224,000 from DURIP in order to purchase a new PNA and antenna positioner to build a reconfigurable antenna measurement platform.

Anagnostou and one of his students, Ahmand Gheethan (MS EE, Jordan), also received an honorary mention and a $1,000 travel award at the IEEE APS 2009 International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation held June 1-5, 2009, in Charleston, SC.

Sookie Bang (professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering) and Dr. V. Ramakrishnan (co-PI, distinguished professor emeritus, Civil and Environmental Engineering) were recently informed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that their project, Performance of Microbiologically Enhanced Concrete Structural Elements, was selected for inclusion on the new “Science and Innovation” website which will be launched in late fall of 2009. This new public website highlights the outcomes of NSF-funded projects across the nation and around the world. The “Science and Innovation” website, which will be featured on research.gov, will inform public policy-makers, educators, researchers, and the general public about the important results and impacts of NSF’s investments.

The IEEE Student Branch held a special meeting on April 28, 2009, to honor Professor Cyrus W. Cox, M.S., P.E. (professor emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering) for his service in preserving the history of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the School of Mines. The Cyrus W. Cox Historical Collection will house historic books, equipment, and memorabilia from Professor Cox and the department. Copies of the dedication plaque will be placed on two display cases within the department. In 1989, Cox wrote “Electrical Engineering at the School of Mines and Technology,” a history of how electrical engineering came to be at the School of Mines. Cox’s historical accounts may be viewed via the “ECE Dept.History” link at http://ieee.sdsmt.edu/index.htm

Dr. Jack Redden (professor emeritus, Geology and Geological Engineering), was recently recognized for his numerous accomplishments by receiving the John Paul Gries Geologist of the Year Award by the South Dakota Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists during a ceremony at The Journey Museum in Rapid City. Redden is co-author of a U.S. Geological Society publication that has been 50 years in the making entitled “Maps Showing Geology, Structure, and Geophysics of the Central Black Hills, South Dakota.” He has spent his career advancing the geological knowledge and understanding of the Black Hills.

Hugh Welsh, former athletic director, coach, professor, and mentor to many athletes at the School of Mines, was recently recognized for his many years of service by the Dakota Athletic Conference. He was awarded the DAC Honor Award at a conference meeting for his nearly two decades of involvement in Hardrocker athletics.

Welsh, who has been both a familiar face and a long-time driving force for Hardrocker athletics, transitioned out of his role as part-time athletic director in June. His transition was spurred by a gift to the Hardrock Club to fund a full-time athletic director, allowing the athletic program to capitalize on new opportunities. The new athletic director, Richard Keiser, took the helm on July 1.

Dr. Robb Winter (department head, Chemical and Biological Engineering) was named as a 2009 Alumni Fellow in the Department of Natural Sciences at Dickinson State University. He will be officially recognized for this award during Dickinson State’s Homecoming festivities in October 2009.

The 59th annual West River Math Contest was held on May 11, 2009. This contest involves 500-600 middle and high school kids from the region taking a math test in one of five categories: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Advanced Math, and the Masters exam. The top five students in each category and the top two schools were honored. The awards ceremony was held in the Surbeck Center Ballroom.

The 54^th annual High Plains Regional Science and Engineering Fair was recently held on campus. Nearly 400 middle and high school students along with their parents, teachers, and volunteer judges participated. Students showcased more than 300 science projects, displaying their results of research work in the biological, physical, and social sciences. Dr. Brian Hemmelman (EE 92) and many other School of Mines volunteers helped with this event.  

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May Wins March Medal

The recipient of the 2009 Guy E. March Silver Medal was Ken May (CE 61). The March Medal, established in 1975, is presented annually at spring commencement to a SDSM&T graduate in recognition of his or her outstanding service to students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Hailing from Rapid City, Ken May has demonstrated his unselfish service and dedication to the School of Mines and its Alumni Association for more than 40 years. After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1961, he was drafted. Following Officer Candidate School, May was promoted through the ranks from lieutenant to captain in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, was an officer in charge of the Nuremberg Field Team in Germany, and served as chief of special operations.

He also studied foreign cultures and hired, taught, and controlled the activities of civilian employees in Germany. His military service included positions as combat intelligence officer in Vietnam and area intelligence specialist in Germany. He studied Czechoslovakian at the Presidio of Monterey (California) and studied German in Oberammergau, Germany. He also attended various schools in Kansas City, Missouri, as a background investigator.

In the 1970s and 1980s, May’s professional career in Rapid City included positions with 1^st Federal Savings & Loan, CMI Investment Corp., VEREX Corp, Prairie States Life Insurance Co., Dakota Steel & Supply, and Brink Electric Construction Co. During these years, May strengthened his connection and ongoing service to the School of Mines and the Alumni Association.

As treasurer of the Alumni Association, May was instrumental in the transfer of $1 million in funds held by the Endowment Association to the newly-formed SDSM&T Foundation. He served two terms as president of the Alumni Association, was the co-chair of the 2000 All-School Reunion, a past member of the Alumni Relationship Committee, and is a current member of the Alumni Investment Committee. In addition, May was a strong supporter of the Alumni Association’s efforts to create the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998.

In 2001, May was asked to participate in a special committee to evaluate the future status of the Department of Mining Engineering. As a result of that committee’s recommendations and with the financial support of the mining industry, the department was re-configured into the Department of Mining Engineering and Management and is thriving today.

Ken, his wife Nancy, and their three children are well known for their support of campus and have regularly attended numerous campus and alumni events and activities. May’s activities have included presentations to students at Student-Alumni Connection meetings; participation in the annual Student-Alumni Golf Tournament; support of the Triangle Fraternity Alumni and its ongoing involvement with the active chapter of School of Mines students; alumni representation at the School of Mines Career Fair; and serving 12 years as a trustee for the SDSM&T Foundation and also serving on board of the SDSM&T Foundation as the Alumni Association Representative. In addition, May has served as a judge for both M-Day King and Queen Candidates and for the local and regional American Society of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe Contest.

May has been a friend and admirer of Guy March (EE 22) for years, and he is a fitting recipient of this namesake award.

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School of Mines Holds Spring Commencement

The School of Mines held its 159^th commencement on Saturday, May 9, 2009, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena.

More than 200 graduates received associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. In addition, returning members of the class of 1959 attended the ceremony and received certificates commemorating their graduation, and Ken May (CE 61) received the Guy E. March Medal.

All of these activities were preceded by the presidential investiture ceremony of Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D, who became the 18^th president of the School of Mines in July 2008.

Melanie Satchell (IS 09) spoke on behalf of the student body, and Dr. Jeffrey Wadsworth delivered the commencement address at the ceremony.  

Melanie Satchell, originally from Pleasant Dale, Nebraska, received a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary sciences. Melanie will work as a financial advisor with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Rapid City. In the fall of 2010, she plans to attend law school near where she will be stationed with her husband who is in the Army.

Dr. Jeffrey Wadsworth currently serves as president and CEO of Battelle. Battelle is the world’s largest non-profit research and development organization, executing about $5B of work annually and employing about 21,000 people.

Wadsworth was educated at Sheffield University in England where he studied metallurgy, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1972 and a Ph.D. in 1975. He was awarded a Doctor of Metallurgy degree in 1991 and an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in July 2004. Wadsworth has worked at Stanford University, Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He joined Battelle Memorial Institute in 2002, and from 2003 to 2007, he served as director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

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Graduates Celebrate 50 Years

A half century after graduation from the School of Mines, 29 members of the Class of 1959 returned to campus in May to celebrate their 50-year class reunion and to participate in three days of activities hosted by the Alumni Association, the Foundation, and the campus community. Festivities included a Thursday-evening welcome social followed by a reunion breakfast, campus update and tours, reunion lunch, and evening banquet on Friday. On Saturday, members of the Class of 1959 also attended SDSM&T’s 159th commencement ceremony as honored guests and received 50-Year Graduate Certificate, and several visited M-Hill in the afternoon for a look at the 1959 senior plaque along with many 2009 graduates and their families.

The 1959 alumni in attendance included: Dale Allen (CE) Bend, OR; Ernest Baresch (EE) Wichita, KS; Barry Bradshaw (ChemE) North Port, FL; David Brost (ME) Murdo, SD; Skip Bush (CE) Puyallup, WA; Bill Coddington (GenE) Perrysburg, OH; Veryl Eschen (MetE) Hillrose, CO; Terry Fiechtner (ChemE) Titusville, FL; Virgil Friebel (MetE) Longmont, CO; Paul Gnirk (MinE) New Underwood, SD; David Grow (EE) Rapid City, SD; Bob Howe (MetE) Arlington,VA; Bruce Johnsen (CE) Monterey, CA; Boyd Klingler (GeolE) Mesa, AZ; Emmett Kotrba (CE) Gregory, SD; Harold Lundberg (MinE) Wilmette, IL; Rick Maki (MetE) Hibbing, MN; David Malthouse (GenE) Louisville, KY; Jan Matousek (MetE) Englewood, CO; Wayne McCollam (CE) Bismarck, ND; Lyle Monsees (EE) Brookings, SD; Lyle Mudge (ChemE) Rapid City, SD; Bill Richardson (ME) Tucson, AZ; David Riesland (EE) Dickson, TN; John Shoemaker (CE) Payson, AZ; Edward Tegland (GeolE) Parker, CO; Bert Thomsen (GeolE) Scottsdale, AZ; Ren Whitaker (ChemE) North Fort Myers, FL; and Jerome Zimmerman (GenE) Tucson, AZ. 

To see autobiographical information submitted by many of the alumni, please view the “Recent Alumni News” section of the Alumni Association’s webpage at www.sdsmt.edu/alumni

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Golf Tournament Raises Scholarship Dollars

The afternoon of Monday, June 1, 2009, was rainy and cool, but the weather did not stop friends and supporters of the School of Mines from enjoying an afternoon of golf for a great cause.

A total of 22 teams (88 golfers) comprised of both alumni and community supporters participated in the fifth annual School of Mines and Community Golf Tournament to benefit scholarships at the School of Mines. Teams gathered at Arrowhead County Club in Rapid City to participate in the scramble in which Knology of the Black Hills was the platinum sponsor.

At an outdoor picnic buffet following the tournament, golfers enjoyed each others’ company while prizes were awarded for top finishers in three different flights. Although no one walked away with any of the hole-in-one prizes (which included a new car valued at $25,000 from McKie Automotive Group, a Marquis Spa from Rapid Spa, a seven-day cruise, a set of Callaway irons, an Arrowhead Pro Shop gift certificate, and a year’s tuition and fees at the School of Mines), pin prizes and raffle drawings helped many golfers, no matter of their golf skills, walk away as winners.

The real winners, however, were the students at the School of Mines. Proceeds from the tournament totaled an estimated $30,000 and will benefit both academic and athletic scholarships.

Rod Pappel (ME 77), president of the SDSM&T Foundation, stated, “We are overwhelmed by the tremendous response, both in the number of players and in the community sponsorships. This support will make a difference in the lives of many students.”

Sponsors include Platinum: Knology of the Black Hills; Gold: Black Hills Area Community Foundation; Black Hills Corporation; Harold and Laura Orville; and SDSM&T President’s Office; Silver: Aramark; Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, P.C.; Paul Smith; U.S. Bank; and Tom and Sharon Warner; Bronze: Brink Constructors, Inc.; Halberstadt’s Men’s Clothiers; Hardrock Marketing, LLC; Hills Materials Company; Ketel Thorstenson, LLP; Bob and Becky Miesen; Rapid City Journal; Rogers & Miller Wealth Consultants@UBS; Rosenbaum’s Signs; Dave Schmidt Insurance Agency, Inc.; SymCom Inc.; and Western Dakota Insurors; Prizes: AAA South Dakota; Jim & Pat Bell; Berendse & Sons Paint Company; Black Hills Gold by  Coleman; Canyon Lake Resort; Scott Carlson State Farm Insurance; Eagle Sales of the Black Hills; Elks Golf Course; First American Title Company; First Gold Hotel & Gaming; Fountain Springs Golf Course; Hardrock Club; Hart Ranch Golf Course; Meadowbrook Golf Course; Ryan Messick; Michael’s Mens Wear; Montana Dakota Utilities; Rod & Cindy Pappel; Radisson Hotel; Rapid Spa; Tom Rudebusch; and SDSM&T Bookstore. 

Winning teams were: Division I: 1^st Gross: Josh Pappel, Brogan Pappel, Lynn Kading, and Kevin Phillips; 1^st Net: Ryan Messick, Steve Malone, Rod Pappel, and Mike Malone; 2^nd Net: Dan Ashmore, John Brewer, Tom Morrison, and Mitch LaFleur; Division II: 1^st Gross: Hans Ditlev, Scott Sandvig, Lars Ditlev, and Keld Ditlev; 1^st Net: Alan Williams, Steve Schirber, Jarrett Breuninger, and Kelly Long; 2^nd Net: Eric Glenn, Rick Wass, Gary Glenn, and Jason Henry; Division III: 1^st Gross: Tim Henderson, Dave Lowe, Scott Carlson, and Steve Trefz; 1^st Net: Hugh Boyle, Steve Bauman, Mitch Slusarski, and Tony Berendse; 2^nd Net: Bettie Erickson, Kathy Cline, Pat Steinman, and Laura Orville.

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Campus Campaign a Success

The School of Mines campus campaign has become as much of a spring tradition as Rapid City April snowstorms and budding trees. This year was no different. The campus campaign, which calls upon faculty and staff to contribute to Tech Challenge Scholarships and other campus needs, was again a success. By the end of the campaign, just over 44% of the campus had participated. 

The campaign was kicked off by a campus-wide email from President Robert A. Wharton who reminded faculty and staff, “Our campus campaign is a way for each of us to show our support of the School of Mines by making a financial commitment to the university through the Foundation.”

To help entice individuals to participate in the campus campaign, the SDSM&T Foundation offered a variety of prizes that had been donated by local businesses. Every person who contributed had his or her name in a drawing for a variety of prizes including car washes, movie passes, gift certificates for restaurants, and even cash. Prize sponsors included Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill, Scott Carlson State Farm Agency, Elks Theatre, Firehouse Brewing Company, Graffitti’s Car Wash, Ruby Tuesday, and the School of Mines Bookstore.

The Tech Challenge, a scholarship program initiated in 2002 to recruit and retain the very best students at the School of Mines, is currently a two-year scholarship offered to incoming freshmen based on ACT and class rank. The goal is to offer four-year scholarship support to incoming freshmen.

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Mongolian Adventure Strengthens Ties

Collaborations between South Dakotan and Mongolian institutions were created and expanded by a team of representatives from the School of Mines and Oglala Lakota College (OLC) who recently traveled to Mongolia thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Participants from the School of Mines included Dr. Michael Terry (assistant professor, Geology and Geological Engineering), Dr. Gerald Grellet-Tinner (assistant professor, Geology and Geological Engineering), Dr. Foster Sawyer (assistant professor, Geology and Geological Engineering), Dr. M.R. Hansen (professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering), Dr. P.V. Sundareshwar (assistant professor, Atmospheric Sciences), and Dr. Patricia Mahon (vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students). In addition, OLC environmental science instructors Charles Jason Tinant (earth science) and Alessandra Higa (conservation biology) brought new dimensions of expertise to the team.

The team spent time conducting field investigations, exploring, and camping in the Gobi Desert; they also met with counterparts at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) campus in Ulaanbaatar and MUST campuses in Darkhan and Arvikheer, the National University of Mongolia (NUM), and the Technical College of Mongolia in Darkhan.

As a result, the third memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the School of Mines and MUST, and an initial MOU was signed with the Technical College of Mongolia. Additionally, negotiations for a provision of services agreement were advanced with Erdenet Mining Corporation. The MOUs foster exchange experiences of students and academic staff, continuing education, and cooperative research. The agreement with Erdenet Mining Corporation promises to establish the means of training future mining engineers at the School of Mines.

Research on mammalian diversity in the Gobi Desert was conducted by Alessandra Higa and two collaborators from NUM. Grellet-Tinner, Sawyer, and Terry studied a Cretaceous dinosaur egg formation in Ulan Tsav that was first discovered by Russian expeditions in the last century. 

A banquet of reunion and honor was also held for the team members and School of Mines alumni Baigalimaa Shurka (CE 04), Batbaatar Chimedtseren (TMgt 06), and Sugar Mijir (CE 05). All three alums are committed to promoting South Dakota/Mongolian exchanges, with Shurka and Mijir assisting Mahon in visiting with over 30 prospective students eager to pursue study in South Dakota.

At the conclusion of the team’s 18-day stay, Hansen, Sawyer, and Tinant remained in Mongolia to participate in the first annual Conference on Mining and the Environment in Erdenet. The conference was a success and provided a new venue for sharing between industry, academia, and governmental regulatory agencies to mitigate the environmental impacts of mining through environmental monitoring, reclamation, and wise water resource management.

A new threshold of possibilities was crossed in collaborations between South Dakotan and Mongolian institutions through the efforts made by the individuals who traveled to Mongolia this summer. Everyone involved is anxious to see what the future brings.

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IBM Matching Program Benefits School

The School of Mines currently has over 60 alumni spanning five decades who are employed by or retired from IBM. In the past years, nearly half of these alumni have generously given to the SDSM&T Foundation to support a variety of needs on campus. This has turned into a veritable windfall for university’s Information Technology Services (ITS) Department and for the whole campus as well.

IBM, along with hundreds of other companies, offers a matching gift program.  For most companies, a matching gift program is straight forward. An alumnus gives a gift to a qualified non-profit organization, and as a benefit, the alumnus’ company will give an amount equal to that gift.

IBM’s matching program is diverse, however, in that it offers an alternate matching program. Instead of opting for the run of the mill one-to-one match, SDSM&T has signed on to receive equipment vouchers from IBM. Instead of a one-to-one match, the vouchers are for an amount that is up to three times the employees’ contributions for the year.

The best part of the program is that the university, the Foundation, and ITS have teamed together to be certain that donors still receive the benefit of a cash match. To do this, ITS is allotted funds to “pay” the Foundation the one-to-one value of the voucher. The payment for the voucher is applied as a one-to-one match on the alumni original contributions, and ITS gets to keep the vouchers and uses them to obtain equipment for campus needs.

For example, Joe Q. Alum who works for IBM contributes $100 to support the Concrete Canoe Team and submits a matching gift form. Joe’s $100 supports the Concrete Canoe, and the Foundation later receives a $300 equipment voucher. The ITS Department pays $100 to the Foundation for the voucher, the $100 payment for the voucher follows Joe’s original contribution to the Concrete Canoe, and ITS has a $300 equipment voucher to purchase equipment from IBM.

The vouchers are used by ITS to purchase much-needed computing equipment. ITS has added fifteen servers, increased storage on file servers, added storage for video streaming, added space for student web pages, and helped to keep the campus and its computing abilities current. The program keeps the university’s server core on the cutting edge and allows ITS’ budgeted funds to go much further in serving campus infrastructure, network, and software needs.

Bryan Schumacher (CSc 89), director of Information Technology Services, stated, “Our campus has made huge steps in the field of technology. We are now a Tablet PC campus, totally wireless, with a laptop in the hands of all incoming students and access anywhere. This puts a huge burden on our infrastructure, including our servers. We would be lost without the past funds from this program that have helped us to grow our technology infrastructure into one of the most robust in the state.”

In 2005 and 2006, donations from employees totaled nearly $12,000, and the voucher for IBM equipment totaled more than $38,000. In 2007-08, the university ordered three full servers from the IBM grants program. In 2008-09, IBM alumni donated the equivalent of $31,000 as well as having in excess of $10,000 going out to other individual recipients as they requested. Since the inception of this program with the School of Mines in 1997, equipment vouchers for over $200,000 have been accepted.

Rick DeSchepper (EE 76) said, “IBM’s Matching Grants Program continues to be the largest of the IBM-Employee partnership programs. It’s easy to access and nearly automatic for pre-qualified institutions like the School of Mines.”

“This program enables employees and retirees to increase the value of their donations to higher education institutions and other qualifying organizations. By utilizing the three-to-one equipment match (for active employees), the School of Mines continues to maximize the value of individual donation,” he added. “As a Tech alum and an IBM employee, it’s great to see SDSM&T leveraging the generosity of IBM employees and retirees through the IBM Matching Grants program. The agreement between SDSM&T’s ITS Department and the Foundation providing a targeted donation option while still maximizing the IBM corporate match with equipment is terrific.”

Neal Hodges, ITS system software specialist, said, “Rick DeSchepper and I first started thinking about how this program might work in 1997. Since then, nearly $200,000 worth of equipment has been purchased through the program. It’s a “win-win-win” situation for our alumni, SDSM&T, and IBM. IBM’s support through the years and especially in this tough economic climate has been phenomenal.”

“I would like to challenge alumni who work for or who have worked for IBM corporate partners to help us build this program,” said Schumacher. “In this world of ‘do more with less,’ universities are struggling to maintain their technology let alone move forward or even keep up with the ever-changing field.”

“Small contributions to this program yield huge results for our campus and allow us to stay on the cutting edge of technology—the place where the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology belongs,” concluded Schumacher.

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Feathering Ceremony for Graduates

The School of Mines hosted its second semi-annual feathering ceremony for Native American graduates on May 8 in the Surbeck Center Ballroom. The feathering ceremony, which is a traditional way of honoring a special achievement, is becoming tradition at the School of Mines.

Hosted by AISES and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the feathering ceremonies have included honor songs from a Native drum group, prayers in Lakota by a Lakota elder veteran, smudging, tying on of feathers or plumes, presentation of star quilts, speeches, and traditional food. Family, friends, students, and faculty have attended the ceremonies which have honored a total of five Native American students so far.

Fall 2008 graduates:  

Jade Herman has been a tremendous asset to her School of Mines family by serving as an officer in AISES. She was also involved in Alpha Delta Pi, the Student Alumni Connection, Circle K, and Junior Ambassadors. She was president of the Hotrockers Dance Team and was also inducted into the Leadership Hall of Fame.

William Kindle earned a degree in electrical engineering. He will make his School of Mines family and his former coworkers at Ellsworth proud as he heads off to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to take a job as an electrical engineer. William leaves positive influences behind through his involvements in intramural athletics and the Non-Traditional Student Association.

James Sanovia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering. He is staying with the family a bit longer as he completes his master’s degree. His desire to remain close to family is our good fortune because he has so much to give to the young people he mentors and to all people of the Black Hills through his expertise in mapping and his knowledge of the Lakota culture. 

Spring 2009 Graduates:

Quana Higgins is a civil engineering graduate with a focus on water resources. She has been a key leader in the School of Mines chapter of AISES, representing the school at AISES national conference, creating an AISES alumni database, organizing two major outreach events, and serving as treasurer. Quana has accepted a position with the Corp of Engineers in Arizona to help solve water resource issues in a very dry climate.

Myrna Littlewolf graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. Myrna was a Student Ambassador and an active member of AISES. She was also a member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and served as president of Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honor society. Myrna is heading to Alabama where she will work for Boeing on their PAC-3 seeker missile program.

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ChemE Car Qualifies for National Competition

The School of Mines’ Chemical Engineering Car Team traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado, for the Rocky Mountain Regional ChemE Car competition and Student Conference in February. The conference, which was sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), included research presentations, workshops, the ChemE Car competition, an awards banquet, and a presentation on biofuels.

The goal of the ChemE Car competition was to design and construct a shoebox-sized car which started and stopped by means of a chemical reaction. The cars were judged for creativity and safety, and one hour before the competition, teams were given the distance the car had to travel and the load of water it had carry. The objective was for the car to stop as close to the finish line as possible within a two-minute time limit.

This year’s car, the “Grubby Pressure Sensation,” was propelled by a reaction in which hydrogen peroxide was decomposed to water and oxygen using yeast as a catalyst for the reaction. The pressure resulting from expanding oxygen gas forced out to drive a piston. A cable attached to the end of the piston other was wound around the axle of the car. As the piston extended it pulled the cable, thus turning the axle and driving the car forward. By varying the concentration and amount of hydrogen peroxide in the reaction vessel, the team was able to control the distance the car traveled.

The ChemE Car competition began with a poster presentation to explain the reactions and mechanisms for operating the car. The cars were then judged to ensure that they met the rigorous safety requirements established by AIChE. The competition was then held. After some tense moments during the first run when the piston force caused the cable to release from the axel too early, the Grubby Pressure Sensation was back at the starting line for its second and final attempt. This second run earned SDSM&T third place, coasting to a stop only ten feet from the desired distance and qualifying them for the national competition to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, in November 2009. 

Team members attending the competition were Benjamin Bangasser (ChemE Sr, Rapid City), Aaron Blender (ChemE Soph, Grand Island, NE), Elizabeth Gores (Chem/ChemE Soph, Sioux Falls), Travis Hoon (ChemE Soph, Aberdeen), Amber Jerke (ChemE Jr, Madison), Matt Ladenburger (ChemE Soph, Rapid City), Jacob Moehring (ChemE Soph, Sioux Falls), Kyle Ratzlaff (ChemE Jr, Lakeville, MN), Phillip Squillace (ChemE Sr, Rochester, MN), and Spenser Wagner (Chem/ChemE Soph, Sioux Falls). Nathan Huft (MetE Jr, Pierre) was also actively involved in the construction and testing of the car but was not able to attend the competition. The team is currently planning several improvements for the car in preparation for nationals. 

Also at the conference, Ben Bangasser gave a presentation entitled “Enzymatic Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure R-2-butanol in Two Phase Systems.” The work was completed by Bangasser as part of a summer research program in Germany during the summer of 2008. His presentation won second place out of eight competitors, earning him a cash award and opportunity to compete at the national conference in Nashville.

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Timber Bridge Design Competition

Students from the School of Mines’ American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter were one group of students representing 15 universities across the United States and Canada who recently competed in the 2009 National Timber Bridge Design Competition. The competition, coordinated by the Southwest Mississippi Resource Conservation and Development, Inc., promotes the use of wood as a bridge construction material.

The competition is conducted via the internet. Each team designed, constructed, and tested their bridge at their home campus and then submitted documentation of their activities and results to a panel of judges for review.

The School of Mines fared well in the competition, earning a first place finish for most innovative design, second place for aesthetics, and seventh place for best overall design. The team had the lightest bridge of any of the competing teams, and they were also fifth overall in prize money.

According to Andrea Surovek, “This was a great effort, particularly in the school’s first-ever entry in the competition!”

The National Timber Design Competition’s objectives are to promote interest in the use of wood as a competitive bridge construction material, to generate innovative and cost-effective timber bridge design techniques, and to develop an appreciation of the engineering capabilities of wood among future transportation and forest products engineers.

More information about SDSM&T’s bridge can be found at http://www.msrcd.org/b-result09.htm

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CAMP Team Results

Aero Design

When: March 6-8, 2009

Where: Van Nuys, California

Results: The seniors entered the Micro Class competition and finished in 4th place overall. The underclassmen entered the Regular Class and finished 26th. The seniors earned 1^st place in the Design Presentation event for the Microclass and 2^nd place report. 

Clean Snowmobile SAE (Alternative Fuel Vehicle)

When: March 16-21, 2009

Where: Houghton, Michigan

Results: The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Team competed in the SAE Zero Emission Snowmobile challenge. The team finished in 5^th place overall.

Baja SAE

When: May 7-10, 2009

Where: Portland, Oregon (Baja SAE Oregon)

Results: The underclass team placed 4^th overall. The senior team placed 11^th overall out of 99 registered cars. The underclass team placed 2^nd in the design report and 4^th in cost. The senior team placed 4^th in design report, 5^th in overall design, 6^th in cost, 7^th in acceleration, 8^th in endurance, and 9^th in presentation.  

ChemE Car

When: February 27 – March 1, 2009

Where: Fort Collins, Colorado

Results: ChemE Car Team finishes in 3^rd place in regional competition. This qualifies the team for the national competition to be held in November 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Concrete Canoe

When: April 2-4, 2009

Where: Salt Lake City, Utah

Results: 1^st in finished product, 4^th place overall. The team earned 2^nd place in both pre-design and non-technical paper.

Formula SAE

When: June 17-20, 2009

Where: Fontana, California

Results: Due to a last-minute car malfunction, the team was not able to attend the competition. The team plans to get the car running and take it to the competition in Michigan next May.

HAM Radio Club

When: November 15-27, 2008

Where: Rapid City

Results: The SDSM&T Amateur Radio Club K0VVY participated in the Collegiate Championship placing 10^th. K0VVY also set a new record for the South Dakota section in the School Club category. 

Human Powered Vehicle

When: May 1-3, 2009

Where: Portland, Oregon

Results: The team finished in 7^th place overall out of 46 teams. They finished in 3^rd place in the utility race.

Robotics

When: April 18, 2009

Where: Lubbock, Texas

Results: The Robotics Team entered two robots, Two Face and Tofu Duck. The Tofu Duck navigated by following the course edge but miscalculated and ran off the course. Two Face made it to the final round where it tied for 6^th place overall.

Steel Bridge

When: April 2-4, 2009

Where: Salt Lake City, Utah

Results: The Steel Bridge Team finished 2^nd  overall in the regional competition.The team also placed 1^st in both construction speed and economy. With its 2^nd place finish at regionals, the team qualified for its third consecutive trip to the national competition which was held at UNLV on May 22-23, 2009.

Supermilage Team

When: June 4-5, 2009

Where: Marshall, Michigan

Results: The newest CAMP team, the SAE Supermileage team, finished in 17^th place overall out of 45 teams. They placed 3^rd in the design report and tied for third place overall on design. They achieved 313 mpg as a rookie team. The winning team achieved 1804 mpg.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

When: July 2009

Where: Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Results: Not available at time of printing

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ASME Student Chapter Heading to Nationals

A team of students from the School of Mines recently won second place in the student design contest portion of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) District C Student Professional Development Conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of their second place finish, the School of Mines team is now eligible to compete at the ASME Student Design Contest Finals which will be held at the ASME International Congress in November in Orlando.

The team designed and built a remote-controlled vehicle designed to simulate rock retrieval on the Martian surface. The team did an excellent job of controlling the vehicle and communicating during the four-minute time limit of the competition. The team plans on modifying their vehicle to improve their performance before nationals.

Team members included: Don DeGooyer (EE, Great Falls, MT), Scott Quiett (ME, Gettysburg), Lisa Robinson (ME, Gettysburg), and Brandon Smith (ME, Amenia, ND). Jason Ash (instructor, mechanical engineering) and Dr. Michael Batchelder (professor, electrical engineering/co-director, CAMP) were the team advisors.

In addition to the second-place finish in the student design contest, the ASME student section walked away with a total of six awards at the conference. Sean Hayes (ME, Eagle, Idaho) won second place in Technical Webpage Design with his overview of the engine rebuild process he just completed with a vehicle he is restoring. The ASME Student Section won third place in the ASME Student Sections Competition and also won the Kilometer Award for having the largest product of student attendees multiplied by the round-trip mileage to the conference. Additionally, Robinson and Quiett were each recognized with the Outstanding ASME Student Award for their high level of service to the ASME student section.

"This was a very impressive team based on their conceptual idea, design analysis, and realization of their vehicle. The competition was extremely tense with a four-minute time limit," Ash said. "It was truly a team effort by all members involved and a remarkable performance to witness. This is the ideal result of the engineering design process."

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SD GEAR UP Honors Program

The summer honors program previously known as SKILL and NASA Honors is back on the School of Mines campus for the 17^th consecutive summer. The program, now known as the South Dakota GEAR UP Honors Program, is bigger than ever before and extends from June 6 until July 14. This year, the program attracted over 220 freshmen through seniors and several college students. Because of the construction on campus, the students lived in the residence halls at National American University and ate breakfast and dinner there. The students ate lunch at Surbeck Dining and attended classes on the School of Mines campus. 

The purpose of the GEAR UP program is to prepare Native American students to be successful in the college setting, and it boasts some very impressive statistics. Of those students who graduate from the program, virtually 100% also graduate from high school, 87% attend have entered college, and 9% enter the military.

School of Mines alum Stacy Phelps (ME 96) is serving as program coordinator again this year and has been involved with the program since its inception in 1992. Phelps was awarded the Mines Award for Outstanding Public Service in 2008 and was honored as an Outstanding Recent Graduate in 2003.

The curriculum for the six-week program includes math, science (earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics), English, computers, media, and life skills along with some special initiatives including a science fair and a daily career seminar. The curriculum is further enriched with field trips, recreation and sports, college visitation, and cultural activities. Approximately two-thirds of the students participants are female, about 85% are Native Americans, and most would be first-generation college students. In addition, there were 35 staff members, many of whom are graduates of the program.

Much of the funding for the program comes from a federal GEAR UP grant through the State of South Dakota Department of Education Office of Indian Education under the direction of Keith Moore. SD GEAR UP is operated in collaboration with the Oceti Sakowin Education Consortium and 24 partner middle schools and 14 partner high schools. Students, who represent all nine tribes in South Dakota, must apply to enter the program, and they are selected based on academic achievement and teacher recommendations. A middle school component allowed sixth through eighth graders and their parents to visit for a few days to tour campus and learn about the available programs.

In addition to hosting the program on campus, the School of Mines interacts with the GEAR UP program in other ways as well. Faculty, staff, researchers, and administrators offer a daily seminar on career exploration and personal development, mini-courses on a wide variety of topics are taught to interested students with a hands-on, engaging approach, and tours are provided of the many labs across the campus. The seniors participate in shadowing experiences with a professional in their field of interest, and the School of Mines also encourages students involved in GEAR UP to consider enrolling as students after high school graduation in order to pursue majors in engineering and science.

Phelps stated, “Our goal is to help the students and their families prepare for and understand what post-secondary opportunities are available. For students who wish to pursue engineering and science-based careers, the School of Mines offers excellent faculty, facilities, and a quality educational experience.”

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Hardrock Club Announces Hall of Fame Inductees

The Hardrock Club has announced the six individuals and one team to be inducted into the Hardrocker Hall of Fame this fall. The inductees raise the total to 51 honorees and 6 teams since the Hall of Fame was formed in 2004. The induction ceremonies will be held during M-Week in the Christensen Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 19, 2009.

Football: Lance Mriden (ME 84) was an outstanding defensive end on the Hardrocker football team recording All-Conference and NAIA All-District honors his senior season. He played on three SDIC Conference championship teams and helped the team post a 27-9 record during his four years. During his 1983 senior season Mriden led the team in sacks, big hits, and blocked punts. He has also been a supporter the annual alumni football game and has never missed the event.

Basketball: Jack Goth (MetE 50) was a four-year member of the men’s basketball team and was captain during the 1950 season. His coach, Bob Hunt, said, “Jack is a threat on offense, a good rebounder, and the best defensive player on the squad.” He scored a career high 26 points on February 4, 1950, to help the Hardrockers defeat General Beadle College 71-55.

Women’s Basketball: Steph Law (ChemE 93) enjoyed an outstanding basketball career with the Lady Hardrockers from 1989-1993. She is the 13^th all time scorer with 1,173 points, and she holds the school record for field goal percentage in a season at 56.9% set during the 1989-1990 season. A strong rebounder and fine defender, Steph helped to set the stage for the Lady Hardrocker success of the 1990s.

Track and Cross Country: Tim Frank (GeolE 85) was one of the finest sprinters in Hardrocker track history. He holds the school record in the 200 meter dash (:21.40) and is second in the 100 meter dash (:10.39). He captured the SDIC 100 meters in 1983 and helped the Hardrockers capture the 1984 SDIC Track and Field Team Championship by winning both the 100 meter and 200 meter dash. He won both events again in 1985.

All-Around Athlete: Rose Schneider Pekarek (CSc 86) competed in both basketball and volleyball under Coach Barb Felderman at the School of Mines from 1982-1986. She helped the volleyball team to SDIC Titles in 1984 and 1985 and was a mainstay on the basketball team for four years.

Builder: Jim Bauer (DSc Hon 03) has been a strong supporter of the athletic and academic programs at the School of Mines for three decades. He has held recruiting dinners for prospective students in his home in Yankton, and he has traveled many miles to track and cross country meets to support Hardrocker teams. He was known to bring juice, fruit and  items that helped athletes compete. Jim’s three sons, Jeff (GeolE 77), Steve (MinE 79), and Chris (EE 85), all graduated from the School of Mines. In addition, Jim established the Jeff L. Bauer Memorial Scholarship, an endowed scholarship for track athletes, in memory of his eldest son. Jim also received an honorary degree from the School of Mines in 2003.

Team: The tennis teams from the 1970s – Under Coach Clare Ekeland, the School of Mines dominated SDIC Conference tennis in the 1970s. His teams won eight conference titles during the decade and traveled to the NAIA National meet on three occasions (1973, 1974, and 1976).

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New Athletic Director Named

The School of Mines and Technology’s new, full-time athletic director, Richard (Dick) A. Kaiser, assumed his role on July 1, 2009.

Kaiser earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Northern Colorado, a master’s degree in educational administration from South Dakota State University, and a doctorate of education in athletic leadership and administration from Brigham Young University. He completed his post-doctorate in health education and administration at Oregon State University.

For the past 10 years, Kaiser has served as the athletic director for Defiance College. Previously, he served as athletic director at Olivet College, Western Oregon University, and Willamette University. He has received a number of honors and awards from athletics organizations such as the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and others.

In this new position, Kaiser will be responsible for leading the athletics program through all phases of development and fostering an environment of quality instruction and high scholarly and athletic achievement. He will also play a key role in athletic fundraising and will continue to build and maintain relationships with boosters and community leaders. He will oversee all operations in the athletic department, including intercollegiate athletic sports; recruitment, selection, development and retention of coaches and staff; health of student-athletes; and leadership and management of daily operations of the athletic department.

"I am absolutely delighted to receive this opportunity to become the next athletic director at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. I feel very privileged that the university has shown this much confidence in my abilities as an athletic administrator," Kaiser said. "I look forward to working with all of the talented coaches, administrators and various athletic staff members that make up Hardrocker athletics. My ultimate goal is to continue to enhance the overall athletic experience student-athletes discover at the School of Mines while maintaining the highest level of integrity and academic standing the college has so famously established."

Kaiser will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with all NAIA, conference, and university rules and regulations. The School of Mines is a member of the NAIA and the Dakota Athletic Conference with 10 programs competing in women's volleyball and men's football, as well as women's and men's teams in golf, cross country, track and field, and basketball.

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Mines Medal Established at SDSM&T

The School of Mines recently established a new award program, the Mines Medal, to bring tribute and recognition to an esteemed leader or innovator in the field of engineering or science. 

The Mines Medal will honor an individual for his or her exceptional, meritorious, or prestigious contributions toward understanding and resolving the technological challenges that impact society. The award will also highlight the School of Mines and the State of South Dakota while fostering relationships with eminent engineers and scientists and advancing our position within the engineering and scientific communities. 

Nominations are being accepted for engineers, scientists, researchers, and other innovators and leaders in technology. Nomination materials must be received by the School of Mines no later than May 20, 2009, for consideration in the 2009 and 2010 award cycle. Representatives from the university and the broader community will be asked to serve on the Technical Review and Selection Committees.

The award will be presented at ceremonies in Rapid City on October 14, 2009, and in Sioux Falls on October 15, 2009. The award medal was designed by the School of Mines and includes one ounce of gold. The award also includes a privately funded cash honorarium. 

Additional information and nomination materials are available online at http://mines-medal.sdsmt.edu.

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Upcoming Professional Programs

The School of Mines will host various professional programs on campus throughout the remainder of the year.

August 10-12 – Introduction to ArcGIS I teaches how to visualize and analyze map information for better decision making.

August 13 & 14 – Introduction to ArcGIS II takes a more integrated look at geoprocessing, or stringing GIS functions together to achieve the desired result.

August 17-19 – Working with Geodatabases covers the characteristics of the geodatabase data model and introduces special features and functions to create spatial data.

August 20 – Grant Writing Workshop for Faculty and Researchers helps advance grant writing skills by becoming more competitive in applying for grants.

August 20 & 21 – Field GIS/GPS Mapping gives the opportunity to perform field mapping in a hands-on format.

October 6-7 – Appraising and Developing Unconventional Gas Reservoirs provides practical insights and tools to identify and appraise unconventional gas reservoirs.

October 8-9 – The 4^th Annual Rocky Mountain Unconventional Gas Conference addresses topics such as coalbed methane, shale gas reservoirs, and unconventional shallow gases.

November 4 & 5 – Advanced Grant Writing reviews basics of grant writing and also concentrates on writing skills.

November 6 – Evaluating Critical Business Processes teaches principles for conducting assessments of work areas based on various factors.

Also, be sure to watch for upcoming Lunch-N-Learn sessions starting in August.

For more information, please visit http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/learn/professional or call Educational Programs at (605) 394-2693. If you have ideas for additional conferences, please call Nancy Anderson-Smith at (605) 394-2692.

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Howard Shanks

Howard R. Shanks, 71, of Ames, Iowa, died on April 14, 2009.

Howard Russell Shanks was born August 25, 1937, in Floyd County (Iowa) to Russell and Winifred (Hart) Shanks. Howard graduated from Nora Springs (Iowa) High School in 1955, received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Iowa State University in 1959, and received a master’s degree in physics from the School of Mines in 1965.

On December 23, 1956, Howard married Laura Irene DeGraw. They were blessed with three children, Kevin (Rita) Shanks of Denver, Colorado; Brent (Jacqueline) Shanks of Ames; and Kimberly (Shawn) Majors of Ankeny, Iowa.

Shanks worked for 45 years as a research physicist in the Ames Laboratory and at the Microelectronics Research Center. During this time, Howard particularly enjoyed mentoring graduate students and junior scientists. His career focused on thermo-conductivity in metal alloys, amorphous semiconductors, and materials for use in solar energy and GPS systems, and his research resulted in numerous papers and patents.

By avocation, Howard was a historian, a paleontologist, a mineralogist, a genealogist, and a "tractorologist.” He was a member of the Floyd County Historical Society, the Nora Springs Historical Society, the Ames Rock and Mineral Club, the Midwest Federation of the Gemological Society, the Iowa Genealogical Society, and the Cedar Community College in Tucumcari, New Mexico, where he donated his life-long fossil collection to the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum.

Shanks was also committed to his community. As a member of the Collegiate United Methodist Church, he served as a trustee and as a member of other committees. He was also an active member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club, the Friendship Force of Central Iowa, the Iowa State University Alumni Association, and the Dutch Oven coffee group.

Shanks served as an associate for the SDSM&T Foundation and was also a recipient of the School of Mines Centennial 100 Award.

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Carolyn Brich

Carolyn Marie Brich (former administrative assistant, Electrical and Computer Engineering) of Rapid City passed away May 28, 2009, at the Rapid City Regional Hospice House following a courageous battle against cancer. A mother, wife, beloved family member, administrative assistant, and all-around thoughtful, considerate, and caring person, Carolyn’s departure creates a void that will never be filled. While the surviving family members, friends, and anyone lucky enough to know her seek to fill the void, Carolyn rests peacefully in her heavenly sanctuary.

Born July 11, 1950, in Watertown to Arthur and Velma (Smith) Taecker, Carolyn was the baby of the family. Both members of the Watertown High School’s Class of 1968, she was united in marriage with Richard Wallace Brich on September 5, 1970, in Brookings where she worked in the Office of Administration at South Dakota State University (SDSU). Following Dick’s graduation from SDSU and after short bivouacs in several towns including Rapid City, they relocated semi-permanently to Ogallala, Nebraska, where they thrived for almost 20 years before finally migrating back to Rapid City and the beautiful Black Hills in December 1999.

In Rapid City, Carolyn began work immediately as an administrative assistant for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the School of Mines where she “mothered” incoming freshmen making them feel welcome and comfortable in their chosen major field. Over the eight-year span of keeping a watchful eye over the department, Carolyn befriended dozens of incoming freshman students by welcoming them, monitoring their progress, and attending their needs, both physical and spiritual. While performing this “above and beyond duty” role, Carolyn was recognized by the students as the C.H.A.D. 2008 awardee, an esteemed honor that she cherished and valued greatly. With other awards, certificates, and honors too numerous to list, Carolyn featured prominently in the department’s student wellness activities. Little did new freshmen know as they walked through the front door of the department that their lives would be forever changed by contact with Carolyn, a simple servant who brought a woman’s touch to an otherwise mostly male-dominated environment. Carolyn’s “can-do” attitude permeated her entire life affecting students, co-workers, family, and friends with her infectious enthusiasm for excellence regardless of the task or activity.

Sharing in the adventures of an active, outdoor-oriented family, Carolyn often remarked to “her boys,” husband, Richard, and sons, Sol and Jed, “If you shoot it, you clean it and eat it.” Her superb skills in the kitchen were challenged occasionally as the fare covered the gamut of Nebraska and South Dakota waterfowl, fish, upland and big game, along with an occasional rattlesnake or two. 

Carolyn was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and she kept an active lifelong involvement in Bible Studies, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and particularly programs for youth. She was also involved in the Cub Scouts and the Ogallala High School Renaissance, a program encouraging excellence in academics.

She is survived by many friends and family including her husband, Richard Brich (agency integration specialist, SDSM&T’s Academic and Enrollment Services), and two sons, Sol Brich (CE 95) of Pierre and Jedediah Brich (CE 00) of Sedro-Woolley, Washington.

Memorials for Carolyn have been established for the Civil Engineering Department and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and may be sent to the SDSM&T Foundation.

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Warner Succeeds Perry as Executive Director

Dr. Jack R. Warner, a veteran educator and leader in higher education, has succeeded Dr. Tad Perry as executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents. Warner served as commissioner of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education since 2002 where he was responsible for governance and policy oversight of the state’s public system of higher education which serve approximately 40,000 students. Prior to his time in Rhode Island, Warner was vice chancellor of the Massachusetts higher education system for five years and associate chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for two years. He has held senior leadership positions at two Massachusetts community colleges as well. Warner holds a doctoral degree in educational administration from Boston College, a master’s degree from Springfield College, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.

Dr. Robert T. Tad Perry retired as executive director of the Board of Regents, having completed 15 years of service to South Dakota as the system’s chief executive officer. Perry was the longest serving state higher education executive officer in the country at the time of his retirement. He left the system leadership role at a time when the public universities are serving record numbers of students, doing record levels of research, and are involved in record levels of fundraising that approaches $500 million across the six universities. 

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New Vice President of Research

The School of Mines’ new vice president for research, Ronald J. White, Ph.D., assumed his role on July 1, 2009.

White will play a major leadership role in guiding and supporting initiatives to assist the School of Mines in achieving its institutional priorities as its research enterprise continues to grow in size and scope. His many experiences in working with federal agencies and multi-disciplinary programs will be essential to advancing the university’s status as one of the nation’s premier science and engineering universities.

White brings an impressive resume and portfolio of experiences to the School of Mines. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has a substantial record as a researcher and administrator in academia and with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Since 2003, White has served as a senior fellow in the Division of Space Life Sciences with the Universities Space Research Association Center for Advanced Space Studies and also as a senior scientist for the NASA Human Research Program. He was responsible for developing and maintaining the Science Management Plan for NASA's Human Research Program, coordinating peer review of research proposals, and managing multilateral activities related to biomedical countermeasures and more.

From 1996-2003, White served as professor of otorhinolaryngology and communicative sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine and also as the associate director of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. In addition, he has held positions as chief scientist of the Life Sciences Division at NASA Headquarters; research professor of physiology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; manager of biomedical research, analysis and planning at the General Electric Company; and professor of mathematics and director of honors at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

As vice president for research, White will provide administrative oversight, leadership, and mentorship in the development and implementation of campus-wide research and graduate studies that are integrally linked to the university’s mission. He joins an already solid research program. To date, School of Mines researchers have received more than $17 million in sponsored research funding for the current fiscal year.

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R&D Funding Sets Record High

During Fiscal Year 2009, School of Mines researchers and professors have been awarded a record amount of research and development funding. As of June 30, 2009, the School of Mines has been awarded nearly $21 million in grants and research awards, the highest amount in the history of the university, and a 100% over this time last year.

At year's end, 92 awards have been made with awards averaging approximately $227,000. Almost half of all proposals submitted were funded, and individual awards ranged from $2,000 for the collection of fossil vertebrates to $3,392,600 to study advanced materials and processes for future combat systems.

The research done at the School of Mines advances scientific knowledge and has real-life applications; the increase in funding will strengthen the School of Mines’ status as one of the nation’s premier science and engineering universities. These awards generate economic development opportunities and impact the region, state, and nation.

School administrators have identified growing the research enterprise as one of four strategic key focus areas that will guide the university, with the specific goal of reaching $25 million within five years. In FY 04, the School of Mines was awarded $11.9 million. Five years later, with funding at nearly $21 million, this impressive growth makes $25 million a goal within reach.

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Faculty Awards

William Arbegast (Advanced Materials Processing Center) received $86,613 from the South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development – South Dakota Board of Regents for his project entitled Repair, Refurbish, and Return to Service.

Sookie Bang (Chemical & Biological Engineering) and Sangchul Bang (Civil & Environmental Engineering) received an additional $7,939 from the National Science Foundation for their project entitled Microbial Dust Suppression.

Edward Duke (Engineering and Mining Experiment Station) received an additional $5,000 from the National Aeronautics & Space Administration for his project entitled South Dakota Space Grant Consortium.

Duke also received an additional $50,000 from South Dakota NASA EPSCOR Research Infrastructure Development Program for his project entitled National Aeronautics & Space Administration.

John Helsdon (Institute of Atmospheric Sciences) received two additional awards totaling $45,500 from the National Science Foundation for his project entitled Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Todd Menkhaus (Chemical & Biological Engineering) and Hao Fong (Chemistry) received an additional $12,000 from the National Science Foundation for their project entitled Fabrication and Bioseparation Studies of Adsorptive Nanofelts Made from Electrospun Cellulose and/or Carbon Nanofibers.

Jan Puszynski (Chemical & Biological Engineering) received $3,000 from Black Hills Power and Light for his project entitled HydroTech Hill City Well Arsenic Testing.

Puszynski also received $24,563 from the United States Department of Defense – Office of Naval Research for his project entitled Coating of Temperature Sensitive Crystals or Particles with Aluminum

William Roggenthen (Geology & Geological Engineering) received an additional $2,356,370 from the University of California – Berkeley for his project entitled Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) Site Selection and Technical Design.

Rajesh Sani (Chemical and Biological Engineering), Lew Christopher (Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development), and David Dixon (Chemical and Biological Engineering) received $25,875 from KL Energy Corporation for their project entitled Development of Thermostable Enzyme Cocktail for Rapid Release of Fermentable Sugars from Lignocellulosic Materials.

James Sears (Additive Manufacturing Laboratory) received $24,731 from Northern Illinois University for his project entitled Rock-Rapid Optimization of Commercial Knowledge for Army Vehicles.

Michael West (Materials & Metallurgical Engineering) and Jon Kellar (Materials & Metallurgical Engineering) received $220,500 from the National Science Foundation for their REU Site: Back to the Future.

Keith Whites (Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Tony Amert (Electrical and Computer Engineering) received $70,000 from BerrieHill Research Corporation for their project entitled An Integrated Computational/Measurement Technique for Accurate Electromagnetic Characterization of Materials.

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Edwin Gaiser

Edwin D. Gaiser, 89, of Rapid City, passed away on April 16, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Ed was born in Finleyville, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1919, the eldest son of Vance and Lorena Gaiser. He attended two country schools in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Slippery Rock High School in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, in 1938. Following graduation, Ed worked for W. J. Offutt Co. as an assistant manager and then for Consolidated Coal from 1940-1942 as a field engineer.

In July 1942, Ed joined the Army Air Force. He was assigned to the Army Air Force Radio School in Sioux Falls, and he graduated in the top of his class and became an instructor. He was in the service a total of 42 months as an instructor in Sioux Falls, later transferred to Scott Field, and then in training for B-29 Radio Operations in Pratt, Kansas. While in Sioux Falls, he met and married Priscilla Olson of Gayville, South Dakota, on November 1, 1944.

Over the next eight years, he attended night and extension classes at Penn State and Augustana College in Sioux Falls, accumulating over three years of college credits. Then in 1946, Ed and Priscilla moved to Rapid City so Ed could attend the South Dakota School of Mines. He worked for Staven Engineering for six months and in 1947 was offered a job with Quinn Construction Co. as layout field engineer on the new Baroid Bentonite Plant west of Belle Fourche.  He remained with Quinn Construction for 12 years becoming general manager and vice president. Ed accepted a position with Northwestern Engineering Company in 1959 as an operations manager constructing highways, airfields, and dams over most of the western United States.

In 1971, Northwestern Engineering restructured, and Ed was placed in charge of Hills Materials Company. Over the next 28 years, Ed served Hills Materials Company as both vice president and president. Ed was appointed to the South Dakota Cement Plant Commission in 1978 and served for 13 years, the last 11 as chairman.

Ed was a kind, caring, generous, humble man. He touched so many lives along his way and made a difference. He will be greatly missed by his family, community, and the many friends he has left behind.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Ed & Priscilla Gaiser Scholarship at the SDSM&T Foundation.

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Bill Griffith

Bill Griffith (MetE 47) of Hayden, Idaho, passed away on April 30, 2009, at the age of 87.

Bill was born on March 28, 1922, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to James William Griffith and Adeline Mae (Reid) Griffith. He was raised in the Sioux Falls area and graduated from Canton (SD) High School in 1940. He continued his education at the School of Mines, receiving a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering in 1947. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in metallurgy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1950.

His education was interrupted by his military service during World War II. Bill served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1943-1946 as a line officer aboard the LST 779. He participated in the invasion and occupation of Iwo Jima, the invasion and occupation of Okinawa, served in the Philippines, and in the initial landing of U.S. Occupation forces in Japan at Wakayama Honshu. He was honorably discharged from active service as a lieutenant JG in 1945 and from the Naval Reserve as a lieutenant in 1954.

Bill retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Hecla Mining Company 1987. Under his leadership, Hecla rose from the brink of insolvency to be recognized as the premier silver mining company in the United States. During his tenure, Hecla relocated their corporate offices from the Silver Valley to Coeur d’Alene. Following his retirement, he continued as a director of Hecla Mining Company for a number of years. Bill’s professional career also included employment with New Jersey Zinc Company in Pennsylvania and Virginia, Rare Metals Corporation in Tuba City, Arizona, and Phelps Dodge Copper Corporation in Morenci, Arizona. 

As a result of his professional accomplishments, Bill received an honorary Professional Degree from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology, an honorary Doctor of Business Administration from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and an honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Idaho. He was also elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1998 and was made an honorary member of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers in 1986.

Bill was an active supporter of the School of Mines and had established the William A. Griffith Fellowship to support undergraduate and graduate students. He was also an active member of the Coeur d’Alene community, including the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. He is a past member of the Kootenai Medical Center Foundation Board, served as chair of Kootenai Perspectives, served as president of Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, served as president of the Silver Institute, and served as chair of the Western Regional Council. He served on the board of the Inland Northwest Blood Bank and the Idaho EPSCOR program. He was founding chairman of the board for Inland Northwest Bank and was a director of the Coeur d’Alene’s Company.

Bill married Gratia Frances Hannan on January 27, 1949, in Boston, Massachusetts. They have three children, Georgeanne Griffith of Rathdrum, Idaho; Jim (Pam) Griffith of Canton, Ohio; and Wade (Kathleen) Griffith of Spokane, Washington.

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Rudebusch Inducted into Hall of Fame

The Hardrocker’s very own Tom Rudebusch was recently inducted into the Rapid City Hall of Fame. Inducted as a Contributor, Rudebusch was recognized for having announced all major sports on Rapid City radio for over 30 years and for being behind the microphone for over 2,550 play-by-play broadcasts 

A Brookings native, Rudebusch moved to Rapid City, graduated from Rapid City Central, and began his sports broadcasting career as a teenager in 1975. He continues a full schedule of broadcasts today as the voice of both the Hardrockers and Rapid City Post 22 baseball.

Rudebusch has announced football, baseball, basketball, and hockey, and he has broadcast every South Dakota State American Legion Baseball Tournament since 1976. He also broadcasted the South Dakota High School basketball tournaments on television in 1985 and 1986.

Rudebusch also broadcasts football and men’s and women’s basketball for the Hardrockers and is responsible for fundraising and scholarships for School of Mines athletics. He began his long association with the School of Mines as its sports information director in 1980 and served in that capacity until September 2006 when he began his role as president of Hardrock Marketing. Rudebusch has also served as executive director of the Hardrock Club since 1989.

During his time with the Hardrock Club, he has directed efforts that have raised over $5 million for scholarships and the construction of the Christensen Hall of Fame addition on campus that honors School of Mines’ athletes, coaches, and contributors.

In 2006, Rudebusch, along with Mines alumni George (ME 56) and Nancy (EE 57) Dunham, started Hardrock Marketing, a company devoted to return 65 percent of profits to the School of Mines athletic scholarship program. The following year, he and Edson Bearg (GenE 58) co-authored a book entitled Inside the Program – A History of College Football. The two-volume set sells nationally and tells the complete story of college football.

“I am pleased to join the number of other SD School of Mines inductees,” Rudebusch added. “This honor is definitely a highlight of my broadcasting career.”

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Mystery History

Can you identify any of these seven young men or tell us why they were gathered for this photo?

We would love to hear from you. If you have the answer, please send it along with any other information you would like to share, and we will print some or all of the replies (depending on space) in the next issue. 

Do you have your own mystery history photo of SDSM&T alumni that would be perfect for our next issue? If so, send the photo (via mail or email) along with a note identifying everyone in the photo to the address below. We will pick the best photos and run them in future Foundation Updates.

SDSM&T Foundation, Mystery History, 501 East Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD  57701 or email Sandra.Carlson@sdsmt.edu  

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Mystery History Revealed

From Orson Burton (ChemE 78) of Rosemount, Minnesota: The Mystery History picture is the Vet's Club beard contest winners (from maybe 1975 or 1976) and pictures the following people: On the left, Rollo Cain, Most Ticklish; In the middle, Don Turbiville, Best Moustache; On the right, Dan Carpenter, Best Beard and Most Like Grubby.

From Rollo Cain (ME 78/MS ME 85) of Burnsville, Minnesota: This photo is of the 3 winners of the GRUBBY Beard contest. The categories were most ticklish, best mustache, and most like Grubby. I don't remember the exact date (mid '70s), but I can dig out the plaque I still have  since I am the person on the left. I had entered a hometown anniversary contest in July and won the Longest Beard contest. Then, that fall for the M-Day Vet Club contest, I cut my beard into the shape of an “M” and won most ticklish. I don't remember who the other 2 frat guys are.

From Steve Cooper (EE 77) of Aberdeen, Maryland: I immediately recognized the Mystery History photograph as having been taken during my 4 years (O.K., O.K. actually 4 ½ years) at South Dakota Tech.

The photograph appears in the 1976 issue of the Engineer school annual. It’s one of several on page 53 describing the Vet’s Club beard contest at the Olympic Games. On the left is Rollo Cain (Most Ticklish). In the middle sporting his Triangle jacket is Don Turbiville (Best Mustache). On the right is senior Dan Carpenter (Best Beard and Most like Grubby.) Thanks to Mystery History for reminding us of fond memories from our days at SDSM&T.

From Craig Holden (CE 79) of Pierre, South Dakota: Mystery History, circa 1976, Vet's Club Beard Contest--left to right: Rollo Cain (Most Ticklish Beard), Don Turbiville (Best Mustache) and Dan Carpenter (Best Beard Most Like Grubby). Later that night they went up to the GDI all night double pinochle contest in the Palmerton Hall lobby which was won by Doug Biss.

From Randy Powell (MetE 75) of Elko, Nevada: In the most recent Foundation news, the mystery photo is from left to right: Rich Heig, Ken Miller, and possibly Ivan Melhauf or Dan Carpenter. I am just not 100% sure about the Delta Sig on the right. It looks like some kind of award ceremony. The time frame, 1973-1975. Rich and Ken graduated in 1975. Looks like Rich has his favorite plaid slacks on.

From Bill Rausch (MetE 77) of Richland, Washington: The middle guy is Don Turbiville. He was a Triangle member, I think CE 77. The other two look vaguely familiar but it was over 30 years ago and I don't remember either name. The guy on the right has Delta Sig burned into his cap so he must be a frat member too? Maybe all three are fraternity members and they were receiving some kind of award concerning frat membership?

From Gary Walker (MinE 80) of Rapid City, South Dakota: Not sure who the person is on the left. Person in the middle is ? Turbiville and the guy on the right is Dan (Thank you Lord for this Macho Meal ) Carpenter. Event was winners of the Vets Beard contest during M-Week 1975.

From Bob West (CE 75) of Martinez, California: My Triangle brother, Don Turbiville, is in the middle. The occasion could be a "Grubby Beard Contest” circa fall 1974. Sorry, I don't recognize the other two guys. It's been fun to reminisce about those times.......

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Dirks Brothers Establish Harrisburg Hardrocker Scholarship

Gary W. Dirks, Ph.D. (Chem 73) and Monte S. Dirks, M.D. (MetE 74) have established the Harrisburg Hardrocker Scholarship fund, an endowed scholarship to assist Harrisburg High School graduates at the School of Mines. The Dirks brothers were the first Harrisburg High School graduates to attend SDSM&T.

In Harrisburg both brothers were valedictorians and varsity sport captains. At the School of Mines, Gary was president of Circle K, an officer of ACS, and a member of AXE Fraternity. Monte was an officer of Pershing Rifles, Scabbard & Blade, and Triangle Fraternity; he was also a member of AIME. Both graduated with honors, and both have been named as Distinguished Alumni of the School of Mines, Gary in 2007 and Monte in 2008. They credit their professional success to academic and leadership experiences at SDSM&T.

Gary has had a long and productive career with British Petroleum. After obtaining his Ph.D. in chemistry from Arizona State University, he served in a variety of research, sales, and executive positions. He has been the CEO of British Petroleum – China for the past 12 years. In 2003, he received the Friendship Award from the People’s Republic of China, the highest award given by China to a foreign national. He was knighted into the Order of St. Michael and George by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005. He currently resides in Beijing, China, with his spouse, Jenny. Their daughter, Lisa, is a graduate student at Arizona State University.

Monte was commissioned into the U.S. Army from the School of Mines ROTC. He became an ophthalmic surgeon and health care executive in the U.S. Army Medical Corps after receiving his M.D. at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 1984. Upon retirement in 2000, he received the Legion of Merit from the Army Surgeon General. He is currently the chairman of the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in Rapid City.

Monte is active in clinical research with his wife, Luanne (Ex 74). He is a trustee of the School of Mines Foundation and past president of Triangle Fraternity Alumni Association. He was elected to Best Doctors in America in 2007 and received the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. They have three adult children and five grandchildren. Their son, Mike (West Point, 2000), is an Army Neurosurgeon at Walter Reed. Their daughter, Anne (AA GENST 02), resides in Sioux Falls with spouse, Jason Lamont (CSc 02). Their son, Rob, and his spouse, Kristen, have attended the School of Mines and reside in Rapid City.

The Dirks brothers believe that they have an obligation to provide educational opportunities similar to what they were afforded as students. They plan to support graduates from their own alma mater and enhance enrollment and retention at the School of Mines with this scholarship fund. Spencer Ferguson, an incoming freshman from Harrisburg High School, will be the first recipient of the Harrisburg Hardrocker Scholarship. Ferguson plans to major in mining engineering.

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Whitehead Honored with Music Scholarship upon Retirement

After 28 years at the School of Mines, Dr. Karen Whitehead, provost and vice president, has retired. To recognize her dedicated service, several honorary events were held including a campus coffee and reception, a hike to the top of Harney Peak, and a special “After Hours” (event held after the annual spring concert in April) which was dedicated to Whitehead in recognition of her love of music.

In addition to the events, a new scholarship fund, the Karen Whitehead Music Scholarship, was also recently established in Whitehead’s honor. Created by alumni choir members, colleagues, and friends with gifts to the School of Mines Foundation, the scholarship acknowledges Whitehead’s participation in the music program as well as to her many years of involvement in enhancing the overall educational experience at the School of Mines.

The Karen Whitehead Music Scholarship will assist students who share her same love of music, and the scholarship will be awarded to a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior School of Mines student who is involved in the music program. Contributions totaling up to $1,000 will be matched by a SDSM&T choir member alumnus.

Karen L. Whitehead has almost 30 years experience in higher education teaching, research, and administration. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in mathematics in 1982.

While completing her bachelor’s degree in German in 1966, Whitehead became involved in the emerging field of computer science through student employment on a research project on automated retrieval of medical literature. She worked as a computer programmer on this project, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, for four years, exploring techniques for simulating associative memories and text compression.

In 1969, Whitehead traveled to East Africa where she found employment teaching English at Ugandan secondary boarding schools, first at a boys’ technical school and later at a girls’ school. Returning to the United States in 1972, she worked as a programmer/analyst for Hennepin County Data Processing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

In 1973, her appetite for mathematics having been whetted by her involvement with computer science, Whitehead decided to start her college career a second time and began a joint program in computing studies and mathematics at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, England. There she spent her summers once again teaching English as a foreign language, this time to children of Middle Eastern businessmen and politicians. She transferred to the graduate program in the School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota, in 1975 where she completed her doctoral studies.

Whitehead’s enjoyment of teaching and love of mathematics led her to accept a position as an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at the School of Mines in 1981. She was quickly tapped for a succession of administrative positions, serving as an assistant to the vice president, 1984-86, head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, 1986-1993, and dean of the College of Systems Engineering, 1994-1997. 

Throughout her duration in these administrative positions, Whitehead remained active as a classroom teacher, developing new courses and exploring ways to incorporate collaborative learning and portfolio assessment into her classes. In 1996 Whitehead developed the PRIME (Personalized Resources for Individualized Mathematics Education) program, a flexible, individualized, competency-based program for pre-calculus level mathematics based on the premise that virtually all students can master mathematics given sufficient time and access to adequate resources. In addition to pedagogical investigations, Whitehead’s scholarly interests range from the use of hierarchical neural networks in pattern classification to the works of Gauss on celestial mechanics.

In July 1997 Whitehead became the vice president for Academic Affairs at the School of Mines, and she has continued, over the course of the last decade, to be a champion of School of Mines students. In 2004, she personally initiated the Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Scholarship fund. This endowed scholarship supports female freshmen majoring in science or engineering. Upon establishing the scholarship, Whitehead stated, “There is a vast need for more women in science and engineering programs in this country and on the School of Mines campus. I saw an opportunity to make a difference by establishing the WISE Scholarship endowment […which will] provide assistance for women of our day and for women of the future.”

Whitehead enjoys hiking in the Black Hills, gardening, and music. She has sung with student choral groups at the School of Mines for many years, is substitute organist at her church, and is a member of the board of the Black Hills Chamber Music Society.

Those wishing to honor Whitehead’s retirement and her ongoing legacy to the School of Mines and its students may contribute to the Karen Whitehead Music Scholarship or the WISE Scholarship fund through the SDSM&T Foundation or by visiting http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/provost

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Russells Establish Charitable Trust to Benefit SDSM&T

Dale and Luanne Russell recently made a generous gift to a charitable remainder trust that will greatly benefit the School of Mines in future years.

The Russells have owned and operated 30 apartments or houses within two blocks of the School of Mines campus for the last 15 years. Over the years, they have rented to numerous SDSM&T students which they have found to be very rewarding. Some of the tenants included the Alpha Omega Epsilon Sorority (for 13 years) and more recently AXE fraternity.

While Dale and Luanne have enjoyed meeting and working with the students over the years, they wanted to simplify their lives and relieve themselves of the responsibility of managing all of these  properties as they eased their way into retirement. This prompted their decision to donate a portion of their properties into a charitable remainder trust and sell the rest to the Foundation.

At the end of the trust term, the principal will be used for unrestricted support to the SDSM&T Foundation. This property will provide a valuable opportunity for the campus to expand to the west in the future, if necessary.

Two of Dale and Luanne’s five children, Tracie (Russell) Veazey (CSc 94) and Sara (Russell) MacDonald (EE 00), are alumni of SDSM&T. The Russell’s other children include Todd (MS Wildlife Biology, SDSU), Melissa (MS Athletic Administration, USD), and Troy (an electrician graduating from NW Technical School in Bellingham, Washington).

Dale was a civil engineering graduate who retired after 34 years with the South Dakota Department of Transportation, and Luanne is a kindergarten teacher at Valley View Elementary School.

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