SDSM&T Hardrock Magazine Fall 2008

• Scaling New Heights p. 6

• School of Mines Home to NSF Research Center p. 8

• Cargill Donates $.5 Million to School of Mines p. 10

• Geology Goes Global p. 12

• Helping Local Industry Keep on Rolling p. 14

• Education Across Borders p. 16

• Scientist to Patent Nano Research p. 18

• Building Computers, Building Futures p. 20

• Athletes Team for Success p. 21

...and much more!

Dear Alumni and Friends,

The 125th anniversary of the South Dakota Schoolof Mines and Technology in 2010 is on thehorizon. As we approach this significant historicevent, we can take pride in knowing that one ofMines’ best traditions is that it is, and has been, agreat institution. Jim Collins, author of thebestselling book Good to Great (2001) andsubsequent monograph Good to Great and theSocial Sector (2005), writes “A great organization isone that delivers superior performance and makesa distinctive impact over a long period of time.” AtMines we clearly “deliver on our mission and makea distinctive impact, relative to our resources.”Mines achieves great results.

Thanks to you, some of these great results include an engaged andsuccessful learning environment for our wonderfully bright, talented, anddedicated students; building on our tradition of excellence in undergraduateand graduate education. Another great result is our ability to attract andretain our stellar faculty directly impacting our students’ career placement(99 percent placement rate for 2006-07 graduates--more than 90 percent ofour 2007-08 graduates are already working in their career fields or pursuingadvanced degrees) and future career success (with average starting salariesof approximately $56,000 in 2008) while serving the needs of industry,academe, and the global society through the preparation of highly qualified,young leaders in science and engineering. This, of course, is achievedthrough dynamic partnerships contributing to our students’ internships andcoop experiences. Thanks to many, the School of Mines was recently namedone of America's 100 Best College Buys for the eleventh consecutive year.

Our research opportunities are expanding for undergraduate and graduatestudents under the superior guidance and support of our fine faculty whoare growing the research enterprise with great dedication and success. Asyou know, our initiatives at the Deep Underground Science and EngineeringLaboratory are continuing to be a golden research collaboration for allinvolved and brings our students in contact with world-renowned scientistsand researchers in many disciplines.

We must continue our tradition of greatness at Mines. To do so, it is criticalto enhance our prospects for sustainability by increasing our enrollmentfrom throughout South Dakota, the U.S., and the world with careful attentionto increasing our recruitment of women and underrepresented populations.

We need you to continue to contribute to an energetic, future focused,thriving Mines that embraces the best of its traditions. So I would ask youto tell friends and prospective students in your community and throughoutthe world about the greatness of Mines, and continue to give generously sothat we have the resources for educational growth including new programsand research opportunities to give our students the finest, world-classeducational experience on the planet.

As members of the School of Mines family, our every action is critical toadvancing the university’s position as an educational leader in the 21stcentury. As alumni and friends, you play an incredibly important role inupholding and advancing the university’s reputation. The School of Mines ispreparing the next generation of leaders in science, engineering, andtechnology. I invite you to collaborate in this enterprise – together we willcreate transformational opportunities for our students, continue ourtradition of greatness, and invent tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Robert A. WhartonPresident

P.S. If you are not already receiving my e-newsletter, mailed approximatelytwice per month, and would like to be included, please register at<http://president.sdsmt.edu> or contact my office by emailing<[email protected]> or by phone at (605) 394-2411. The Hardrock isalso available on-line at <http://news.sdsmt.edu/hardrock/>.

Perspectives

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology does notdiscriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,military status, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation,political preference or disability in employment or theprovision of service.

SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

FALL 2008UNIVERSITY CABINET

PresidentDr. Robert A. Wharton

Assistant to the PresidentCarol A. Jensen

Academic AffairsDr. Karen L. Whitehead

Provost and Vice President,Interim Dean, College of Engineering

Dr. Kathyrn E. AlleyAssociate Vice President

Business and AdministrationTimothy G. Henderson, Vice President

Research AffairsDale Skillman, Interim Vice President

Student AffairsDr. Patricia G. Mahon, Vice President and

Dean of StudentsUniversity and Public Relations

Julie A. Smoragiewicz, Vice PresidentSDSM&T Alumni Association

Tim Vottero (Chem84), DirectorSDSM&T Foundation

L.R. “Rod” Pappel (ME77), PresidentCollege of Science and Letters

Dr. Duane Hrncir, DeanGraduate Education

Dr. John H. Helsdon, DeanFacilities Services

Mitch M. Miller, DirectorFaculty Senate

Dr. David A. Boyles (Chem78), ChairCareer Service Employees

Richard J. MacDonald, ChairExempt Employees

Kelli R. Shuman, ChairStudent Association

Marcus J. Bartlett, President

On the cover:Cover Photo: The South DakotaSchool of Mines and Technologywelcomes institution’s 18th leader,Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D. Story p. 6

The Hardrock Fall 2008

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1The Hardrock Fall 2008

PerspectivesALUMNI ASSOCIATIONBOARD OF DIRECTORS

PresidentRalph Wagner (CE75)

President ElectMike Langerman (ME72)

Immediate Past PresidentMarlene Nelson (ME74)

Executive Vice PresidentPaul Gnirk (MinE59)

TreasurerJohn Davies (ChE71)

SecretaryTim Vottero (Chem84)

BOARD MEMBERS TO 2009Scott Rausch (EE75)

Dale Skillman (ME73)Nayyer Syed (Geol94)Gene Woodle (ChE70)

BOARD MEMBERS TO 2010Barb Dolan (CSc87)

Wayne Greaves (GeolE71)Dean Herll (CE92)

Joanne Noyes (M.S. Geol87)

BOARD MEMBERS TO 2011Jason Ash (ME99)Kate Hagan (IS04)

Jon Kellar (MetE84)Kelly Whitaker (M.S. TM98)

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF

Alumni DirectorTim Vottero

Assistant to the DirectorErika Haverly

Alumni AssociationSurbeck Center

501 E. Saint Joseph St.Rapid City, SD 57701-3995

Office: (605) 394-2347FAX: (605) 394-2383

E-mail: [email protected]: www.sdsmt.edu/alumni

Dear Alumni and Friends,

What fun it has been to meet and visit with ouralumni over the past year! Memorableadventures include driving to Yankton acrossHighway 18 in a blizzard, road tripping withLarry Simonson (EE69) from Tulsa to Memphisto New Orleans, and then the followingweekend with Mary Jane (Meola) Green (CE78)from Wichita to Kansas City. Everywhere I havebeen I find alumni have at least three things incommon: pride in our roots, personal andprofessional drive, and lots of enjoyablememories to share of South Dakota and ourtimes at the School of Mines.

Following the mid-July Alumni Association Board meeting, the AlumniAssociation sponsored a “Meet the New President Mixer” with Rapid Cityarea alumni to give a warm welcome to the eighteenth President of theSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Dr. Robert Wharton, andfirst lady, Dr. Carolyn Fassi Wharton.

Alumni Association participation and funding continue to be ourchallenge. Alumni Board Treasurer John Davies (ChE71) is working withthe Executive Committee and the Alumni Office to prepare a simplifiedannual report for the Association this year, which marks the beginningof our 75th Anniversary (1934-2009) as an Alumni Association. Ourobjective is to provide transparency of our financial situation.Additionally, an Alumni Association/Foundation task force is exploringpotential opportunities to create administrative efficiencies betweenboth organizations.

While reading the memorial section of the last Hardrock, I was saddenedto learn of the death of one of my classmates. I had not seen him sincegraduation, but had always hoped to reconnect at some point. I amreminded of the precious nature of our relationships with friends andalumni. The evolution of technology and pace of life has changed us.Instead of picking up the telephone it has become our custom to launchan e-mail to get in touch and our more recent alumni are likely to useInternet communities to maintain friendships. Connecting alumni toeach other remains a strategic objective of the Alumni Association andwe will continue to pursue tools to make that simpler – your alumnicontributions can help make that possible.

Ralph Wagner (CE75) was inaugurated in early October as your 2009Alumni Association President. It will be a busy year with significantattention devoted to preparation for the 2010 reunion – July 7-11, 2010!

Thank you for your support!

Warm regards,

Marlene Nelson (ME 74) SDSM&T Alumni President

Our mission: To advance the interests, influence and reputation of theSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology, by fostering anddeveloping the continued interest and active support of alumni andfriends.

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Campus Profile

2 The Hardrock Fall 2008

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Features

Local Industry Keeps on Rolling

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Education Across Borders16

Nano Research18

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Scaling New HeightsNSF Research Center

10 Cargill Donates $500,000

Student Spotlight26Campus Briefings27

56 Memorials60 Personnel Changes

66 Calendar of Events

Research Notes29 Area Meetings32Class Notes46

3 Golden NuggetsTeam Successes22

THE HARDROCK MAGAZINEPRODUCTION STAFF

Executive EditorsJulie A. SmoragiewiczTim Vottero (Chem84)

EditorMitchell S. Vander Vorst

WriterBreanna V. Bishop

Graphic Design and LayoutMelinda A. PoyourowCirculation AssistantSharon F. Dominicak

The Hardrock is published semiannuallyby the SDSM&T Alumni Association andthe South Dakota School of Mines and

Technology Office of University and PublicRelations. The Hardrock is a trademarkedname of the SDSM&T Alumni Association.Subscriptions are available free of charge.Submissions of articles, photographs, and

artwork are encouraged but will not bereturned without a self-addressed,

stamped envelope.For additional information, subscription

requests, or address corrections:

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Office of University and Public Relations501 E. Saint Joseph St.

Rapid City, SD 57701-3995(605) 394-2554 • (877) 877-6044

e-mail: [email protected] Sales(605) 394-6081

Reaching Out62

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has been a national leader inpreparing world-class engineers and scientists since 1885. Our graduatesdesign, construct, and operate the most modern technology to meet complexchallenges such as global warming, health care delivery, energy resourcedevelopment, mineral extraction and processing, environmental quality,futuristic transportation, and national defense. Our alumni are held in thehighest regard by their fellow leaders in industry, consulting, government,health, research, and education.

The School of Mines continuously adapts to meet the needs of engineeringand science. Rugged individuals and pioneers in engineering and sciencefounded the School of Mines’ intellectual environment more than a century ago.Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni carry on that tradition today.

The School of Mines is a state supported university that provides graduateand undergraduate degrees in science and engineering. The School of Mines isan AQIP institution, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission andcommitted to quality and continuous improvement.2008-2009 Enrollment:2,061 students from 40 states and 29 countries.Costs and Fees: A School of Mines education has never been more affordable. 2008-2009annual undergraduate costs for tuition, fees, books, room, and board totalapproximately $13,170 per year for South Dakota residents and $14,490 fornon-residents.Research: Researchers conduct state-of-the-art research that benefits the state, theregion, and the nation through advances in technology and economicdevelopment. In Fiscal Year 2008, researchers received more than $10.1 millionin funding for 90 projects. Funding agencies included the National ScienceFoundation, the State of South Dakota, NASA, the Department of Education,Army Research Laboratory, and many more. Faculty: The School of Mines employs 135 full-time faculty members, more than 74percent of whom hold doctorate or other appropriate terminal degrees.Honors and Awards:• One of America’s Best College Buys for the eleventh consecutive year• One of approximately 200 Colleges of DistinctionPlacement:Starting salary offers to our graduates average approximately $56,000. Morethan 99 percent of 2006-2007 graduates have found jobs in their career fieldsor graduate professional programs.

Bachelor of Science Degrees Chemical EngineeringChemistryCivil EngineeringComputer EngineeringComputer ScienceElectrical EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringGeological EngineeringGeology Industrial Engineering and

Engineering ManagementInterdisciplinary SciencesMathematicsMechanical EngineeringMetallurgical EngineeringMining EngineeringPhysics

Master of Science Degrees Atmospheric SciencesBiomedical EngineeringChemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Science Electrical EngineeringGeology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and ScienceMechanical EngineeringPaleontologyTechnology ManagementDoctor of Philosophy DegreesAtmospheric and Environmental

Sciences Biomedical EngineeringChemical and Biological EngineeringGeology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and ScienceNanoscience and Nanoengineering

Geology Goes Global

Building Computers, Futures20

Athletes Team for Success21

Investment Pays Off19

Golden Nuggets

School of Mines holds 157thcommencement

The School of Mines held its 157thCommencement May 10, 2008, and awarded degreesto more than 200 undergraduate and graduatestudents. In addition, 35 alumni from the class of1958 attended the ceremony and receivedcertificates commemorating the fiftieth anniversaryof their graduation.

Dr. Thomas O.Hunter joined theSchool of Mines ascommencementspeaker. Dr. Huntercurrently serves aspresident of SandiaCorporation, aLockheed MartinCompany, anddirector of SandiaNational Laboratories.Sandia Corporationmanages SandiaNational Laboratories,with principal sites inAlbuquerque, NewMexico, andLivermore, California,for the United States

Department of Energy’s National Nuclear SecurityAdministration. Dr. Hunter joined Sandia in 1967and became president in April 2005. His responsibilities include managing the Laboratories’$2.2 billion annual budget and approximately 8,400employees.

Dr. Hunter earned a bachelor’s degree from theUniversity of Florida, master’s degrees from theUniversity of New Mexico and University ofWisconsin, and a Ph.D. from the University ofWisconsin. He has been recognized as adistinguished alumnus by both the University of


The School of Mines 157th commencement was held at theRushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena on May 10, 2008

Commencement speaker Dr.Thomas O. Hunter, president ofSandia Corporation and directorof Sandia National Laboratories

Members of the class of 1958

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Florida and the University of Wisconsin.Firas Khoury (EE08) and Wes Snaza (ME08)

represented thestudent body. Whileattending the Schoolof Mines, Khoury wasinvolved inInternational StudentMinistry, Eta KappaNu Association, andTau Beta Pi honorsociety. Khouryreceived severalhonors and awardsduring his time at theSchool of Mines,including theOutstanding ElectricalEngineering Senior in2008, Tau Beta PiScholarship, Robertand Corinne FerrisScholarship, MauriceL. Cleland Scholarship,Peter StephansScholarship, andplaced on the Dean’sList.

During his time atthe School of Mines,Snaza participated inmultiple activitiesincluding Society ofAutomotive Engineers(SAE), Formula SAE,Center of AdvancedManufacturing andProduction, Connolly

Hall resident assistant, Mechanical EngineeringStudent Advisory Board, Student Ambassador,Student Orientation Leader, Phi Eta Sigma HonorSociety, and Tau Beta Pi honor society. Snaza servedas treasurer of the Society of Automotive Engineersand held multiple leadership positions withinFormula SAE including sponsorship coordinator,project manager, and engineering lead of the sixthplace 2007 team. He was honored as an outstandingstudent organization member and inducted into thestudent leadership hall of fame for his work as ateam member of Formula SAE and mentoring withinCAMP.

The School of Mines also honored Jerrold L.Brown (CE65) with the Guy E. March Medal. Aftergraduating in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in civilengineering, Brown was commissioned as second

lieutenant in theUnited States ArmyCorps of Engineers.In 1966, he enteredthe United StatesArmy where hegraduated from ArmyParatrooper School atFort Benning,Georgia. Brownserved at FortCampbell, Kentuckyand went to SouthVietnam in 1967. Heserved with the 87thEngineer Battalion(Construction) as aplatoon leader and

company commander. He was awarded the BronzeStar, the Vietnamese Service Ribbon, and theVietnam Campaign Ribbon.

In the fall of 1968, Brown entered graduateschool and earned a master’s degree in civilengineering in 1970. He began working for BirdsallSand & Gravel Co., Rapid City, South Dakota, inSeptember 1969. In 1981 he became president andchief executive officer of the company. Brownretired as vice president and general manager forPete Lien & Sons. He was awarded the 2001 SouthDakota Engineering Society’s Engineer of the Yearaward.

School of Mines inducted into Great PlainsCooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The School of Mines has been approved formembership in the Great Plains CooperativeEcosystem Studies Unit (GP-CESU). The mission ofthe GP-CESU is to determine the ecological state ofpublic lands of the Great Plains and examine itsfuture within the context of private lands. Thisdetermination is focused on improving the scientificbasis for managing ecosystems in the region,through more active and interactive technicalassistance, research, and education among thepartner institutions and agencies.

Inclusion of the School of Mines as a partner inthe GP-CESU is a recognition by its peers of itsunique facilities and expertise. Membership isselective and requires a unanimous vote of the CESUexecutive committee which bases its decision on theability of the prospective partner institution tosignificantly expand the capabilities and skills of theunit.

Established in October 2000, the GP-CESU, withthe addition of the School of Mines, has 14


Golden Nuggets continued

Guy E. March Medalist Jerrold L. Brown (CE65)

Senior class representative Wes Snaza (ME08)

Senior class representative Firas Khoury (EE08)

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university partners and seven federal agencypartners. Its membership includes the University ofNebraska, Black Hills State University, ColoradoState University, Kansas State University, LangstonUniversity, North Dakota State University, SouthDakota State University, Texas A&M University, theUniversity of Minnesota, the University of NorthDakota, the University of Oklahoma, the Universityof South Dakota, and the University of Wyoming.The federal agency partners are the U.S. GeologicalSurvey, the Bureau of Land Management, theNational Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, theUnited States Bureau of Reclamation, the NaturalResources Conservation Service, and the UnitedStates Fish and Wildlife Service.

School of Mines wins DAC ScholarsAward

For the fourth consecutive year, the School ofMines is the recipient of the Dakota AthleticConference (DAC) Scholars Award.

The award is presented annually to the schoolwith the highest percentage of student-athleteshonored as DAC Scholar-Athletes. Forty-eightpercent of Hardrocker athletes earned recognitionfor their academic achievements.

In order to be recognized as a DAC Scholar-Athlete, a student-athlete must have a cumulativegrade point average of 3.25 or better and haveearned twelve or more credit hours for a semester inwhich he/she participates in a conference sponsoredsport.

Technology Management program namedbest buy

The technology management master’s programat the School of Mines has been ranked as a bestbuy by GetEducated.com. A Best Buy designationindicates that a program has been reviewed andjudged to offer a high quality distance degree to anational audience at tuition rates well below thenational average. The average cost of a distancemasters in the engineering area, according to thenational survey, which included 216 programs, is$23,203. At $9,280, the School of Mines ranked fifth.

For the complete rankings, visit<http://www.geteducated.com/rankings/best_engineer.asp>.

The Hardrock Fall 2008 5

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During the past decade the South Dakota Schoolof Mines and Technology has continued to strive forexcellence in science and engineering education andresearch. With the recent retirement of Dr. CharlesRuch as president, and the subsequent presidentialsearch, the School of Mines found the perfect fit inRobert A. Wharton, Ph.D.

The South Dakota Board of Regents and theSchool of Mines were looking for a president whowas much more than an able academic andadministrator. The search was on for someone with aunique perspective who could establish theuniversity’s national presence and profile and whohad stature in both academic and industry circles.

On July 1, 2008, Wharton became the eighteenthpresident of the South Dakota School of Mines andTechnology. President Wharton will lead theuniversity in a time of tremendous opportunity andchange, past new milestones and challenges.Through President Wharton’s strategic focusingefforts, the School of Mines is committed tocontinuing and accelerating the university’s growthand enhancing the strong community andinstitutional relationships already in place.

President Wharton found just what he waslooking for in the School of Mines: a university with areputation for preparing student leaders as the nextgeneration of engineers and scientists, which wasfocused on research and technology commercial-ization, and heavily involved in economicdevelopment. The legacy of accomplishments left byPresident Emeritus Ruch provided the university withthe perfect profile to match President Wharton’sinterests, abilities, and aspirations. A number ofopportunities are at the doorstep ready for PresidentWharton’s leadership.

The National Science Foundation’s recentselection of the Sanford Underground Science andEngineering Laboratory at Homestake as thedevelopment site for the Deep Underground Scienceand Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) is but one of themany recent opportunities for the School of Mines toshowcase its excellence and provide leadership. Theproject, led by Co-Principal Investigator Dr. BillRoggenthen (GeolE69), professor of geology andgeological engineering, provides for unlimitedresearch potential in projects ranging from physicsand geology to biology. Roggenthen and others at theSchool of Mines have worked closely with renownedscientists from the University of California Berkeley,the project lead on DUSEL, as well as eminentresearchers from around the world. A number ofSchool of Mines’ faculty members are already takingadvantage of these opportunities, with research

projects ranging from seismology to microor-ganisms living in the extreme conditions of theformer mine.

Industry partners have also stepped forward todemonstrate their commitment to the School ofMines and its students with a number of significantgifts. Nucor recently made a donation of $1 millionto fund the Nucor Endowed Professorship forMetallurgical and Steelmaking Technologies, andnamed Dr. Dana Medlin as the endowed professor.The new professorship will provide critical supportfor steelmaking research and ensure thecontinuation of higher education in the field. Fundswill also be used to support graduate andundergraduate students working with the namedfaculty, support travel, dues, professionalenrichment, and other necessary research andteaching expenditures.

Cargill has also donated $500,000 to provide abioprocessing laboratory and teaching space for thechemical and biological engineering departmentwithin the planned Chemical and BiologicalEngineering/Chemistry Building and to fund newbioprocessing equipment, student field trips, andcontinued education of the faculty of the chemicaland biological engineering department (see page 10).In addition, a $30,000 donation from Halliburtonwill provide student and faculty support andprovide opportunities for the company to partnerwith the university in developing new technologies.

Support for the School of Mines also comes fromprivate donors. A very generous million dollar giftfrom Linda and Larry Pearson (ME72) hasestablished the Pearson Chair in mechanicalengineering. The recipient will have the opportunityto focus on all areas of energy sustainabilityincluding the availability of energy resources;technologies required to extract, process, distribute,and generate power from them; alternative andS

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Strategic Focusing Efforts

• Continuous quality improvement• Growing graduate programs and

the research enterprise• Optimizing enrollment• Furthering our leadership role in

the Deep Underground Science andEngineering Lab (DUSEL).


sustainable energy sources; and the besttechnologies and management practices for dealingwith utilization efficiency and conservation ofenergy.

Industry and private donations are recognitionof the School of Mines ascent as a premierinstitution, and the university looks forward tocontinuing these successful partnerships as well ascreating new ones. These recent achievements areonly the beginning. Under the leadership ofPresident Wharton, the School of Mines will continueto provide critical support and leadership to theDUSEL project, and looks forward to a new world ofopportunities for students and faculty to formcollaborations within areas that weren’t as availablebefore.

The university has also been identified as thesite of a new National Science Foundation (NSF)Industry/ University Cooperative Research Center(I/UCRC) in the area of bioenergy — one of onlyapproximately 50 I/UCRC’s in the nation. The newI/UCRC Center for Bioenergy Research andDevelopment will be a consortium of universities,industrial partners, and governmental agencies (seepage 8). The School of Mines is one of only eightuniversities to lead two I/UCRC’s; the other beingFriction Stir Processing established in 2004.

Guided by our far-reaching strategic foci, theSchool of Mines is well on the way to improving itsstatus as one of the nation’s premier science andengineering universities. The achievements of recentmonths offer a glimpse at the impact we are havingacross our state and around the world. Our potentialis unlimited and with the leadership of PresidentWharton and the rest of our campus community, theSchool of Mines has embraced this opportunity tothrive.

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President Wharton came to the School ofMines from Idaho State University (ISU), wherehe served as provost and vice president foracademic affairs. Wharton was also a tenuredprofessor of biology at ISU and previouslyserved as its chief research officer, leading theuniversity’s efforts to foster, support, andexpand its research enterprise.

His Ph.D. in botany is from VirginiaPolytechnic Institute. He also holds a M.A.degree in biology and a B.A. in botany fromHumboldt State University in California. Hehas served with the National ScienceFoundation, NASA, and the Jet PropulsionLaboratory, is a Royal Geographic SocietyFellow, and was awarded the Antarctic ServiceMedal.

President Wharton has been to Antarctica11 times and is an avid adventurer. As a rockand ice climber, he has found the Black Hillsto be a perfect fit and plans to take advantageof all the opportunities the area has to offer.

Wharton is married to Carolyn R. FassiWharton, D.P.A., a native of St. Louis, Missouri.Fassi Wharton has 20 years of experienceworking in health care administration at thefederal, state, and local levels, in privateindustry, and in academe as a faculty member.President Wharton’s son, Matthew Wharton, isa software engineer with Ericsson Corp. inColorado.

The presidential inauguration for RobertA. Wharton, Ph.D., will be held on Monday,April 6, 2009. More information is available at<http://president.sdsmt.edu>.

Every day I am more impressed with thisinstitution and its accomplishments. The attitudeof the people on campus, in terms of wanting tomake this the best educational experiencepossible for our students, is remarkable. I amconfident that the School of Mines is poised toclaim its position as a premier science andengineering institution, in terms of education,research, leadership, and impact.

President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D.”

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The South Dakota School of Mines andTechnology has been named the site of a newNational Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) inthe area of bioenergy. The new I/UCRC, the Centerfor Bioenergy Research and Development, willreceive substantial funding at the multi-milliondollar level from both the National ScienceFoundation and sponsoring industries.

“The selection of the School of Mines as the siteof a second I/UCRC is a testament to our reputationas an outstanding research institution,” School ofMines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., said.“We look forward to working with our partners toadvance bioenergy research.”

Dr. Duane Abata, professor, mechanicalengineering, will serve as the I/UCRC coordinatorand Dr. David Dixon (ChE78), professor and chair,chemical and biological engineering, will serve asthe School of Mines site director.

“Energy is fast being recognized as a nationalproblem and concern. Renewable energy will play animportant part in fulfilling our national energyportfolio, and relieving our reliance on foreign oil,”Dixon said. “Our new research center will examineways to find, improve, and commercializebio/renewable energy routes and systems. We hopeto see process and economic improvements to

existing bioenergy systemslike the corn ethanolindustry. We also expectto see research comingout of the center thatleads to innovation inthe cellulosic fuel area,which has an even greaterpotential to positively impactour nation’s energy needs.”

The School of Mines will be the hostinstitution for the center, which will be aconsortium of universities, industrial partners,and governmental agencies.

“This is such a great opportunity for theSchool of Mines to establish national andinternational visibility in the bioenergy researcharena. We are the only bioenergy center fundedby the NSF in the country,” Abata said. “This isalso a wonderful opportunity for our students toparticipate in cutting-edge, ground-breakingbioenergy research.”

This idea of proposing a bioenergy researchcenter has been brewing for at least two years,long before energy prices shot up and thegovernment determined the importance ofalternative energy production. It was in the backof Dr. Abata’s mind when he became engineeringdean in 2006.

“I knew our bioprocessing interest andcapabilities were very strong,” he said. “Westarted talking with other universities andeveryone was very enthusiastic. We met inMinneapolis with potential site directors and thenlaunched a massive effort to recruit industrypartners and submit the NSF application.”

Members of the consortium include SouthDakota School of Mines and Technology, SouthDakota State University, Kansas State University,North Carolina State University, State Universityof New York Stony Brook and the University ofHawaii. These schools have already shown astrong commitment to, and understanding of, thegreat need for bioenergy research, investing acombined total of more than $100 million priorto the creation of the center. The universitiesbenefit from the opportunities to partner withother leading institutions to conduct industriallyrelevant research, and receive seed funding andrecognition as a National Science Foundation(NSF) research center with access to professionalresources and guidance aimed towards enhancing

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global competitiveness.Each university pledges, as part of the

membership agreement, to bring five industry orgovernmental partners on-board, which yields astrong industry commitment of more than 30members. The membership fee for industries is$50,000 per year. While that is a substantialcommitment, it is a mere fraction of what theindustry partners would pay to do independentresearch. It allows them to leverage their researchand development funds while gaining access tomulti-university centers renowned for theirinnovative research capabilities.

University researchers benefit fromcollaborative efforts with their counterparts at theother institutions, increasing productivity byavoiding duplication of work. They are also notcompeting against each other for the same nicheresearch funding. They have the advantage ofexposure to real world industry research needs.

Industrial partners are able to benefit fromthe talents and resources of the universities,directing research toward topics which mayotherwise not be investigated. They are permittedto jointly discuss pre-competitive work withoutdirect violation of anti-trust laws. Thispartnership also proves to be an excellentrecruiting tool, building the future for the

company and providing job opportunities forgraduates.

The School of Mines has already seenconsiderable benefits from its Friction StirProcessing I/UCRC, which was started in October2004. It has given many students the opportunityto participate and be funded in their researchefforts.

“We bring the undergraduates in early, getthem excited, and engage them in research. In thebeginning they may not completely understandeverything they are asked to do in the lab, but asthey go through their academic courses, what theysee in the classroom becomes more tangiblebecause they have seen how it is applied,” WilliamArbegast, director, Center for Friction StirProcessing, said. “It is also quite an honor to bechosen to be the host university for our secondNSF I/UCRC.”

This is such a great opportunity for the

School of Mines to establish national and

international visibility in the bioenergy

research arena.

Dr. Duane AbatacoordinatorIndustry/University CooperativeResearch Center (I/UCRC)

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In March 2008, officials from the SouthDakota School of Mines and Technology andCargill announced a major gift of $500,000.

“On behalf of the entire university, I wouldlike to thank Cargill for its generous gift,”School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton,Ph.D., said. “Our longstanding, successfulpartnership has been strengthened by thisgenerous donation that will help prepare

future engineers and scientists.”Cargill’s gift – which will be donated over

a five-year period – will be split into twocomponents. The first $250,000 will be usedto provide a bioprocessing laboratory andteaching space for the chemical and biologicalengineering department within the plannedChemical and BiologicalEngineering/Chemistry Building. The second

$250,000 will be used to fund new bioprocessingequipment, student field trips, and continuededucation of the faculty of the chemical andbiological engineering department.

“We’ve had a great relationship with Cargill overthe years,” Dr. Dave Dixon (ChE78), chair, chemicaland biological engineering, said. “And now one ofthe primary recruiters of our chemical engineeringstudents is also one of our major contributors. Wecouldn’t be happier.”

Dr. Patrick Gilcrease, assistant professor,chemical and biological engineering, is leading thedevelopment of the bioprocessing curriculum. He

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explained, “While chemical engineers havetraditionally worked in the oil andgas/petrochemical industries, global demand fornourishing foods, biofuels, biopharmaceuticals, andbioremediation requires that chemical engineersunderstand both chemical and biological systems.”

“Our chemical engineering program is evolvingto teach the skills and knowledge that bioprocessingcompanies like Cargill need; these skills are alsocritical for the development of value-addedagriculture within the state of South Dakota,” hesaid.

The gift was made possible by contributionsfrom several of Cargill’s businesses including CargillCorn Milling; Cargill Grain and Oilseed SupplyChain; and Cargill Dressings, Sauces and Oils.

“Cargill has a long history with South DakotaSchool of Mines and Technology, and many of itsgraduates are now valued employees,” Bob Siegert,

vice president of Cargill’s corn milling business,said. “We’re proud to partner on this projectand help these students achieve success in theclassroom and beyond.”

Cargill is an international provider of food,agricultural and risk management products andservices. With 158,000 employees in 66countries, the company is committed to usingits knowledge and experience to collaboratewith customers to help them succeed. For moreinformation, visit <http://www.cargill.com>.

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More than 100 students experiencedhands-on geology this summer through theBlack Hills Natural Science Field Station.

The station, a cooperative programformed by a consortium of colleges anduniversities including South Dakota School ofMines and Technology (the host institution),the University of Mississippi, the Universityof North Dakota, and the University ofWisconsin-Milwaukee, offers a variety of fieldcourses in geology and geologicalengineering every summer. This year, 101participants from 34 universities, includingthe School of Mines, Harvard, Texas A&M,and Purdue University, attended camps inTurkey, India, and the United States.

In the United States, camps were offeredfrom Ranch A, a historic log mansion locatedin the northern Black Hills near Beulah,Wyoming and from the School of Minescampus in Rapid City.

Participants of the basic geology camps,which included youth grades 9-12 and

college freshmen, were taught to read a compassand topographic and geologic maps and tounderstand water, volcanoes, landslides, andearthquakes. They also learned about the uniquegeology of the Black Hills and how they wereformed.

More advanced camps were held for collegejuniors and seniors studying geologicalengineering, physical geology, mineralogy,petrology, stratigraphy/sedimentation, andstructural geology. Practical applications ofengineering and environmental problems wereemphasized with a good portion of the time beingdevoted to engineering problems includingsurface-water and ground-water hydrology,geomechanics, engineering work design, andmineral resource assessment in the northern BlackHills and northeastern Wyoming.

An environmental geology field camp wasoffered for undergraduate and post-graduatestudents requiring additional training to currentfield and laboratory methods that are utilized todelineate, define, and characterize environmentalfield problems. There were also opportunities to

study paleontology at Fossil Lake, Oregon,and on the Standing Rock Indian

Reservation, which extendsfrom North Dakota to

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In Turkey, the field camps were based at theTaskesti field station, located on the NorthAnatolian Fault Zone, about 150 miles east ofIstanbul. Participants studied the spectaculargeology and culture of the Tethys realm. Culturalexperiences included Sunday trips to museumsand shopping centers in Ankara and Istanbul andto beaches on the Black Sea.

In India, an environmental geology field camp,exploring coastal environmental issues, was heldin the Andaman Islands and the port city ofChennai. It was sponsored by the Black HillsNatural Science Field Station and the Institute ofAtmospheric Sciences at the School of Mines incooperation with Anna University in Chennai. Thiscamp was an intense three-week training in coastalecological issues including groundwater studies,

mangrove ecology, and coastal and oceanbiogeochemistry. It also integrated hard rockgeology and a comparative study of tsunami-impacted and unimpacted coastal ecosystemsin the Andaman Islands off the coast of India.The students also gained unique researchexperience in ocean biogeochemistry as theywere allowed to take part in a cruise of theIndian Ocean aboard an ocean research vessel.

Plans are in the works for a geology fieldcamp in the Himalayas in summer 2009. Thesefield camps provide students theopportunities to not only learn more aboutgeology, but about culture and collaboration.

“This type of experience is life-changing,”Dr. Nuri Uzunlar (Ph.D. Geol83), director ofthe Black Hills Natural Sciences Field Station,

said. “In a compound they areliving with faculty and studentsday and night. They come awaywith a different perspective inboth science and life, and ahuge leap in personal andprofessional growth.”

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It’s a common theme that graduates of theSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technologyreceive the education and experience thatallows them to work anywhere they want. Butwhat if they want to stay in the area?

Lehman Trikes USA, Inc., a company thatbegan as a family project and has grown intoan international and publicly-traded operation,has given several School of Mines graduates theopportunity to do just that. Lehman Trikesreceived its start from the conflict betweenfounder John Lehman’s love of motorcycles andhis wife Linda’s objection to riding amotorcycle with one of their two small childrenon the back.

Lehman envisioned building a three-wheeled motorcycle that would provide Lindapeace of mind, and he set out to do just that.He bought a 1981 Honda® CB900, and beganworking on what would be the prototype oftoday’s modern three-wheeled motorcycle, ortrike. Production started small with just a fewemployees and a small space, but demand grewas word began to spread about Lehman’s trikes.In 1993, Lehman’s long-time friend, LarryStrilchuk became John’s partner in LehmanTrikes, Inc.

In 2001, the company became publicallytraded, and it has kept growing from there.Lehman, often referred to as the “Leader of theThree World,” is now partnered by some bignames – customers can choose a Lehman trikepowered by Honda, Suzuki, Victory, or HarleyDavidson.

Lehman Trikes now employs six School ofMines alumni: Lisa Bell (IE06), Nick Case (IE06),

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Gary Hamilton (ME73), Thore Jenshus (M.S.ME97), Alan McCoy (MetE98), and FrankSullivant (IS96).

McCoy joined Lehman Trikes in 2006,where he is a product engineer and servesas project manager for Victory Products. Hecredits the School of Mines for giving himthe ability to handle the on-the-job trainingthat was necessary for his beginning atLehman Trikes.

“At Lehman, I get to do more hands-onwork and exercise--more of the engineering

side,” McCoy said. “The School of Minesprepared me very well for this – it gave me thefoundation that I needed and the ability to pickup things fast.”

The School of Mines continues to have animpact on employees at Lehman Trikes, evenlong after they have graduated. McCoy was partof an engineering group from the company thatcame to the School of Mines in the fall of 2007for a course on vehicle dynamics to help thegroup have a greater understanding of theirown assemblies.

“The automotive engineering-relatedcourses at the School of Mines are vital for ourindustry and staff,” Bob Sieve, vice president ofoperations at Lehman Trikes, said. “We wouldbe remiss not taking advantage of this qualityof education in our back yard.”

Sieve sees the proximity of the School ofMines to Lehman’s offices as a benefit to both.“It is often difficult to bring in recruits fromoutside of this region to the Black Hills.Graduates of the School of Mines know theregion, have fallen in love with the Black Hills,and want to call it home,” he said. “The Schoolof Mines is somewhat of a ‘best-kept secret’, asfar as I’m concerned. The quality of theengineers coming out of this school is verygood.”

For more information about Lehman Trikes,visit <www.lehmantrikes.com>.

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people and other students doing the same type ofwork I was,” Rowe said. “It was a chance for me tosee the “competition” and have a really greatcultural experience.”

Once enrolled, the students study elements ofengineering design and break into teams of 2-5students to work on a senior design project.Rowe’s project centered on wind energy and herteam worked directly with a German firm.

“This was an amazing experience because thework that I did counted towards my major inengineering,” Rowe said. “Being able to work first-hand with an international company was a chanceto see what the rest of the world is doing.”

She found that the education she has receivedat the School of Mines to this point prepared herwell for the rigorous program. According to Rowe,each time she was introduced in an academic

In today’s increasingly connected world, it isbecoming critically important that students gainthe skills to work in a global society. Engineers andscientists have a unique ability to work acrossborders – both literal and cultural – and the Schoolof Mines is committed to promoting globalmobility. One way this happens is through studyabroad programs.

Aryn Rowe (GeolE, Rapid City) took advantageof one such program, the European ProjectSemester (EPS), to expand her horizons bothacademically and culturally. The EPS program hostsstudents from all over the world. There are sevenparticipating institutions, held in six countries:Copenhagen, Denmark; Oslo, Norway; Valencia andVillanova, Spain; Lutz, Poland; Kiel, Germany(Rowe’s location); and Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

“I really wanted to study abroad to meet new

This was an amazing experience because

the work that I did counted towards my

major in engineering.

Aryn RoweJuniorGeological Engineering Rapid City, SD

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According to Abata, it is important thatstudents understand the increasingly interde-pendent nature of the world and preparethemselves. “Much of what we witness today inengineering is global. Industry is global. Oureconomy is global,” he said. “To remain ignorantof the world around us significantly limits one’svision and career.”

EPS had the effect of removing any limits Rowemight have sensed. She feels the experiencehelped make her more decisive and structured,and gave direction for her future career. Studyingabroad is a decision that Rowe does not regret.

“Education is so much more than classes,” shesaid. “I learned a lot about myself through thisexperience, and I really feel like it will give me anedge.”

setting there was instant name recognition of theSchool of Mines and its reputation for excellence.

Besides students enrolling, the School of Mineshas another tie with the EPS program. Dr. DuaneAbata, professor, mechanical engineering, hastravelled to Copenhagen and Oslo for 10 years toteach a course on environmental engineering forthe program. Abata believes the experiencesstudents have in program like EPS are invaluable.

“The international experience of an exchangeprogram is something that will last a lifetime,”Abata said. “It is extremely important thatstudents obtain some type of global experience tolearn how others might approach engineeringproblems and solutions from differentperspectives, to learn about different cultures, tounderstand how to work in international settings,and to experience how to work in multiculturaland international teams. “

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School of Mines research scientist Dr.Haiping Hong has developed breakthroughtechniques for maintaining nano particledispersions in heat transfer fluids such as waterand lubricants. Hong has filed a patent on thisresearch.

Current lubricant and coolant products havepoor thermalconductivity. There isa lot of interest inutilizingnanomaterials, whichhave excellent thermalproperties, tosignificantly enhancethe heat transfer andthermal property ofcoolants andlubricants. Thisimproved level of heattransfer propertiesallows for less fluidsto be used, whichmeans engines can bemade smaller andlighter.

This is especiallyappealing to the airlineand automobileindustries, and ofcourse to consumers,as it has the potentialto bring downoperating costs. Therehave been previous

research efforts in using nanomaterials toenhance fluid properties but, until now, no onehas been able to maintain a suitable dispersionof them in oil and water, obtaining homogenousand stable fluids. If the materials are not welldispersed they precipitate.

This research is supported by the ArmyResearch Laboratory (ARL). ARL is the Army'scorporate basic and applied research laboratory.The research program will provide innovativescience, and technology to enable full-spectrumoperations. The Army relies on these nanoparticle projects for scientific discoveries,technologic advances, and analyses to providewarfighters with capabilities to succeed on thebattlefield.

Two companieshave expressed aninterest in licensing thetechnique. “Thistechnology will morethan likely be licensedto an existing companyin the lubricant/coolantbusiness,” DaleSkillman (ME73),interim vice presidentfor research anddirector of the Officeof TechnologyTransfer, said. “Royaltyrevenues may support additional work in thisfield by Dr. Hong and others.”

Opportunities to assist in research projectslike this are very beneficial to students as itgives them confidence in lab work, betterpreparing them for their career.

“I am very grateful to the School of Mines fortheir generous support, allowing me to pursuethis very interesting research field,” Hong said.“I would also like to acknowledge thecollaboration of my colleagues at the School ofMines and in the scientific community as awhole.”

“Dr. Hong’s work is creating a new directionof research in nanofluids,” Dr. Sungho Jin, chairof materials science at the University ofCalifornia, San Diego, said. Jin is a world-renowned nanotube researcher and acollaborator of Hong.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) pictures show thatthe nanotubes and nanoparticle align well under theinfluence of a magnetic field. This backscattered electronSEM image shows 0.01wt% Ni coated single wall carbonnanotubes aligned with a magnetic field. (Red arrow ismagnetic field direction).

Illustration of a nano tube.Advantages of nano grease

include increased lubricity, lowerfriction coefficiency, higheroxidation resistance, better

chemical stability, enhancedthermal and electrical

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Top Midwestern Colleges by Salary Potential

University of Notre Dame —University of Chicago —

Carleton College —Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) —

Case Western Reserve University —University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) —

Northwestern University —Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) —

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology —

University of Michigan —Purdue University —

Marquette Univeristy —DePauw University —

University of Wisconsin (UW) - Madison —Bradley University —

Starting Median SalaryMid-Career Median Salary

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates havesome of the highest startingsalaries in the Midwest and areamong the best-paid in thenation, according to a recentreport by Payscale Inc., a Seattle-based research firm.

The PayScale 2008 Educationand Salary Report, released July30, places the School of Minesninth among Midwesternuniversities in terms of salarypotential. According to thereport, the starting median salaryfor School of Mines graduates is$55,800. The report also ranked the School ofMines 15th in the nation for Best EngineeringColleges by Salary Potential.

“This report shows that a School of Mineseducation is truly an investment in a student’sfuture,” Dr. Robert Wharton, Ph.D., School ofMines president, said. “By choosing a career inengineering or science, students not only have theopportunity to change the world, but will also bewell-compensated for doing so.”

Last year, 218 different employers from 26states recruited School of Mines students. Inaddition, employers conducted 1,730 interviewson campus. Graduates of the 2006-2007 classhave achieved 99 percent placement, and the 2008class has already achieved 89 percent placement,less than three months after graduation.

All undergraduate programs emphasize

advanced science and math,and all combine classroominstruction with hands-onlaboratory work. In addition, 75percent of graduates haverelevant work experiencethrough co-ops and

internships. That increases their marketability toemployers. For more information, visit<http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/career>.

“This combination sets up our graduates forsuccess. They leave the School of Mines with thetheoretical and practical knowledge and theexperience they need, and employers recognize this,”Darrell Sawyer Ed.D., career planning director, said.“This is reflected in the number of recruiters for ourbiannual Career Fairs, which have steadily risen overthe past few years. The 2008 Fall Career Fair is thelargest in campus history, and reached maximumcapacity for employer registrations.”

The PayScale report includes more than 2,000data points, including salary data for 40 majors, frommore than 300 U.S. based undergraduate colleges anduniversities. The report is available online at<www.payscale.com/best-colleges>.

The 2008 Fall Career Fair was the

largest in campus history.

Darrell SawyerDirectorCareer Center

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A new program at the South Dakota Schoolof Mines and Technology aims to address thedisparity in American Indian students enrolledin science and engineering disciplines.

The American Indian Science andEngineering Program (AISEP), held inconjunction with the Rapid City School District,is a pre-college program that will help prepareAmerican Indian high school students inscience, technology, engineering, andmathematics (STEM) fields, while having fun inthe process.

“The idea is that this will spark studentinterest in science and engineering,” Dr. KarenWhitehead, School of Mines provost and vicepresident for academic affairs, said. “We hopethat they will continue in those fields, whetherhere or at another institution.” Whiteheadserves as principal investigator on the NationalScience Foundation grant that funds theprogram. Donations from 3-M and a privatedonor also provide support.

The program is multifaceted. Students firstagree to enroll in high school trigonometry,chemistry, and physics, earning a “C” orhigher, prior to graduating. Second, theyparticipate in computer building and softwaretraining and network sessions, held at theSchool of Mines and supervised by two Schoolof Mines students that act as mentors andassistants to the students. The assembledcomputers will then be placed at Central HighSchool for student use. Once each studentcompletes the program, they will earn one ofthe computers for their own personal use. Aseach cohort graduates from the program, they

will act as teachers and mentors to the incomingcohort of students.

If students choose to pursue a STEM degreefrom the School of Mines, they can continue to bea part of the program. The AISEP approach is tosupport students academically, financially, andsocially in order for participants to graduate fromcollege and find placement in a career.

The program takes inspiration from theAlaska Native Science and Engineering Program(ANSEP), developed by Dr. Herb Schroeder of theUniversity of Alaska-Anchorage. Schroeder wasinterested in expanding the successful program toother parts of the country, and thus theIndigenous Alliance project, of which AISEP ispart, was born.

“This expansion project is another step in ournational effort to effect a systemic change in thehiring patterns of Indigenous Americans in thefields of science, technology, engineering andmathematics by increasing the number ofindividuals on a career path to leadership in STEMfields,” Schroder said.

The School of Mines is one of four institutionsthat are participating in the “Build a Computer”project. The others are the University of Colorado– Boulder, the University of Idaho, and theUniversity of North Dakota.

Programs such as AISEP are particularlyimportant in South Dakota, where the AmericanIndian population is at an economic disadvantage.Four of the five counties in the nation with thelowest per capita income are located in SouthDakota’s American Indian reservations. This typeof economic climate can have the effect ofdiscouraging native youth to not only graduatefrom high school, but also to seek highereducation.

Currently, only 66 percent of American Indianstudents who attend public high school in SouthDakota graduate. Furthermore, only 2 percent ofstudents enrolled in South Dakota’s stateuniversities are Native American. Innovativeprograms such as AISEP can help turn this tide,having a profound effect not only on thestudents, but on the communities where they live.

“Native peoples represent a great untappedresource,” Whitehead said. “To develop thatinterest, we have to spark it early and providemotivation. The ANSEP program has a stunningsuccess rate, and we hope to emulate that withAISEP.”


In many sports, the ability to work together iscritical to a team’s success. For two School of Mines’cross country runners, this is a concept they learnedtogether a long time ago, and have run with it eversince.

Kendra Crisman (IS, Rapid City) and BrittneyHovdenes (ME, Rapid City) competed together atStevens High School in Rapid City, and havetransitioned into college teammates as well. Theopportunity to run for the School of Mines played ina big part in drawing them both to the university.

“I had gotten some offers from other schools,but after talking withCoach Schafer I knewright away that theSchool of Mines waswhere I wanted to go,”Crisman said. The Schoolof Mines offers a degree Iam interested in and itsounded like Schafer wasputting a great teamtogether that I wanted tobe part of.”

Hovdenes agrees.“The School of Mines isan awesome place to

run,” she said. “The team is small enough that weare all like family.”The opportunity for the two to run together wasalso a plus. According to both Crisman andHovdenes, the years they spent training togetherhave made them well-matched.

“It is awesome to be able to compete withBrittney through high school and also throughcollege. She is always there to keep pushing me tobecome a better runner,” Crisman said. “The part Ilike best about running with Brittney is that she issuch a positive person and runner. Another reasonis that we are such similar runners, coming from thesame high school coach, that we know how to worktogether in a race and be able to push each other.”

Jerry Schafer, cross country coach, sees thissimilarity. “The first time I saw them run last fall, itwas uncanny watching them,” he said. “It was hardto pick out whose stride was whose, because theywere so in synch.”

According to Schafer, Crisman and Hovdenes actas motivators to each other, but also to the entireteam.

“They bring an enthusiasm with them. Theyenjoy each other’s company and the company of theteam, and it shows,” Schafer said. “They bring thefun side of the sport to the table, yet they still trainwith great intensity.”

Coach Schafer picked up on a large part of whatCrisman and Hovdenes enjoy most about runningtogether and being a part of the Hardrocker team –fun.

“The thing I like the best about running withKendra is that we havefun. It could be thehardest workout everand we always find away to laugh and stayupbeat,” Hovdenes said.Crisman agrees. “Thebest part about runningfor the School of Minesis that we have such afun atmosphere to workin,” she said. “Everyoneon the team is reallyeasy to get along withand we are able to help

each other improve. It doesn’t matter whether it isjust doing ab workouts after practice or givingadvice on how to run hills.”

Brittney Hovdenes(ME, Rapid City)

Kendra Crisman(IS, Rapid City)

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At the South Dakota School of Mines andTechnology, team successes are just as importantas those achieved by individuals. By workingtogether, students learn skills such asparticipation, organization, and leadership thatwill be invaluable when they enter the workplace.

Competing teams range from discipline-specific to multi-disciplinary. In addition, studentsin the Center of Excellence for AdvancedManufacturing and Production (CAMP) continuetheir tradition of developing technical skills inreal-world situations that involve fundraising,planning, deadlines, and internationalcompetitions.

2008 Aero Design West CompetitionThe School of Mines team captured third place

in design at the competition. They also tooktrophies for the best design report and largestpayload. The School of Mines took first place

overall at the 2005 and 2006 competitions.The team members: Camdon Depaolo (ME,

Casper, Wyo.), Sara Hagie (ME, Rapid City), EricHusman (Eng, Gardena, Calif.), Adam Lungren(ME, Gillette, Wyo.), Megan Mallett (EE, Fargo,N.Dak.), Lyndsey Penfield (ME, Olds, Iowa), RayTapper (ME, Rapid City), Jimmy Tomich (ME,Farson, Wyo.), Steve Schnabel (ME, Rapid City),Nick Swanson (ME, Chaska, Minn.), Chris Vickery(ME, Luvurne, Minn.), and Blake Woodward (ME,Rapid City).

American Institute for ChemicalEngineers

The ChE car team placed third in the postercompetition and fourth in the performance test. In

addition, the team won awards for the mostcreative drive system and the most team spirit.

The team members: Benjamin Bangasser (ChE,New Hope, Minn.), Scott Connor (ChE, St.Bonifacius, Minn.), Brent Gawryluk (ChE,Dickinson, N.Dak.), Elizabeth Gores (ChE, SiouxFalls), Justin Hagerty (ChE, Spearfish), NathanHuft (MetE, Pierre), Carly Keeney (EnvE, RapidCity), Evan Keffeler (GeoE, Sturgis), Dustin Kohler(ChE, Dickinson, N.Dak.), Matthew Ladenburger(ChE, Rapid City), Sam Lane (ChE, Fort Collins,Colo.), Kristi Murphy (ChE/EnvE, Rapid City), andSpenser Wagner (ChE, Sioux Falls).

Bangasser also received the nationallycompetitive AIChE Fuels and PetrochemicalsDivision Harry West Student Paper Award for hisresearch project, “Reversible Hydrogen StorageProperties of Ti Catalyzed Lithium Borohydrideand Aluminum.”

American Society of MechanicalEngineers Human Powered VehicleChallenge

The School of Mines team placed ninth at thecompetition. They also took fourth in theendurance race and eighth in the sprintcompetition.

The team members: Jenika Bishop (ME, RockSprings, Wyo.), Tyler Engberg (ME, Burnsville,Minn.), Mike Fontaine (ME, Rapid City), PhilipGardner (ME, Moorhead, Minn.), Sam McBride (ME,Spearfish), Gerald Ott (ME08), and TJ Winowiecki(ME08).

American Society of Civil Engineersstudent conference

The School of Mines chapter finished third of14 schools at the regional conference. The


concrete canoe team took third in design paperand third in presentation. The steel bridge teamfinished third overall. The bridge placed first inefficiency, first in lightness, second inconstruction speed, third in economy and fourthin stiffness. The overall third place finish of thesteel bridge team qualified them to compete at thenational steel bridge competition, where theyplaced 32nd overall and received second place indisplay.

In additional competitions, Eric Brandner (CE,Aberdeen) took third place in the non-technicalpaper competition, and Brady Wiesner (CE,Watertown) took third place in the technical papercompetition.

The team members: Eric Brandner (CE,Aberdeen), Beth Comes (CE08), Jennifer Davis(CE/Math, Rapid City), Chris Hammrich (IS,Milbank), Phillip Knodel (CE, Aberdeen), KazKunishige (CE, Rapid City), Chelsey Larmie-Rhoades (CE, Rapid City), William Lein (CE,Batesland), Janile Lewis (EnvE, Spicer, Minn.),Manny Lewis (IE, Hill City), Joseph Matuska (CE,Lake Andes), Shawn McFarland (CE, Selby), BrettMorford (CE, Brandon), Jesse Morris (CE, BlackHawk), Terri Morris (CE, Belle Fourche), Leah Nehl(CE08), Michelle Redmond (CE, East Corinth, Vt.),Adam Riley (CE, Pierre), Ben Sampica (CE,Canton), Michelle Stadel (CE, Redfield), MollyTobin (CE, Lincoln, Neb.), Chelsea Wattier (CE,Conde), Brady Wiesner (CE, Watertown).

Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers Region 5 Competition

The School of Mines team entered three robotsin the competition, eventually capturing third,fourth, and ninth places.

The team members: Tony Adams (CEng,Grand Forks, N.Dak.), Joe St. Amand (ME, Waconia,Minn.), Tony Amundson (EE/CEng, Hutchinson,Minn.), Alex Brech (CEng, Currie, Minn.), RodCarrol (CSc, Rapid City), Joshua Collison(CSc/Phys, Sioux Falls), Mark Cullison (ME, SiouxFalls), Cody Horner (ME, Wagner), David Huft (EE,Pierre), Ryan Kroetch (EE, Rapid City), SusanLarkin (EE08), Logan Loeb (EE, Raleigh, N.Dak.),Steve Malsom (CEng08), Andrew McGuire (CEng,Rapid City), Ben Swan (CEng, New Ulm, Minn.).

2008 Baja SAE CompetitionThe contest pitted the School of Mines against

nearly 100 teams from across the country andaround the world. The School of Mines raced twocars, car number 7, a new car designed and builtby the senior students this year (with assistancefrom underclassmen), and car number 117, the carbuilt last year and managed by the underclassmenthis year. Car number 117 won the endurance

event. Car number 117 also won the salespresentation event. Car number 7 was in thedesign finals and placed in fourth place overall inthe design event. In the overall competition, carnumber 117 finished in fourth place and carnumber 7 finished in sixth place. Also, car number117 scored the highest design report score with49 out of 50. Car number 7 scored 48 and tied forthird place.

The team members: Ayla Brausen (ChE,Ipswich), Amanda Bumann (ME, Sioux Falls), CodyEgle (ME, McCook, Neb.), Jason Fields (ME,Milbank), Ben Franchuk (ME, Dickinson, N.Dak.),Pat Fraser (ME, Huron), Chris George (ME, Huron),Ben Grassel (ME, Spearfish), Craig Grunenfelder(M.S. BME, Billings, Mont.), Jesse Heaton (ME,Midland), Wade Heidecker (ME, Belle Fourche),Stephanie Johnson (ME08), Trevor Krugman(ME08), Amery Kuhl (ME/Phys, Worthington,Minn.), Kris Olson (ME, Snohomish, Wash.), JasonWilliams (ME, Piedmont), and Travis Zelfer(ME/MetE, Black Hawk).

Society of Mining EngineersThe School of Mines team placed third in the

Society of Mining Engineers Student Competition.The team: Caleb Bestgen (MEM, Green River,

Wyo.), Jordan Hoff (MEM08), Ryan Horton (MEM,El Dorado Hills, Calif.), Craig Johnson (MEM,Baltic), Andrew Johnson (MEM08), and CollinRogers (MEM, McKinleyville, Calif.).

Formula SAE West CompetitionThe School of Mines finished in sixteenth place

overall against 82 registered teams. Thecompetition consisted of eight separate eventsincluding design, cost, manufacturing, salespresentation, skid-pad, acceleration, autocross,and endurance. Of these events, the team tookthird in autocross, third in sales presentation,fourth in design, fifth on the skid-pad, eighteenthin acceleration, and forty-forth in cost.

The team members: Aaron Guliuzza (ME,Rapid City), Adam Hemmingson (ME/MetE, Sioux

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Falls), Kevin Hunt (ME08); Eric Lee (ME, Madison),Dillon Lichtsinn (ME, Milbank), James Lunders(ME08) ; Arthur Morris (ME08); Andrew Pautsch(ME/CSci, Gaylord, Minn.), Clayton Pojorlie(ME/CEng08), Nolan Pray, (ME, Sioux Falls), NathanSalden (ME, Waconia, Minn.), Christopher Saufley(ME, Rapid City), Jake Seeger (ME, Dent, Minn.),Wes Snaza (ME08); Sam Voegeli (ME, Winner),Jason Wendling (ME, Bismarck, N.Dak.).

SAE Clean Snowmobile CompetitionThe School of Mines’ alternative fuel vehicle placedfourth overall at the competition. The teamreceived first in the drawbar pull and ManufacturerSuggested Retail Price events, second in the rangeevent, third in the objective handling event, andfourth in the subjective handling, noise, andpresentation portions of the competition. Theywere also the only vehicle in the zero emissionscategory that finished the competition withoutlosing their maintenance bonus (100 bonus pointsthat are awarded for not working on the vehiclethroughout the competition).

The team members: Kris Bertsch (CEng08),Dylan Ekstrom (ME08), Erik Engelmeyer (EE,Alexandria), John Neuberger (ME08), Lance Rikala(IE08), Lance Wright (ME08).

2008 International Aerial RoboticsCompetition

The School of Mines unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) team received four awards at thecompetition. The team received the Best TechnicalPaper Award, Best T-shirt Design Award, tied forthe Best System Design Award, and received morethan $8,000 in prize money for their efforts. Teammember Mark Sauder (IE 04) received a specialaward for sportsmanship. The team took first placein 2006 and second in 2007.

The team members: Tyler Batt (ME08); RaunaqBhushan (IE, India), Alex Brech (CEng, Currie,Minn.), Roderick Carroll (CSci, Rapid City), JohnHeiberger (ME, Rapid City), Adam Helmers (EE,Rapid City), Brian Jensen (IE, Rapid City), ErikKaitfors (ME08), Scott Nelson (CEng, Rapid City),Jacob Oursland, (Math/CSci, Rapid City), MasonPluimer (EE, Rapid City), Thomas Simpson (CEng ,Box Elder), Justin Williamson (M.S. ME, Rapid City).Visiting alumni: Ray Burg (ME54), Mark Sauder(IE04), and Jason Howe (ME/CEng05).

Red Bull Soapbox RaceThe School of Mines team, The Good, The Bad,

And The Nerdy, took home first place with theiroversized calculator craft named “The Numerator2.0” at the 2007 Red Bull Soapbox Race. The race,organized by the energy drink Red Bull, challengesteams to design, build and race gravity poweredsoapbox crafts in a downhill race against the clock.Teams are judged on three criteria: speed,creativity, and showmanship.

The team members: Anthony Johnson (ME07),Brett Moorman (IS, Rapid City), Charlie Murray(IE04), Justin Williamson (M.S. ME, Rapid City), andMark Chase (ME, Saint Louis University).

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Their enthusiasm and talent carried them bothto DAC All Conference honors, and Coach Schaferexpects only bigger and better from them in thecoming season.

“They brought instant leadership to the women’steam. They both want to excel and improve, andthey have a drive to do well as a team,” he said. “Iexpect to see great things from them.”

Continued from page 21

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Seniors: Brandon Lampe (GeolE, Salem), MelanieSatchell, class president (IS, Pleasant Dale, Neb.),Matthew Schulte (ME, Geddes), Evan Waddell (ChE,Indianola, Iowa)Juniors: Katie Aurand, class president (EnvE, RapidCity) Sean Hayes (ME, Eagle, Idaho), Patrick Satchell(IE, Milford, Neb.), Christopher Weyer, (CSci/EE,Sturgis)Sophomores: Erica Kjar (engineering, Akron, Iowa),Derek Nordby, class president (MetE, Stanton, Neb.)Marcus Bartlett (IE, Firesteel) will serve as president,and Lukasz Dabaj (IS, Poland) will serve as vicepresident.

School of Mines Students Recognized withGiant Vision Awards

More than half of the winners at the 4th AnnualGovernor’s Giant Vision Business Plan awardscompetition held recently have ties to the School of

Mines. Two teams each earned second place awards and

$2,500 cash prizes in the Student Division: DJ Kjar(ME06) and Jason Howe (CEng05) for Valde Robotics,which specializes in designing and manufacturingurban environment unmanned aerial vehicles; andChris Flack (ME, Rapid City) and Jordan Johnson (ME,Rapid City) for Krystal Klear Kart Bodies, with aninnovative design for clear go-kart bodies. Earning athird place finish in the Business Division was thenhigh school senior Jordan Krell (ME, Plankington) andKrell Safety Products (KSP) for Smart Swim, a patent-pending drowning alert system.

Treavor Hendrickson (ME, Rapid City) and JeffSchnabel (ME, Emery) supported another second-placewinner through a senior design project.

School of Mines Student Accepted intoNational Workshop

Shawn Honomichl (IS, Rapid City) has beenaccepted to the 2008 National Center for AtmosphericResearch Undergraduate Leadership Workshop. Eachyear, about 20 participants from the current pool ofthe college senior meteorology students nationwideare selected for this program.

School of Mines Leads Nation with Eleven TauBeta Pi Scholars

Eleven School of Mines students have been namedTau Beta Pi Scholars for the 2008-2009 academic year.The chapter with next highest numbers of scholarshas five.

In addition, Travis Walker (ChE/Math08) hasbeen named a Tau Beta Pi Fellow for 2008-2009, andMelanie Vedvei (IE08) has been named a 2008Laureate.


School of Mines Student Published inJournal

Travis Walker (ChE08) has published anarticle in Chemical Engineering Progress,the professional journal of the AmericanInstitute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE).The article, “Harnessing Natural Energy,” isbased on a report that Walker wrote as aparticipant in the Washington Internshipsfor Students of Engineering (WISE)program. The article deals with the needfor storage for intermittent energy sourcessuch as wind and solar and can be read at<http://www.aiche.org/uploadedFiles/CEP/Issues/2008-03/0308S23.pdf>.

School of Mines Students SelectStudent Association

South Dakota School of Mines andTechnology students recently elected class represen-tatives to the Student Association, the student governingbody.

2008 Leadership Hall of Fame. (From left to right) Back: Karl Barfuss (IE08), Jason Fields (ME, Milbank),Fanariot Sefa (ChE08), and Wes Snaza (ME08). Front:

Jade Herman (IS, Mission), Melanie Vedvei (IE08), and Kaycee Carson (Math08).

Student Association Vice President Lukasz Dubaj (IS,Poland) and President Marcus Bartlett (IE, Firesteel).

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Whitehead receives Athena AwardDr. Karen Whitehead, provost and vice

president, academic affairs, has been named therecipient of the Rapid City Area Chamber ofCommerce’s Athena Award. The award is presentedto an exceptional individual who has achievedexcellence in her/his business or profession, hasserved the community in a meaningful way and hasassisted women in their attainment of professionalgoals and leadership skills.

C-Lock receives technology awardC-Lock Technology, Inc. has been awarded the

Black HillsIndustrialTechnologyAward. The BlackHills IndustrialTechnologyAward is a BlackHills CommunityEconomic

Development (BHCED) award given to outstandinginnovative companies in the region that haveexcelled in the use of applying technology to achievetheir broader business goals. This is one of fourawards given annually to businesses andentrepreneurs in Western South Dakota foroutstanding achievement in business excellence.

Surovek Receives EducatorAward

Dr. Andrea Surovek, assistantprofessor, civil and environmentalengineering, has been awarded the2008 Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell

Johnston, Jr. Outstanding New Mechanics EducatorAward, on behalf of the Mechanics Division of theAmerican Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).Established in 1992, this award is given annually toup to three individuals who have shown a strongcommitment to mechanics education.

Braman Selected for SymposiumDr. Karen Braman, assistant professor,

mathematics and computer science, was selected forthe Householder Symposium, an internationalgathering devoted to matrix computations andlinear algebra. Dr. Braman’s work on the QRalgorithm using middle deflations was selectedfrom the highly competitive list of applications. Thesymposium was held in Zeuthen, Germany duringthe first week in June.

Weiss Recognized at ConferenceDr. John Weiss, professor, of mathematics and

computer science, presented a paperat the 23rd International Conferenceon Computers and TheirApplications (CATA-2008), heldApril 9-11, 2008, in Cancun, Mexico.His presentation involved researchthat resulted from his involvementin the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

(UAV) competition. The paper, “HierarchicalTemplate Matching for Real-Time SymbolDetection”, was selected for the best paper awardsubmitted to the conference.

Riley Named Mathematical Association ofAmerica Governor

Dr. Kyle Riley, chair, mathematics andcomputer science, has been electedto the Board of Governors of theMathematical Association ofAmerica. Dr. Riley will serve asgovernor for the Rocky Mountainsection of the MAA and willrepresent the section at the nationallevel.

Professors Featured in ArticleDr. Carter Kerk, professor,

industrial engineering, and Dr.Jennifer Karlin, assistant professor,industrial engineering,have been cited in theApril 2008 issue ofMaterial HandlingManagement in the

article “Meeting at the Crossroads:Man/Machine Intersection”. The

(From left to right) Julie Smoragiewicz, Vice President for University Relations, Dr. Pat Mahon, Vice President

for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Athena Award Recipient Dr. Karen Whitehead,

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Robert Wharton, Ph.D., President

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article, which discusses the need for employee inputon creating an ergonomically sound workplace, canbe viewed at<http://ie.sdsmt.edu/news/MatrlHndlApr08.pdf>.

Kellogg Elected to ASEE PostDr. Stuart Kellogg (M.S. EE92), chair and Pietz

Professor, industrial engineering, hasbeen selected as president-elect ofthe Rocky Mountain Section of theAmerican Society for EngineeringEducation (ASEE) for 2009-2010. TheRocky Mountain Section covers WestRiver, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah.The 2010 annual conference will be

hosted at the School of Mines.Also, at the ASEE Rocky Mountain Section annual

conference Dr. Kellogg’s paper presentation,“Utilizing an Inverted Classroom Approach toDevelop Complex Thinking Skills,” was honoredwith the Best Presentation Award.

Lisenbee Named 2008 J.P. Gries Geologistof the Year

The South Dakota Section of the AmericanInstitute of Professional Geologists(AIPG) has named Dr. Alvis Lisenbee,professor emeritus, geology andgeological engineering, the 2008 J. P.Gries Geologist of the Year . Theaward is given each year by theSection in memory of Dr. John PaulGries, a longtime professor of

geology at the South Dakota School of Mines andTechnology. The 2008 award was presented toLisenbee for his many contributions to our currentunderstanding of Black Hills regional geology.

Martin Named to South Dakota Hall ofFame

Dr. James Martin (Geol71),professor, geology and geologicalengineering, was one of 13individuals chosen to be inductedinto the 2008 South Dakota Hall ofFame.

Karlin Named toLeadership Forum

Dr. Jennifer Karlin, assistantprofessor, industrial engineering, hasbeen selected to the Texas LeadershipForum, held October 8-10, 2008, atBaylor University. Two Regional

forums are held each year with only 25 highereducation faculty selected for each forum.Participation in the Leadership Forums is highlycompetitive with final selection made by theAmerican Council on Education.

Campus Briefings


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The School of Mines is committed to an activeresearch program that expands knowledge, pushestechnological and scientific advancement, andcontributes to economic development in the stateand region.

School of Mines faculty members andresearchers received 90 awards totaling more than$10.1 million during the 2008 fiscal year. Thefunding came from many different agencies,including the National Science Foundation, the Stateof South Dakota, NASA, the Department ofTransportation, Army Research Laboratory, Air ForceResearch Laboratory, and many more.

The School of Mines is home to several researchinstitutions and centers. Plans are currentlyunderway to expand the number of graduate degreesand to enhance the technology-transfer process.

William Arbegast, director, Advanced MaterialsProcessing and Joining Laboratory (AMP), andinstructor, materials and metallurgical engineering;and Dr. Michael West, assistant professor, materials

and metallurgical engineering,received $6,000 in additional fundingfrom the National Science Foundationfor the project, “Friction StirProcessing Industry/ UniversityCooperative Research Center.”

Arbegast; West; and Dr. AntonetteLogar, (CSc85)professor, mathematics

and computer science, received$70,000 in additional funding fromthe National Science Foundation forthe project, “Friction Stir ProcessingIndustry / University CooperativeResearch Center.”

Dr. Sookie Bang, professor,chemical and biological engineering,and Dr. Sangchul Bang, professor,civil and environmentalengineering, received$12,250 in additionalfunding from theNational ScienceFoundation for theproject, “Microbial Dust

Suppression.”Dr. William Capehart, associate professor,

atmospheric sciences and Institute ofAtmospheric Sciences, received$46,000 in additional funding fromNASA for the project, “Evaluating theEffects of Institutional Change onRegional Hydrometeorology:Assessing the Vulnerability of theEurasian Semi-arid Grain Belt.”

Dr. Arden Davis (GeolE79), Mickelson Professor,geology and geological engineering;Dr. David Dixon, professor, chemicaland biological engineering; and Dr.M.R. Hansen (CE69), professor, civiland environmentalengineering, received$12,467 from SouthDakota State

University for the project, “ThermalStability of Limestone Waste forRecycling after Arsenic Removal fromDrinking Water.”

Dr. Davis also received $5,000 inadditional funding from the U.S. Department ofInterior – Bureau of Land Management for theproject, “Conduct Studies of Inactive/AbandonedMine Sites on BLM Lands and to MonitorInactive/Abandoned Mines Sites.”

Dr. Edward Duke, manager of analytical services,Engineering and Mining ExperimentStation, and professor, geology andgeological engineering; Dr. PallaoorSundareshwar, assistant professor,

atmospheric sciencesdepartment; Dr.Maribeth Price, chairand associateprofessor, geologyand geological engineering; and Dr.Donna Kliche, (MS Mtro90), researchscientist III, Instituteof Atmospheric

Sciences, received $177,000 inadditional funding from the NationalAeronautics and Space Adminis-tration for the project, “South DakotaSpace Grant Consortium.”

Dr. Duke also received $250,000additional funding from NASA for the project,“South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Research InfrastructureDevelopment Program.”

Richard Farley, (ChE69), research scientist IV,Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, and Dr.Sundareshwar received $44,398 in additionalfunding from the Western Research AllianceFoundation for the project, “Great Plains Center forAtmosphere and Human Health.”

Dr. Hansen received $7,890 from the SouthDakota Department of Military and Veterans Affairs -

South Dakota Army National Guardfor the project, “Pervious ConcreteDevelopment, PH 1.”

Dr. Stan Howard, professor,materials and metallurgicalengineering, received $5,000 fromthe South Dakota Board of Regentsfor the project, “Recycling of

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Enriched GE from the Detector Production Circuit.” Dr. Jon Kellar (MetE84), chair and professor,

materials and metallurgicalengineering, and Dr. Keith Whites(EE86), professor andSteven P. Miller Chair,electrical and computerengineeringdepartment, received$463,582 additionalfunding from South

Dakota State University for theproject, ”2010 Initiative: Science-Based Leadership for South Dakota.”

Dr. Melvin Klasi (Math62), associate professor,civil and environmental engineering, received$29,081 from the Federal Highway Administration –South Dakota Department of Transportation for theproject, “South Dakota Local TransportationAssistance Program 2008.”

Dr. Charles Kliche (MinE74), professor, miningengineering and management, and Dr. ZbigniewHladysz, professor, miningengineering and management,received $57,275 from the U.S.Department of Labor- Mine Safety andHealth Administration for, “MineHealth and Safety Training.”

Dr. Alvis Lisenbee, professoremeritus, geology andgeological engineering,and Dr. Davis received $15,878 fromthe West Dakota Water DevelopmentDistrict for the project, “AquiferMapping (1:24,000) of the north halfof the Hill City Quadrangle, SouthDakota.”

Dr. Gautam Pillay, former vice president,research, and Dr. Sherry Farwell(Chem66), formerresearch scientist IV,Institute ofAtmospheric Sciences,received $42,743 inadditional fundingfrom the U.S.Department of

Defense Army Research Laboratoryfor the project, “Advanced Materials and Processesfor Future Combat Systems.”

Dr. Pillay and Dr. Umesh Korde, professor,mechanical engineering, received $305,000 inadditional funding from the U.S. Department ofDefense – Air Force Research Laboratory for theproject, “Lightweight and Novel Structures forSpace.”

Dr. James Martin (Geol71), professor andpaleontology program coordinator/curator of

vertebrate paleontology, geology andgeological engineering, received$45,946 from the U.S. Department ofInterior- National Park Service -Badlands National Park for theproject, “Provide Quality Paleonto-logical Educational Experience at PigDig for the 2008 Field Season and

2008/2009 Academic Year.” Dr. Martin also received$12,600 from the U.S. Department of Interior –Bureau of Reclamation for the project, “Paleonto-logical Survey, Angostura Reservoir, Fall RiverCounty, South Dakota”, $76,580 from the UnitedStates Department of Interior – National Park Service- Badlands National Park for the project, “CuratorialBacklog of Museum Specimens, Badlands NationalPark”, and $2,000 from the U.S. Department of theInterior – Bureau of Land Management for theproject, “Curation of Fossils Collected from FossilLake (CCS project).”

Dr. Dana Medlin, associate professor, materialsand metallurgical engineering,received $5,000 from the SouthDakota Board of Regents for theproject, “Development of Ultra-PureCopper for the UndergroundGermanium Detectors.

Dr. Todd Menkhaus, assistantprofessor, chemicaland biological

engineering, received $25,000 inadditional funding from the NationalScience Foundation for the project,“SDSM&T RET Site: InspiringEducations in Rural America throughResearch.”

Dr. Andre Petukhov, chair andprofessor, physics, received $15,000in additional funding from theUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln forthe project, “Spintronic DevicesEnabled by Semiconducting BoronCarbide.”

Dr. Jan Puszynski, professor,chemical and biologicalengineering, and Dr.

Rajesh Shende, assistant professor,chemical and biological engineering,received $299,948 from the NationalScience Foundation for the project,“Novel Redox Materials for HydrogenGeneration by High TemperatureWater Splitting.”

Dr. Lance Roberts (CE98), assistant professor,civil and environmental engineering, received $5,283from FMG Engineering, Inc. for the project,“Development of a Reliability-Based DesignAlgorithm for Deep Foundation Systems.”

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Dr. Rajesh Sani, assistant professor, chemicaland biological engineering, received$5,000 from the South Dakota Boardof Regents for the project,“Generating Preliminary MicrobialData on Homestake Gold Mine toSupport NSF S4, S5, and Faculty EarlyCareer Development Proposals.”

Dr. James Sears, director, additivemanufacturing

laboratory, received $849,673 fromthe U.S. Department of Defense- U.S.Department of Army- U.S. ArmyMedical Research Acquisition Activityfor the project, “Bio-Medical MaterialsInitiative (BMI).”

Dr. Larry Stetler (GeolE79),associate professor,geology and geological engineering,and Dr. Davis received $75,000 fromthe National Science Foundation/SGERfor the project, “Characterization ofthe Precambrian Aquifer at theHomestake DUSEL.”

Dr. James Stone, associateprofessor, civil and

environmental engineering, received$6,000 in additional funding from theNational Science Foundation for theproject, “Degradation of AntimicrobialAgents Tylosin and Chlorotetracyclineduring Swine Waste Treatment.”

Dr. Stone, Dr. Stetler, and Dr.Sundareshwar received $238,742from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-South Dakota Department of Environmental andNatural Resources for the project, “StatewideMercury TMDL Assessment Project.”


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other alumnae participated, we apologize for not printingyour names. However, the 2009 WIS event is planning formore than 800 girls, so there is another chance to getinvolved. This event was made possible through themonetary support of South Dakota EPSCOR, the NationalScience Foundation, South Dakota Space GrantConsortium, GCC Dacotah Inc., and other Rapid Citybusinesses. For more information on learningopportunities for people of every age group please visit<http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/learn>.

Las Vegas, Nevada – Hardrock Club GolfEvent

Highland Falls Golf Club was the site for the first annualArizona-Nevada-South Dakota Hardrock Club GolfTournament and alumni get-together on March 29, 2008.A star-studded cast included several School of Minespresidents – School of Mines President Chuck Ruch,School of Mines President Elect Robert Wharton,Foundation President Rod Pappel (ME77), and AlumniAssociation President Elect Ralph Wagner (CE75). Ralph’steam, including Tom Bender (MetE76) and Roy Pulfrey(CE76), scored top honors at the tournament. Thanks alsogo Mark Lux (MinE80) and Hardrock Club Director TomRudebusch for co-organizing the event, and the many

Rapid City, South Dakota – Women inScience Conference

The School of Mines held the second annual Women inScience conference on campus, March 18, 2008. Womenin Science (South Dakota) is a one-day workshop designedto introduce young women in grades six through 12 tocareers in science. There were more than 300 girls fromwestern South Dakota middle and high schools. TheHonorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, congresswoman forSouth Dakota, opened the conference and was followedby the keynote speaker and Alumni Association PresidentMarlene Nelson (ME74), Boeing’s director for aviationsafety. Throughout the day, attendees rotated throughexhibitors and speakers who included archeologists,meteorologists, engineers, forest managers, botanists,women in various medical fields, and many more. The listof speakers and committee members included alumnae:Cabot-Ann Christofferson (Chem97); Carmen Cole(GenSt03); Terran Elliott (Chem05); Linda Foster(GeolE03); Jessica Gould (CE01); Kris Grinnell (Chem05);Meagan Holm (M.S. Atm05); Kathryn Johnson (Ph.D.Geol86); Gwen Lipp (EnvE04); Brenda Mabbs (IS04);Marilyn Montgomery (EE89); and Kelly Whitaker (M.S.TM98); and many other local professional women. If any


U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin introducesMarlene Nelson (ME74) as keynote speaker

Alumni President Marlene Nelson (ME74) talks to future Women in ScienceA

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The School of Mines’ Nancy Anderson-Smiththanks volunteers for WISE

Las Vegas winners Roy Pulfrey (CE76), Ralph Wagner (CE75), and Tom Bender (MetE76)

School of Mines staff, coaches, and alumni boosters thatattended.

Casper, Wyoming

Once again, the Casper Petroleum Club was a gusherevening with great company, conversation, and food onApril 11, 2008. Alumni Executive Vice President PaulGnirk (MinE59) and Director Tim Vottero (Chem84) wereeagerly drilled for information about the School of Mines.Alumni spanned six decades of graduation, includingseveral from the 2000 decade. As always, thanks go toJohn Dolan (GeolE77) and Mark Opitz (CE74) for plattingthe site and event.

Gillette, Wyoming

Gillette, Wyoming mined a few alumni and friends out foran evening of fun and reminiscing at the Boss Lodge(formerly Boot Hill) on April 12, 2008. Alumni ExecutiveVice President Paul Gnirk (MinE59) and Director TimVottero (Chem84) were found mucking around the venuein advance of the event, and they delivered news fromcampus and South Dakota to the crowd. Thanks go toKathy (Chem74) and Ken Miller (CE75) for staking theclaim and to Jamie Lembke (ChE02) for taking the reins

of this chapter for future events. Campbell Countycontinues to be a great source of students (future miners)for the School of Mines.

Yankton, South Dakota

Joe Vig (CE71) and Yankton alumni rolled out the redcarpet and a blanket of white snow for Alumni PresidentMarlene Nelson (ME74) on April 25, 2008. Marlenebraved the spring blizzard to share thoughts on theAlumni Association and the School of Mines. She alsooffered thanks to everyone who plowed through theheavy, wet, white stuff to join the group at Hillcrest Golfand Country Club.


Co-organizers Ralph Wagner (CE75) and Mark Lux (MinE80)

A big Wyoming alumni toast in Casper

l to r: Paul Gnirk (MinE59), Brent Hardy (CE06), Jasonand Jamie Lembke (ChE02), Tim Vottero (Chem84),

Kathy (Chem74) and Ken Miller (CE75), Lona and CurtBelden (GeolE71), Owen Lindbloom (CE93) and Reba

Lindbloom, and Joel Grace (MinE73)

Courtney and Carson Merkwan (ChE05), Karen andHarvard Schulz (CE65), Patti and Dan Eisenbraun

(CE75), Nancy and Brad Wenande (EE93), Sarah (IE98)and Steve Sager (IE96), Dave Crumrine (CE86), Lyla

Gukeisen, David Carda (ME91), Chuck Gukeisen (GE56),Patti and Joe Vig (CE71), Marlene Nelson (ME74), Jim

Sprague (EE03), Jody Clark, and Hartley Alsgaard(Math76). Not pictured: Jim Cox (ME69)

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Located in southwestern South Dakota, BadlandsNational Park consists of nearly 244,000 acres ofsharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blendedwith the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in theUnited States. Sixty-four thousand acres are designatedofficial wilderness. Sage Creek Wilderness is the site ofthe reintroduction of the black-footed ferret, the mostendangered land mammal in North America. TheStronghold Unit is co-managed with the Oglala SiouxTribe and includes the sites of 1890’s Ghost Dances.

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A special note of thanks goes to the generous efforts ofstudents, faculty, and staff in providing a warm welcomeand memorable reunion for these 50-year graduates.

The 1958 alumni in attendance included: Jim Adams(ChE), Kerrville, Texas; Alva (Tad) Addy (ME), Spearfish,South Dakota; Don Almen (GenE), Albany, Oregon; DickBerg (CE), Littleton, Colorado; Darral Brooks (CE), Philip,South Dakota; John Burggraff (ME), Vashon, Washington;Bob Davee (ChE), Florence, Oregon; Jim Emch (GenE),Redmond, Washington; Jim Erickson (CE), Palo Alto,California; George Garlick (EE), Richland, Washington;Melvin Glerup (GeolE), Highlands Ranch, Colorado; DickIltis (GenE), Salem, Oregon; Jim Joyce (EE), Custer, SouthDakota; Bob Kelley (CE), Rapid City, South Dakota; RogerKiel (GenE), Sedona, Arizona; Everett Kjerulff (EE),Redmond, Washington; Fred Klawiter (ChE), Buchanan,Michigan; Les Larson (CE), Rapid City, South Dakota; ErrolMatzke (Math), West Hartford, Connecticut; WesMendenhall (CE), Rapid City, South Dakota; Harold Nelson(GenE), Gilbert, Arizona; Neil Nerison (ME), Sioux Falls,South Dakota; Lanny Outlaw (GenE), Hill City, SouthDakota; Gene Poch (CE), Cheyenne, Wyoming; LloydPotter (GeolE), Pierre, South Dakota; Tom Ranney (ME),Spearfish, South Dakota; Bill Reinsmith (ME), WestHartford, Connecticut; Gil Rennhack (MinE), Camden,

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

After the spring snow storm passed and the interstateopened, alumni and friends from the Sioux Falls area andbeyond gathered at Champps (yes, two p’s) on April 26,2008 for a nice buffet dinner and great Minescamaraderie. Alumni President Marlene Nelson (ME74),Executive Vice President Paul Gnirk (MinE59), Foundationrepresentative David Gnirk (ME74), and Alumni DirectorTim Vottero (Chem84) greeted guests from as far awayas Rapid City and Keystone, South Dakota. Thanks go toJim Belbas (MetE90) for making the arrangements at

Champps. Thanks also go to Mark Meyer for making thefirst purchase of a bottle of School of Mines signaturelabels wine from Valiant Vineyards in Vermillion and theSDSM&T Alumni Association. Valiant has provided anopportunity for an income stream to the AlumniAssociation associated with the purchase of thesecustom-labeled wines. See the wines and special labels via<www.buffalorunwinery.com>.

Rapid City, South Dakota – Class of 1958Reunion and 157th Commencement

A banner group of alumni who graduated 50 years agoreturned for their class of 1958 reunion, and receivedrecognition during the spring commencement ceremony.From an original graduating class of 156 and the 123surviving members, 35 members from the class of 1958and their guests from across the United States and evenNorway gathered for three days of reminiscing andenjoyed seeing the many advances since 1958 at our almamater. Additionally, 27 also participated at graduation,walking across the stage to receive their certificatecommemorating the 50th anniversary of their graduation.


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Jerry Hansen (EE85), Marlene Nelson (ME74), JasonCook (Chem91), Jim Belbas (MetE90), Chad

Gortmaker (ME97), Frank Blaine (ChE87), Mark Meyer(EE70), Tim (IE02) and Jenny Vavra (IE01), Chris

(MinE97) and Tammy Klein (IE96), Grove Rathbun(MinE52), Darlene Weber (ChE88), Jan Rathbun,

Bob Hayes (MinE51), Brian Bernhard (CE70), and Tim Vottero (Chem84)

Roger Kiel (GenE58) and Gene Poch (CE58)

Larry Kloiber shares a laugh with Bob Kelley (CE58) and Les Larson (CE58)


South Carolina; Dave Seefeldt (GeolE), Rapid City, SouthDakota; Ernie Sundstrom (ME), Traverse City, Michigan;Dick Todd (ME), Rapid City, South Dakota; Stuart Ulfers(EE), Annandale, Minnesota; Jan Waage (ME), Norway;Richard Warder (ME), Memphis, Tennessee; and WayneWilcox (GenE), Arlington, Virginia. Also attending alongwith spouses and guests was Larry Kloiber ofMinneapolis, Minneapolis.

More than 200 graduates received degrees at the springcommencement. Dr. Thomas O. Hunter, president ofSandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, anddirector of Sandia National Laboratories, delivered thecommencement address. Hunter also addressed morethan 100 alumni, campus, and community leaders in aspecial Technology Based Economic Development (TBED)luncheon on the Friday before commencement, co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and Rapid CityEconomic Development. Dr. Hunter joined Sandia in 1967and his responsibilities as president includes managingthe Laboratories' $2.2 billion annual budget andapproximately 8,400 employees.

Firas Khoury (EE08) of Israel and Wes Snaza (ME08) ofWebster, South Dakota delivered the senior classmessages. Khoury was active in International StudentMinistry, Eta Kappa Nu Association, and Tau Beta Pi honorsociety. Khoury has been accepted into the Navy's NuclearPropulsion Officer Program. Snaza participated inmultiple activities including Society of AutomotiveEngineers, Formula SAE, Center of AdvancedManufacturing and Production (CAMP), Connolly Hallresident assistant, Mechanical Engineering StudentAdvisory Board, Student Ambassador, Student OrientationLeader, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and Tau Beta Pihonor society. He will begin his career with Terex Utilitiesin Watertown, South Dakota as a design engineer.

Also during the ceremony, the School of Mines honoredalumnus Jerrold L. Brown (CE65) with the 2008 Guy E.March Medal. After graduating in 1965 with a bachelor'sdegree in civil engineering, Brown was commissioned assecond lieutenant in the United States Army Corps ofEngineers. In 1966, he entered the United States Army andwas awarded the Bronze Star, the Vietnamese ServiceRibbon, and the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. Brownearned a master's degree in civil engineering in 1970 andbegan working for Birdsall Sand & Gravel Co., Rapid City,in September 1969. In 1981 he became president andchief executive officer of the company. Brown retired asvice president and general manager for Pete Lien & Sons.He also served as board member, executive vice president

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Mel Glerup (GeolE58), Lloyd Potter (GeolE58), and Dave Seefeldt (GeolE58)

Class of 1958 attendees and guests at March Dake Plaza

Dr. Dan Dolan, professor, mechanical engineering,explains CAMP to the class of 1958

157th commencement at the School of Mines

unique reunion.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Thanks to Larry Simonson (EE69), a hearty group ofalumni met at Charleston’s restaurant in Oklahoma City,Oklahoma on May 29, 2008 to kick off several weeks oftravel, bringing smiles and miles from South Dakota. Thesmall group spent the evening dancing up stories fromyesteryears at the School of Mines. Of course, in fineform, Simonson also gave everyone the current movesand future steps happening on campus. Special thanksgo to Dan Naugle (EE81) for arranging the event atCharleston’s.

Tulsa, OklahomaMemphis, TennesseeNew Orleans, LouisianaWichita, KansasKansas City, Missouri

Alumni President Marlene Nelson (ME74) committed to acouple of back-to-back weekends from May 30-June 8,

and president of the SDSM&T Alumni Association,president of the Triangle Fraternity Alumni Association,and was named one of the School of Mines' Centennial100 in 1985.

The Guy E. March Silver Medal was established in 1975 inremembrance of the exemplary service provided by Dr.Guy E. March (EE22) to the South Dakota School of Minesand Technology. Jerry Brown worked with Guy March onmany projects, reunions, and events involving students,faculty, staff, and alumni, and continues to embody thisexemplary ethic.

Kabul, Afghanistan

Do two or more alumni an Area Meeting make? Well, itcertainly does in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Kevin Groves(EE96) emailed that he “had the good fortune of meetingBrad Prisbe (GeolE95), now a captain in the U.S. AirForce, on a flight [he] made from Kabul to KandaharAfghanistan on 31 May 2008.” Kevin continued, “On thereturn trip we decided to take a photo of an impromptualumni ‘reunion’ at the Kabul International Airport andsubmit it to the Hardrocker.” Fellow pilot, J.D. Rodriguezis also a former School of Mines student in a master’sprogram. Brad is stationed in Afghanistan with the AirComponent Coordination Element as their space effectsplanner. Brad added, “It is amazing 10,000 miles from‘home’ who you will randomly meet.” Thanks also go toLarry Simonson (EE69) for forwarding the story of this


2008 March Medalist Jerry Brown (CE65) following 1999March Medalist Paul Gnirk (MinE59) to the stage

Kevin Groves (EE96), Brad Prisbe (GeolE95), and J.D. Rodriguez

l to r: Doug Schultze (ChE78), Stan Mueller (EE80), Bert Weimer (GeolE81), Dan Naugle (EE81),

Chuck Natalie (MetE74), and Jim Couch (CE78)

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2008 to ‘road trip’ with Larry Simonson (EE69) andMary-Jane Green (CE78) to Tulsa, Memphis, and NewOrleans, followed by Wichita and Kansas City. At allstops, she found alumni eager to meet her and hear aboutthe School of Mines’ rich history and bright future, alongwith a willingness to share this strong connection amongalumni.

From rekindling old friendships with “MJ” Green tomeeting fellow Boeing employee John Knie (MetE99) tocrossing paths with hometown (Martin, South Dakota)friend Howard Hauck (ChE71) to sharing great “Southernhospitality” at the homes of Sandy and Dave Gross (Ex69)in Memphis and Rosie (Math71) and Terry Bartels (ME71)in Kansas City – Marlene experienced firsthand the funand friendship that alumni around the country rollout for

School of Minesrepresentatives.

Many thanks goto Larry fordrivingcountless mileson this andother tripsthroughout theyear, and to ourrepresentativesin the variouschapters thathelp arrange,organize, andattend thesearea events,including:Mary-JaneGreen (CE78) inTulsa,Oklahoma);Sandy and DaveGross (Ex69) inMemphis;Madonna andBob Heier(ME73) andMarge andHarold Bross(MetE68) in NewOrleans,

Louisiana; Cheryl and Matt Kraft (MetE82) in Wichita,Kansas; and Rosie (Math71) and Terry Bartels (ME71) inKansas City, Missouri. Without the help and hospitality ofthese alumni and friends, events like these would nothappen. Thank you!


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Tulsa, Oklahoma group – Back row: Marlene Nelson(ME74), Brian Dugdale (CE76), Lin Seder (ChE69), NeilElliott (EE56), Curtis Matthews (GeolE79), Nick Koch(ME03); Front row: Charla Green (Ex07), Barb Seder(Math70), Mary-Jane (Meola) Green (CE78), Megan

Dangel (CE07), Stephanie Matthews (GeolE79), Phyllisand Lance Cole (ChE71), and Velida and Reece Palmer

(ChE61); Photographer (not pictured) Larry Simonson (EE69)

Memphis, Tennessee group – Back row: Marlene Nelson(ME74), Howard Hauck (ChE71), Susan Hodge, Kathleenand Dennis Roeber (ME69), John Knie (MetE99), FredVoigt (CE51), Greg Zoller (ChE73), and David Gross(Ex69); Front row: Tara Cook, Angela Cook (ChE90),

Anna Green, and Sandy Gross; Photographer (not pictured) Larry Simonson (EE69)

New Orleans, Louisiana group – Standing: Sharon Lotz,Tara Patten, Madonna Heier, Marlene Nelson (ME74),Marge Bross, Marci Blomberg (ChE93) (hidden), Jan

Burlette (Marci’s sister), Cheri Deis, Don Penner(Math75); Sitting: Wayne Lotz (ChE64), Michael Patten

(ChE95), Bob Heier (ME73), Harold Bross (MetE68), GregDeis (ChE76), Ron Jeitz (CE69); Photographer

(not pictured) Larry Simonson (EE69)

Wichita, KS group – Standing: TroyAlexander (CE87), Robert Schott

(ME60) and Pat Schott, Tara Shaffer(hidden), Dennis Clary (ME01), RodNelson (ME84), Mary-Jane (Meola)

Green (CE78), Chris Gerken (Chem06)and guest, Mitch Wendt (ChE03),Rebecca Mitchell (CE95), RobertTrumpower, Chad Kirby (ME07),Bobbie (ME06) and Chris Kroetch

(ME06), Erin Lachman (ME01), KarolynBraun (holding Donovan Braun) andEric Braun (ME96) (holding NatashaBraun), Stacie Penaloza, Matt Kraft

(MetE82); Kneeling: Jim Morgan(ME01), Lea Anderson (ME83),

Marlene Nelson (ME74), Darrell Jundt(CE79), Victoria and Manny Penaloza

(MetE95)

Evenson (MinE72), Lynn Presuhn (ME71), and of course,Howard (Dean Pete) Peterson (GeolE50). Thanks go toDean Pete for the photo.

Rapid City, South Dakota – Dean Pete’s“Youthful Milestone” Celebration

On June 27, 2008 more than 100 alumni, friends, andcampus personnel gathered in the Surbeck CenterBallroom to offer best wishes (and a few friendly pokes)for our very own “Dean Pete” – Dr. Howard C. Peterson(GeolE50). For more than a half of a century, Dean Pete’sassociation with the School of Mines has had few rivals.

Howard has a long legacy at the School of Mines. A nativeof Alpena, South Dakota (see previous article) he attendedthe School of Mines in an era when most students wereveterans of World War II and few were traditional,straight of high school students. Howard was one of the“youngsters”, as he calls himself. He was active in manycampus organizations, and after receiving his geologicalengineering degree in 1950, he worked in oil explorationfor a few years. Then he found his true calling –education. He taught high school in eastern South Dakota,and during his teaching years he earned a master’s degreein education in 1955 from Northern State TeachersCollege. He then returned to his college alma mater andwas appointed assistant dean of Students. He later earneda doctorate in education from the University of SouthDakota.

From the 1960s into the 1990s, Dean Pete was a personalfriend to most students. He retired as dean of students in1992, only to immediately play a leadership role thatmade a significant impact on the very successful, first-ever capital campaign in the university’s history with hiswork at the SDSM&T Foundation. Howard continues tomentor students as an advisor, as a member of severaluniversity boards, and as chairman emeritus of theSDSM&T Foundation Board of Trustees.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Cargill Corn MillingFlood Recovery

On June 13, 2008 the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowacrested at 31.1 feet, nearly 20 feet above flood stage. Theflooding caused significant damage to the city, whichincluded damage to Cargill’s Corn Milling facility locatedalong the river in Cedar Rapids. The South Dakota Schoolof Mines and Technology engineers pictured andmentioned below are part of a team of more than 700Cargill employees and contractors assembled fromCargill operations and locations around the world forrecovery operations at the plant. The plant in CedarRapids produces corn syrups, specialty and industrialcorn starches, and animal feed products. Cargill expectsthe plant to be operational sometime in October 2008

Alpena, South Dakota

On June 21, 2008 a hardy and dedicated group of Minersrepresented their alma mater in an outstanding andimpressive parade celebrating the 125th anniversary oftheir home town of Alpena, South Dakota, which wasfounded two years before the School of Mines! More than85 floats and entries participated in the parade,including the SDSM&T Alumni, Alpena Chapter float,which was deemed one of the most impressive andcreative. Over the years, several graduates of AlpenaHigh School (home of the Wildcats) have graduated fromthe School of Mines, and nine of these individuals foundtheir way back home for the celebration. Ron Schroeder(CE67) organized the float with able assistance fromLarry Baruth (ME66) and Ron Baruth (MinE72). Otheralumni on the float included Harry Baltzer (CE57), AleaBrandenburg (MetE98), Chris Brandenburg (IS97), GaryAre

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l to r: Brian Bares (ChE95), Glain Corner (ChE96), Joe Dexter (ME06), Mike Rizor (ME91), Don Grunig(ChE84). Other flood recovery team/School of Mines

graduates not pictured: Jed Kopren (ChE03), Danny Duniphin (ME07)

The Alpena Chapter float at the Wildcat’s 125th Anniversary Parade

It was indeed fitting to celebrate his recent “youthfulmilestone” in the Surbeck Center, where he spent manyyears with students, alumni, and friends of the college. It

is also immediately connected to the dormitory named inhis honor – Peterson Hall. Congratulations Dean Pete,and thank you so much for all of your life’s work andlove of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

China – Reunion in a Coal Mine

The photo below has Brad Peterson (MinE77) and BobChen (EE73) touring the Coal Mine in China where Brad

works. Bob, presidentand CEO of RAESystems Inc., isinterested in workingwith the mine safetyprogram. Bob took ateam of five to visitBrad Peterson's mine.Bob expressed hisgratitude in a notewith the photo thathe “really enjoyedmeeting Brad”. Also,since Brad is in aremote location hethought it would benice to bring somesteaks with him fromUSA. Brad was sopleased. Thank alsogo to LarrySimonson (EE69) forsharing the story andphoto.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Alumnus and Professor M.R. Hansen (CE69) andadmissions counselor Barbara Hansen attended theannual meeting of the Mongolia Chapter of the SDSM&TAlumni Association this past summer. General businesswas discussed and they played a very interesting gamecalled School of Mines Bingo, and Barbara gave the


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Dean Pete (GeolE50) being introduced by current Dean of Students Pat Mahon

Howard (GeolE50) and “good friend” Dr. Paul Gnirk (MinE59)

“Howard the Magnificent” (GeolE50) with emcee Dr. Sid Goss

Dean Pete (GeolE50) with a group of his “former students”

Brad Peterson (MinE77) and Bob Chen (EE73) touring the

coal mine in China

winners souvenirs for prizes. “Mongolian and Americanpolitics were discussed and refreshments were served,”according to Dr. Hansen. Thanks go to the Hansens forpromoting our alumni more than halfway around theglobe.

Denver, Colorado

This past summer, there was a special gathering ofalumnae in the Mile High City. Although Denver, andindeed the state of Colorado, may never be the same,these seven “angels” descended on the Rocky Mountainsfor a few days of fun and frivolity. This recentlyexpanded group of Lady Hardrockers has been meetingannually for years to rekindle their friendships andreminisce on days-gone-by. Thanks go to Linda Rausch(ChE75) for sharing the photo, (was I discreet enough?)

Rapid City, South Dakota – “Meet thePresident Mixer”

Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., the university's 18th president,arrived in Rapid City in late June, along with first lady Dr.Carolyn Fassi Wharton. Most recently, Bob Whartonserved as provost and vice president for academic affairsat Idaho State University (ISU). Officially assumingleadership of the School of Mines on July 1, Whartonreplaces Dr. Charles Ruch, who retired June 30 after fiveyears as president.

As the chief academic officer at ISU, Wharton wasresponsible for advancing the academic and scholarly lifeof 13,280 students and 670 faculty members on thePocatello campus and at four outreach centers. Hesuccessfully led the first campus-wide effort toimplement and align evidence-based strategic planning,


Lori Litzen (CE81), President Robert Wharton, and Dave Litzen (ChE81)

l to r: Tom Zeller (ME70), Jim Feiszli, Kim and JimSears, Carolyn Fassi Wharton, and Michelle Feiszli

l to r: M. R. Hansen (CE69), chapter President SugarMijir (M.S. CE05), chapter Secretary D. Battsengel

(M.S. TM06), Barbara Hansen, chapter Vice PresidentBatbaatar Chimedtseren (M.S. TM06). Absent:

Baigalmaa Shurka (M.S. CE05), Norov Rinchin (M.S.CE01), Enkhbaatar Baasanjav (M.S. TM03), and

Batbaatar (#2).

l to r: Susan "Booty" Banks (GeolE75), Susie Jorgensen(CE76), Linda Rausch (ChE75), Kathy Miller (Chem74),

Anita Freeman (EE76), Marilyn Maxvold (Math75), and Carmen Adams (ChE75)A

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budgeting, and assessment at ISU, and led studentrecruitment and retention efforts that resulted in a fourpercent enrollment increase as of fall 2007. First lady Dr.Carolyn R. Fassi Wharton has 20 years of experienceworking in health care administration at the federal, state,and local levels, in private industry, and in academe as afaculty member.

The SDSM&T Alumni Association hosted an alumni andfriends event dubbed “Meet the President Mixer” on July11, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel’s 445 Club. A robustcrowd of ‘regulars’ and a few unexpected guests enjoyedthe mixer and meeting the Whartons. Several alumni evendusted off their beanies and senior hats to avoid thecover charge. On behalf of all School of Mines graduates,the Alumni Association welcomes the Drs. Wharton to ouralma mater and wishes them all the successes in theirendeavors.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – 11th AnnualGolf Tourney

The Sioux Falls area alumni hosted its 11th Annual GolfTournament and Social at the Spring Creek Country Clubon August 17, 2008. Thirty-four alumni and familygathered for the annual event. The competitive tournamentwas won by the team of Tim Renner (CSc86), Scott Buss(ChE89), Lance Mriden (ME84), and Jeff Wendte (ME88).Congratulations to the winners and all that participated inthis great event. Special thanks go to Jim Belbas (MetE90)and Dean Herll (CE92) for organizing the event andsending the results.

Anchorage, Alaska

Past Alumni President Tom Zeller (ME70) and Sharon Zellerwere welcomed by alumni and friends in Anchorage, Alaskaon August 20, 2008, as they embarked on a two-week

Michelle and Jim Feiszli with 2008 Alumni PresidentMarlene Nelson (ME74) and Curt Chenoweth

Alumni presidents from three decades: Doug AldrichChE62), Tom Zeller (ME70), and Paul Gnirk (MinE59)

Paul Bachman (EE74) and Dianne, Ray Wahle (EE79) and Linda

l to r: Jason Cook (Chem91), Jim Belbas (MetE90), SteveLabahn (EE91), James Larson (IE91), Kevin Erdmann(ME03), Keith Beck (EE89), and Eric Thompson (CE92)

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excursion of Alaska. It was a good turnout and everyoneenjoyed the lower-48 news from South Dakota and theSchool of Mines. Special thanks go to Gary Christman(ChE74) and Sandy Hamilton (BP, Alaska Drilling & Wells)for making all the arrangements at Kinley’s Restaurantand with the event.

Rapid City, South Dakota – AMP Picnic

Another successful AMP/CFSP (See<http://ampcenter.sdsmt.edu>) summer of research wascelebrated in fine BBQ fashion at Canyon Lake Park onAugust 21, 2008. Alumni, faculty, students, and staffgathered on a hot day in the park, complete with greatfood, great company, and great stories from the past year.AMP Director Bill Arbegast manned the grill and everyonecontributed to the feast. There was even a special

presentation of the new AMP director’s chair as part ofthe frivolity. Thanks go to all who attended and helpedmake this a special event and a integral part of the Schoolof Mines.

Watertown and Aberdeen, South Dakota

Larry Simonson (EE69) canvassed Eastern South Dakotain late August co-hosting two casual event with alumni,family, and friends. On August 22, 2008 several gathered

Front Row: Gary Christman (ChE74) (guest: CymbreChristman); Janice Vosika (ChE81); Kyle Monkelien

(GeolE78); Jerry DesJarlais (CE57) (guest: DorisDesjarlais); Back Row: Tom Zeller (ME70 (guest: SharonZeller), Dave Fritz (CE58); Lynn Aleshire (GeolE81); Sue

Moore (CE92) (guest: Patrick Moore); Vernon Brown(ME70) (guest Sandy); and Gary Wells (ChE76)

(guest: Sandra Jennings).

AMP Director Bill Arbegast gets some “air” on the burger

Seated, front: Michael West, James Haiston (Math/CSc,Rapid City), Bill Arbegast, Colleen Narciso.

Back row, l to r: Matt Heringer (CE06), Jordan Ritz (CSc,Mandan, N.D.), Adam Gladen (ME, Wahpeton, N.D.),Ravi Jonnalagadda (M.S. MES, India), Bharat Jasthi

(M.S. MES, India), Dustin Blosmo (ME07), and Todd Curtis (ME, Wall)

Watertown, South Dakota – l to r: Nick Marek (ME02)(holding Oliver), Brooke Marek (Math03) (behind babyLincoln), John Stephenson (ME05), Jason Thuringer

(ME01), Larry Brusse (ME66), Julie Skott (IS00) (holdingRachel), Erik Skott (ME01) (holding Ethan), Pat Scott,

Sara Struckman (holding Abby) and Glenn Struckman(CE97), and Jack Scott (CE64)A

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for a picnic at Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown, SouthDakota. Jason Thuringer (ME01) helped Simonson

arrange for the food and everyone contributed with theirtime and talents. The next day found an even larger groupof Miners and future Miners descending on the RollingHills Golf Club in Aberdeen, South Dakota on August 23,2008. Larry and fellow 1969 graduate Roger Wilson(EE69) rolled out the “green” carpet for everyoneattending. Many thanks go to all who helped, andespecially to Larry Simonson (EE69) for making the trekeast once again.

Rapid City, South Dakota

Betty Brink and Past Alumni President Jay Brink (EE56)hosted a group of alumni, family, and friends, includingtheir grandson and School of Mines student ChristopherShagla (ME, Rapid City) for an end-of-summer cocktail

party at their home in Rapid City. A “Who’s Who” of localand out-of-state alumni spent the evening in what alwaysproves to be great conversation and School of Minesstories. Sincere thanks go to Jay and Betty for alwaysmaking this an entertaining gathering.

Aberdeen, South Dakota: Candance and Paris Briscoe(ChE86) with children, Jamaica and Seattle, Suzanne

(holding Carter) and Pat Moen (ME99) (holding Norah),Todd (CE02) and Barb Hauge (IE02) (holding Addison),

Lisa Jorgenson (CE98) (holding Andrew) and JasonJorgenson (ChE97) (holding Genevieve), young Matt,

Kimberly, Zachary, and Matt Helde (ME99)

Aberdeen, South Dakota: Mark and Lori Simon, Jeremy Simon (EE, Aberdeen), Travis Hoon

(ChE, Aberdeen), Eric Brandner (CE, Aberdeen), and Robyn Krage (CSc, Aberdeen)

Aberdeen: Mark Wismer (EE78) and Susan, Dick Wismer(GeolE54) and Elaine, Katie Henning (Chem04),

Bill McQuillen (ChE75), Carolyn Trautman (GeolE88)(nice senior hat!), Leonard Alberts (MinE78)

with Nick and Sheri

Aberdeen: Esther and Larry Afdahl (CE62), Linda andJohn Malsom (EE75), Ashley and Eric Larson (EE05),

Pam Larson, Jerry Schley (ME73), Glen Larson (ChE71),Roger Wilson (EE69), Rich Rovang (ChE71), Maureen

and Fran Brink (CE61), Connie Wilson, Ray Kub (EE69)

Front row: Christopher Shagla (ME, Rapid City), Jay Brink (EE56), Glenn Barber (CE60),

Duff Erickson (MinE55), Bernie Hoogestraad (GeolE56), Les Larson (CE58), George Dunham (ME56).

Back row: Paul Gnirk (MinE59), Dave Seefeldt (GeolE58),Nancy Ward Dunham (EE57), Stacey Brink-Brown

(Math88), Tim Vottero (Chem84)

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1940s

A note from James England (CE47)shared that “on July 22, 2008 mywife Carol and I celebrated our 65thwedding anniversary!” (On a sadnote, the Alumni Office offerscondolences to Jim and his family atthe passing of his dear wife CarolMae England, 83, who died peacefullyin his care this past August 2008.Carol was born in Blunt, SouthDakota, and her family moved toRapid City, where she attendedschool through graduation fromCentral High School in 1943. Shemarried her high school sweetheart,James R. England, in 1943 in RapidCity. In high school she was anextraordinary student, especiallyenjoying Math Club and she sharedher angelic voice in the church choir.As an adult woman she was active inher PEO chapter and was acoordinator for drivers for theAmerican Cancer Society. Carolenjoyed an avid love of gardening,played in several bridge clubs, andtraveled the world with a zest forlearning. She always embraced newexperiences and to all who knew andloved her she was loving, showing agenuine caring for others. Carol willbe remembered as a loving wife,mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.)

Surrounded by his wife of 60 years,Rosalie, and several of their sixchildren, 17 grandchildren, and fourgreat-grandchildren, 91-year-old TomMalone (GenE40, Hon D.Eng62, andMarch Medal Recipient 1976) on April19, 2008 was presented with theLiving Spirit Award of the interfaithSpiritual Life Center for “outstandingcontributions to share spiritualitywith the larger community inConnecticut.”

Elinor and Jack Meeker (EE47, ME48)are residing at the Sound Livinghome (21234 1st Place South, DesMoines, WA 98198). The facility isquiet, clean, and has very attentiveadult care. Jack also requiredassisted care for a few weeks as herecovered from near death last year

in early December when a fireclaimed their home and nearly alltheir possessions. Jack and Elinor'shouse was totally destroyed and Jackwas burned and suffered smokeinhalation, requiring CPR. Tragedythen struck the Meekers again inJune 2008 when their son Paulpassed away on June 21, 2008 as aresult of injuries received from amotorcycle accident on June 13. Hisbrother John and family were at hisside when he passed away.Obviously, this has been a tragic yearfor the Meekers beyondcomprehension. If your lives havebeen touched by these special peopleover the years, as has been the casefor so many alumni, please send yournotes, thoughts, and prayers to Jackand Elinor. A special thanks go to Patand Vernon Abild (EE50) and Elynorand Ward Zimmerman (ME50) forsending periodic updates to theAlumni Office during the past fewmonths and being true friends to theMeekers.

1950s

An update from Myron Andersen(GenE56): “My son Dana is directorfor late-stage cell culture bioprocessdevelopment for GenetechCorporation in Menlo Park,California. He has a wife and twochildren – a boy and a girl. Our other

son, Eric, is R&D engineer, copysolutions, for Hewlett Packard inMeridian, Idaho. He and his wife havethree children – two girls and a boy. Ialso have one nephew who lives inSturgis, South Dakota with a wife andtwo children – a boy and a girl. Ihope to continue visiting my sons’families, grandchildren, and also mynephew.”

The Alumni Office received thefollowing memorial from Neil Isto(GenE55) in honor of his wife,Rosemary Virginia Isto – “Rosemarywent to meet the Lord on July 1,2008. Her wonderful smile and happyvoice will be dearly missed by herfamily and friends. Our belovedRosemary succumbed to the ravagesof Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) after a two-year battle with thisterrible disease. Rosemary was bornon July 25, 1937 in Miles City. Shegrew up on a ranch near Sheffield,attended grammar school at theCalabar School and high school inMiles City. After graduating in 1955,she attended Parks Business Collegein Denver, Colorado. Shesubsequently was employed by ShellOil Company in Billings. It was therethat she met her future husband,Neil, who worked as an engineer forShell. They were married Aug. 18,1957. From this union were born twochildren, Mark and Heidi. Rosemaryand her family lived in many places.While living in Houston, Rosemarywas very active in the RepublicanParty and the Fort Bend RepublicanWomen’s Club, where she washonored as Woman of the Year in1990. She was also a delegate to theRepublican National Convention in1992. After Neil's retirement in 1992,they moved to Joliet, Montana wherethey have been residents since 1994.Rosemary loved to cook and mademany delicious meals for her familyand friends. She also loved herflowers, herb garden, and traveling.She and Neil visited 26 countries intheir world travels. After beingdiagnosed with ALS, Rosemary andNeil made trips to China and Mexicofor stem cell treatments. Rosemary issurvived by her husband of 50 years;their children Mark and Heidi andtheir families, including three

Elinor and Jack Meeker (EE47,ME48) in July 2008 (Photo courtesy

of Ward Zimmerman)

ALL SCHOOL REUNION – JULY 7-11, 2010


grandchildren; and three sisters alongwith other dear family members.” Oursincere condolences go to Neil and hisfamily. Rosemary was also very dearto their many School of Mines friendsand family.

A note from John Mohr (EE56)shared, “We took an Amazon Rivercruise in Peru in December 2007.Sight seeing and interaction with thenatives were fantastic. Fishing forpiranha was a bust – they bit, butrarely found the hook!”

Grove Rathbun (MinE52) sent thefollowing story: “SOUTH DAKOTAAVIATION HISTORY IN THE MAKING:On Sunday, July 27, 2008 50 home-built experimental aircraft launchedfrom the Mitchell, South Dakotaairport in a race to Oshkosh,Wisconsin. This race, the AirVentureCup Race, is one of the mostsuccessful air racing events inaviation. The race was founded in1998, and the previous startinglocations have been Kitty Hawk, NorthCarolina and Dayton, Ohio. However,due to increased air traffic controlrestrictions a new route was needed.The decision to choose Mitchell wasbased on the airport location andfacilities. The unknown element waswhether or not South Dakota couldprovide for the myriad of supporttasks and accommodations requiredfor an operation of this size. Eric Whyte, director of the race, sent a

letter in January to Grove, (who ispresident of the South Dakota PilotsAssociation) requesting help inorganizing the local flyingorganizations to provide this neededhelp. Through contacts with the SouthDakota Aeronautics Commission,local EAA Chapters, South DakotaCivil Air Patrol and the Mitchell areacivic and commercial organizations, amore than adequate group wasarranged. More than 1,000 peoplefrom the Mitchell area came to seethe variety of aircraft in the race asthey assembled on Saturday. Thefacilities and support given the racethis year should make South Dakota aprime candidate for the race in futureyears. For more information on therace please visit the<www.airventurecup.com> website.

Bob Smith (EE54) emailed, “Man, theyoutdid themselves on this Hardrockissue (spring 2008). How that schoolhas grown and changed. Prettyimpressive. We were in the dark ages.The museum had just one turtleskeleton and a rock then. We tooknotes on slabs of slate. Slept with theslide rule. Couldn’t spell computer.Rode goats to school. EE departmenthad a battery and a motor.” Thanksfor the cheers, Bob!

1960s

James Clement (ME69) wrote,“Meridian Automotive Plant closed inJackson, Ohio during the summer of2007, where I was ISO coordinator. I

am now employed at John DeereEngine Works in Waterloo, Iowa as aquality engineer effective March 31,2008. My wife Margaret, daughterRaina, and I are now living inRaymond, Iowa.”

James Cox (ME69) wrote, “Betty and Iare still in Yankton, South Dakota.Our son Chuck Cox (ME00) is living inKansas City working at LaFarge. Ourother son Garrett is a third-yearmedical student at USD’s Yanktoncampus.”

Merril Evans (GeolE60) sent thisupdate: “When friends pose thequestion ‘How are you?’ my currentreply is, ‘In the context of havingcelebrated my 80th birthday last June,I’m doing OK’. I’m upright,ambulatory, and beset with only aminimum of aches and pains thataccompany being a ‘senior citizen.’We live in a gated community ofsenior citizens. It is only a 30 minutedrive to the Jersey shore where wespend considerable time in thesummer. I continue to do furniturerestoration and refinishing. Ouryoungest son, Eric, and family livenearby so we see them often. InAugust of 2006 their second childwas born – a baby boy named GriffinMerril. He is our only grandson. Iwaited 79 years for him. Now andthen we go into Manhattan to shop,visit friends, or to see a stage show.In December of 2007 our two sonsand daughter took us to the famousold Jazz club, Birdland, to celebrateour 50th wedding anniversary. Since Ihave long been a jazz fan, the eveningwas doubly special for me. My bestregards to all.”

Lowell Hanson (EE61) wrote, “Wehave moved to Wisconsin to be nearerto our children and other relatives.My wife’s health is causing us togreatly minimize our activities.”

George “Duff” Kruse (ME66) “hasspent more than 35 years managingtechnology companies and has beenwith Pacer for more than 11 years

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Steve Hamilton, SDPA executivedirector and Grove Rathbun

(MinE52)

Cirrus Design sponsored this support plane, complete with

South Dakota decals



developing new products, processes,and reserves to meet growingcustomer demands. Prior to joiningPacer, Duff was director of operationsfor the Johnson & Johnson electronicmedicine division in Denver,Colorado, and the productionengineering manager at the HoneywellTest Instruments Division also inDenver. Duff was born and raised inthe Black Hills area. He is dedicated tomaintaining Pacer’s status as a leaderin environmental concern andreclamation and is active as well intechnology based economicdevelopment of the Black Hills area.”

Named one of eight National Ernst &Young Entrepreneurs Of The Year®chosen from nearly 4,000 nomineesthroughout the country, Daktronicschairman and co-founder Dr. AlKurtenbach’s (EE61) inspirationalstory is told in the Pine Hill Press, Inc.book entitled “Daktronics and TheMan Who Lit It Up” (January 2007)authored by Chuck Cecil. Daktronicswas founded in 1968 by School ofMines Distinguished Alumni Drs.Aelred Kurtenbach and Duane Sander(EE60), while professors of electrical

engineering at South Dakota StateUniversity in Brookings, SouthDakota. The company began with thedesign and manufacture of electronicvoting systems for state legislatures.In 1971, Daktronics developed thepatented Matside® wrestlingscoreboard, which was the firstproduct in the company's growingand evolving line of "catalog"scoreboards. The company branchedout into the design and manufactureof large custom scoreboards andcomputer-programmable displays.Daktronics now offers the mostcomplete line of scoreboards anddisplay products of any company inthe world, including long-lasting lightemitting diode (LED)-based systems.Today a majority of the company'sdisplay products utilize LEDs becauseof the low power requirements andhigh reliability of the technology. Thecompany employs more than 2,300people working under more than500,000 square feet of itsmanufacturing and office facilities. In1994, Daktronics, Inc.(<www.daktronics.com>) became apublicly traded company, offeringshares under the symbol DAKT on theNASDAQ National Market system.

An update from David Lee (CE62)shared that he “retired from LockheedMartin in March 2007. My wife MaryLou and I intend to remain in Aledo,Texas but with a summer escape toIowa.”

Ur-Energy Inc (www.ur-energy.com)and its board of directors are pleasedto announce the appointment ofThomas Parker (MinE65) as a directorof Ur-Energy’s board of directors. Amining engineering graduate fromSouth Dakota School of Mines andTechnology, with a master’s degree inmineral engineering managementfrom Penn State, Parker has workedextensively in senior managementpositions in the mining industry forthe past 40 years. Tom Parker ispresident and chief executive officerof Gold Crest Mines Inc., a Spokane-based gold exploration company. GoldCrest has properties in southwestAlaska in the Kuskokwim Mineral Beltand in the Yellow Pine District ofIdaho. Prior to Gold Crest, Parker was

the president and chief executiveofficer of High Plains Uranium, Inc., ajunior uranium mining company withmore than 120,000 acres (48,562hectares) in claims and leaseagreements that was acquired byEnergy Metals Corporation in January2007. Parker spent 10 years asexecutive vice president of Andersonand Schwab, a New York-basedmanagement consulting firm wherehis clients included UBS Warburg,Norilsk Nickel, Southern Peru CopperCompany, Arch Coal Company, andGoldman Sachs. Prior to Andersonand Schwab, he was chief executiveofficer of Costain Minerals Company,a $425 million company with 22operating coal mines, and with theBrewer gold mine and Montana Talc.Earlier in his career, Parker worked 10years for ARCO where he waspresident of Beaver Creek Coal Mines,general manager of Nevada Moly,president of Thunder Basin CoalCompany, and vice president forengineering, exploration, and businessdevelopment. He was also generalmanager of the Jacobs Ranch mine forKerr McGee Coal Company, andserved as project manager for Conocofor the Imouraren uranium deposit inNiger. He opened, staffed, andmanaged Conoco's Paris office, whichwas established to coordinateConoco's activities with those of thetwo other partners – the FrenchAtomic Energy Commission(COGEMA) and the Niger State MiningCompany (ONAREM). He has workedin the potash, limestone, and talcindustries, and has extensiveexperience in Niger, France andVenezuela.

Gary Radford (ME60) wrote,“Consulting business is good in Texasand looking forward to the nextreunion!”

An update from Carol Reed (Geol66)shared, “I’m still working for USDA asa civil rights manager. I’ve clocked 29years with the government. I’mstarting to think about retirement in acouple of years. We have ninegrandchildren to visit in four states.”

A note from Francis Reuer (ME65)shares that “After graduation, I

“Daktronics and The Man Who Lit ItUp” by Chuck CecilC

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worked for the South Dakota HealthDepartment for 18 years. A transferwas made to the Wyoming HealthDepartment in 1983. After eightyears, I finished working for theUnited States Department of Healthand Human Services in Denver,Colorado (1991-2008). I presentlyreside in Cheyenne, Wyoming.”

Terry Sankey (ME67) wrote, “Afterseven years in Las Vegas and sixmonths in Boston, Massachusetts, isit great to be back home in ‘God’sCountry’.”

The South Dakota Engineering Society(SDES) held its 48th AnnualConference in Rapid City, April 23-25,2008. During this conference, the2007 SDES Engineer of the Year wasawarded to Rich R. Schwanke (CE69).Rich received his bachelor of sciencedegree in civil engineering from theSchool of Mines. He is a registeredprofessional engineer and landsurveyor. In 1984, he co-founded JSAConsulting Engineers & LandSurveyors, Inc. in Sioux Falls. Rich hasserved in the United States Army andsaw active duty in Vietnam. He is stilla very active member of the SiouxFalls VFW. His engineering career of38 years has been very beneficial tothe City of Sioux Falls andsurrounding communities withnumerous street, utility, and drainageimprovement projects. He is also amember of the National Society ofProfessional Engineers, South DakotaProfessional Land Surveyors, andAmerican Public WaterworksAssociation. SDES is the state societyof engineers from all disciplines thatpromotes the ethical and competentpractice of engineering, advocateslicensure, enhances the image of itsmembers, and advocates legislationand public policy for the bettermentof human welfare and the profession.Thanks go to Tracy Painter (CE91),SDES Awards Chairperson for sendingthe story.

A note from Howard Weisser (ME61)shared, “I have enjoyed the past 14years since I retired from BectonDickinson Company in Columbus,Nebraska. My hope is that theeconomy will become more favorable

soon so that I can continueretirement without part-timeemployment.”

1970’s

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlentyannounced the reappointment ofWilliam D. Arockiasamy (M.S.CE71)to the board of architecture,engineering, land surveying,landscape architecture, geoscience,and interior design. Arockiasamy, ofEden Prairie, is the principal engineerwith Engineering Evaluations, Inc. inMinneapolis. He has been a practicingcivil and structural engineer for morethan 35 years, and has been aregistered civil and structuralengineer in Minnesota for more than32 years. Arockiasamy is a member ofthe American Society of CivilEngineers, American ConcreteInstitute, and American Institute ofSteel Construction. He earned hismaster’s degree from the School ofMines and his bachelor’s degree incivil engineering from the P.S.G.College of Technology in Coimbatore,India. Arockiasamy, who has been amember of the board since 2004, wasreappointed as a representative ofprofessional engineers.

Paul Bachman (EE74) wrote, “I justmoved back to South Dakota after aseven-year engagement in Minnesotaas director of engineering for a fiber-based telecommunication TransportCompany. Latest challenge is to builda Power Services Consulting group inSioux Falls, South Dakota with UlteigEngineers. Dianne and I are reallyglad to be home again.”

Ruth and Dean Benson (formerfaculty) of Kennewick celebrated their65th wedding anniversary with 25relatives and friends on a dinnercruise on the Columbia River June 29.They also celebrated at the FirstChristian Church, Kennewick, atfellowship time on July 6, 2008. Theywere married July 6, 1943 in Monroe,Louisiana and during the war lived inDenver, Salt Lake City, and Galveston.Then Dean was put on inactivereserve and was sent to NewportNews, Virginia where he worked forNACA, later becoming NASA. After

the war Dean got his M.A. and Ph.D.in mathematics at Iowa State College,Ames, Iowa and taught at Sioux FallsCollege in South Dakota, Chico StateCollege in California, and retired in1981 as head of the mathematicsdepartment at the South DakotaSchool of Mines and Technology inRapid City, South Dakota. Ruth gother B.A. in mathematics at YanktonCollege, South Dakota and taughtmath one year at Custer, SouthDakota before marriage. Later shereturned to teaching mathematicsand retired in 1981 after 19 years ofteaching in Rapid City, South Dakota.After retirement they moved to TwinLakes Village and later lived inHayden, Idaho until four years agowhen they moved to Kennewick. Theyboth enjoyed fishing and hunting,and for 19 years spent six monthseach year in Yuma, Arizona. Theyhave a son Richard in St. Paul,Minnesota, a daughter Kathy inRichland, two granddaughters, andone great-granddaughter.

Dennis Bryan (GeolE70) wrote, “Ihave gone hack into business formyself and busier than ever. Themining industry is booming!”

John Chandler (MinE79) emailed, “Istarted an independent oil and gasexploration and production company,called Flatirons Resources LLC,(<www.flatironsllc.com>) with severalpartners based in downtown Denver.

Ruth and Dean Benson celebratingtheir 65th wedding anniversary

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We have established some productionin North Dakota, Kansas andArkansas. After doing the largepublic company “thing” for so longthis is a great change! On thepersonal front I have another son,Maxwell who is now seven monthsold. His brother is Fisher and he isthree years old, so Hayley and I haveour hands full. We still get back tothe Black Hills several times and westay at our cabin in SpearfishCanyon. I see quite a bit of othergrads, Lanny Outlaw (GenE58) andBobby Schmitz (CE80).

An update from John DeYoe (EE71)included, “Our first granddaughterwas born to our son Jonathan andhis wife Katie DeYoe on September29, 2007. Our third grandson wasborn to our son David and his wifeJudy DeYoe February 28, 2008. Bothmy wife Karen and I arecontemplating retirement. More timeto spoil the grandchildren! I will beoffering my services as aplanner/economic developmentconsultant to small towns andcommunities to help save their MainStreet or prepare them for impendinggrowth.”

An update from Mark Fiegen (ChE79)shared, “Our daughter Jane is in herfirst year of graduate school atWashington University in St. Louisstudying history. Ann is in hersecond year at Xavier University inCincinnati studying biology. Karen isa high school sophomore and wantsto study fashion design in New York.We attended two School of Minesgrad weddings last summer. BridgetFiegen (ChE07) married Evan Mohr(ME07) in LaCrescent, Minnesota inJune 2007; and second cousin DevonBurke (ChE07) married Hanne Woldin July Rapid City.”

Joel Grace (MinE73) wrote, “Life isgreat! Business is booming! We havetwo granddaughters in Greely,Colorado and one on the wayHastings, Nebraska. Love spendingtime with them and looking forwardto retirement to spend more time

with them.”

Peabody Energy announced that JohnC. Hull (MinE77) has been nameddirector of sales and westerntransportation for its COALSALESsubsidiary, effective Aug. 15, 2008.Hull will be responsible for managingall transportation functions,including contracts, projects, andcommunication with rail andtransportation services for Peabody'sseven Western mines in Arizona,Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.Hull joined the company in May 2007as director of sales and marketing.Prior to that, he held numerouspositions with Rio Tinto America andKennecott Utah Copper in their salesand marketing, businessdevelopment, operations,engineering, and financialmanagement areas. Hull has 30 yearsof experience in the mining industry.He has also earned an MBA fromNova University in Florida. Also ofnote, Jeane Hull (CE77) is Peabody’ssenior vice president of engineeringand technical services. COALSALES isthe nation's largest coal marketerand serves more than 340 electricgenerating stations and industrialcustomers. Peabody Energy is theworld's largest private-sector coalcompany, with 2007 sales of 238million tons of coal and $4.6 billionin revenues. Its coal products fuelapproximately 10 percent of all U.S.electricity generation and twopercent of worldwide electricity.

A note from David Jackson (ME70)shared, “I returned to the School ofMines this past November andattended a volleyball game and twobasketball games. I saw Jim Konst(ChE73) and Coach Ward at the Hallof Fame where I was honored by theschool with a plaque that was putinto the Hall of Fame. I learned ‘therest of the story’ from Coach Wardhow Doug Schlep broke my singlegame scoring record.”

An update from Roger McCambribge(ME77) included, “In 2007 myemployer WPS Resources mergedwith Peoples Energy Corp to form theIntegrys Energy Group. Integrys holdsfive gas utilities and two electric

utilities located in Wisconsin,Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois,plus a non-regulated energy companywith offices across the United Statesand parts of Canada. I am a directorof gas engineer for the IntegrysEnergy Group, providing engineeringsupport for our five gas utilities. Wehave employees based in Green Bayand Chicago. Our son, Colin,graduated from the University ofWisconsin – Madison this spring witha double major in computerengineering and computer scienceand is presently exploring the jobmarket. Daughter Kaisa graduatedfrom Bay Port High School in Juneand is heading to Madison this fall tostudy business.”

School of Mines alumnus andprofessor Henry Mott (CE73) wrote,“My wife Marty is a second-year mathteacher at Central High School herein Rapid City, South Dakota. She isteaching inquiry-based math –everything is a story problem. I thinkit’s a great way to educate. Our sonHarrison has just been accepted toHarvard Graduate School to work onhis Ph.D. in physics/biomedicine.We’re pretty proud!”

Ken Petersen (ME70) wrote that he's“seen two oil embargoes, a naturalgas moratorium, two different basesof operation, threats of a global iceage, and indications of globalwarming. But for Ken Petersen, onething has remained constant – anopen door. Petersen recentlyannounced that he will be retiringfrom his current position as generalmanager at Barron ElectricCooperative effective January 1,2009. It will be the end of an era forboth Petersen and the cooperative, asPetersen is credited with developingthe cooperative's current philosophy– that BEC is the members'cooperative. It hasn't always been asmooth road for the 1970 graduateof the engineering program at SouthDakota School of Mines andTechnology in Rapid City, SouthDakota. After an innocuous 10-yearstint with Northwestern PublicService in the Mitchell, South Dakotaarea, Petersen came to Barron towork for Barron Electric. After



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serving BEC for slightly more thanthree years as an engineer, he waschosen to succeed as generalmanager of the cooperative in 1984.That, Petersen chuckles, is where thefun began. ‘The co-op was embroiledin lawsuits in 1983 involvingherbicide treatment of right of ways,membership lists, and brush-sprayingexpenses,’ Petersen recalls. ‘Therewas a lot of conflict at the time.’Petersen set up a plan of action todeal with the controversy. Byorganizing meetings with membersand installing what he calls an ‘open-door’ policy-with increased access tothe general manager and thecooperative's facilities-Petersen saysthe cooperative was able to avoidmost of the legal actions. Withpetroleum prices continuing toincrease, and both the east and westcoasts looking for power solutions,Petersen says the next 20 years willbe ‘an interesting time’ in theformation of United States energypolicy. After fostering unprecedentedcommunication with members,shrewdly analyzing the changingnature of energy production, andpresiding over the building of thecooperative's new facility on Hwy. 25near the Barron County JusticeCenter in 2006, Petersen says it'stime to close the door on his career.”

Doug Stewart (MinE74) wrote,“Recently my wife Judy and I had anew home built in the Denver areanear Franktown, Colorado. Althoughwe have a home in the Denver areamy job requires constant travel,some to several countries other thanVenezuela. I’m still employed withGold Reserve Inc. as vice president ofproject development. I’m currentlyworking on development of a $700million gold and copper miningproject in Venezuela.”

Craig Willan (MetE76) recentlydonated a 16-foot trailer to thematerials and metallurgicalengineering department that wasbeneficial in helping the departmentto obtain a $150,000 National ScienceFoundation Research Grant focusedon course, curriculum andlaboratory improvement (Back inBlack: A Multifaceted Curriculum and

Laboratory Plan). Willan donated anew trailer – The Brent “Steel is Real”Willan Metallurgical EngineeringRecruiting Trailer – to the MetEdepartment in memory of hisbrother, Brent Willan. The trailer willbe used to outfit a travelingblacksmith and metallographylaboratory for student recruitment atmiddle and high schools throughoutthe region. School of Mines facultyand students will give blacksmithingdemonstrations and direct hands-onactivities for pre-college students inan effort to introduce young studentsto the field of metallurgical andmaterials engineering and the broadcareer opportunities available in thefield today. The old-world mysteriesof blacksmithing are explained tostudents with modern-day scientificand engineering principles andinterrelated to current engineeringissues and opportunities innanomaterials, biomaterials,processing technologies, alloydevelopment, fusion technologies,etc. The National Science Foundationis interested to see if hands-onactivities (kinesthetic skills)combined with basic scientificexplanations of modern-dayengineering issues will haveimproved retention and recognitionof scientific principles onundergraduate students and also if itimproves recruiting efforts for thematerials and metallurgicalengineering department. Over thelast two summers faculty andstudents have given on-campus

blacksmithing demonstrations andtechnical explanations to middle andhigh school students involved in theScience-Technology-Engineering-Preview (STEPS) Camps, Gaining EarlyAwareness and Readiness forUndergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP)for American Indian students, andthe Youth Engineering Adventure(YEA) Camps. The Brent “Steel is Real” Willan Trailer will allow theMetE department the opportunity totake their blacksmithing and moderntechnology recruiting story on theroad. Special thanks go to Craig forthis wonderful opportunity!

Clyde Yancey (M.S.Geol78), the vicepresident of exploration for UraniumEnergy Corp., began his career withUSGS –Uranium and ThoriumResources Branch in the late 1970s.After dedicating more than 11 yearsin exploration for industry-leadingcompanies, including Moore Energyand Mobil Oil, Yancey redirected hisefforts to reclamation investigationsat various uranium mill tailings sitesthroughout the southwestern UnitedStates. Yancey earned his B.S. ingeology from Trinity University inSan Antonio, Texas and his M.S. ingeology from the South DakotaSchool of Mines and Technology.

1980s

Randal (Randy) Wayne Baker(MinE86) was appointed presidentand CEO of Case IH AgriculturalEquipment Inc. after serving CNH assenior vice president for logistics andsupply chain from October 2005until October 2006. From 2004 to2005, as vice president NorthAmerica marketing, Baker directedthe CNH agricultural marketing, partsand service operations. Hisbackground includes 20 years in theconstruction and mining industry,and he has operational experience inmarketing, service and customersupport, quality systems, anddomestic and international sales.

2008 Middle School STEPS Campgirls next to the Willan Trailer


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A note from Clay Gross (MetE84)shared, “I’ve been moving around alittle for the past three years, butwe’ve (wife Kate, boys Maxwell,Solomon, and Elliot, and our littleprincess Annabelle) finally settled inNorthwest Arkansas with MacSteel(soon to be Gerdau). We have one ofyour students, Stephen Christiansen(MetE01) working in the Metdepartment.”

Joe Henning (Chem84) emailed, “Wetook over the Black Hills Inn & Suitesmotel in Deadwood in December. Weare hoping for some growth in theLead-Deadwood area, with the slimeplant project and DUSEL, amongothers. Our current contactinformation is: Joe and NadyaHenning, 206 Mountain Shadow Lane,PO Box 328, Deadwood SD 57732,ph (605) 920-8592. Our mailingaddress needs to have the PO Boxlisted as the post office here isnitpicky about not putting mail inour box if the address is not exactlylisted. Welcome to the Black Hills,huh? Quite a spring we are having ...”

Zane Huffman (MetE89) wrote, “Wejust relocated to Houston for mywork and are trying to get used tothe humidity. Enjoying the summerso far and looking forward to thewarm winters down south.”

“My husband Brian passed away July13, 2007 from cancer just twomonths before the birth of oursecond child, a son named IverAugust Iverson. Although losingBrian was a terrible tragedy, it wastempered by the new baby. We areadjusting to life without him and Iwill be returning to work soon.”Sheila (Ogden) Iverson (CE90)

Karleen (ChE86) and Scott James(CSc86) wrote, “Life is always busy!We can’t believe our oldest son is asenior in high school, [and now afreshman at the School of Mines!].Please check out our blog at<www.xanga.com/smjkkj85>, itkeeps everyone up on life at theJames house!”

Chemtura Corporation has appointedDiana Peninger (ChE86) to vicepresident, Global Consumer Industry.Peninger is responsible for the newconsumer products industry, whichincludes all additives important toproducts created for consumermarkets. Peninger's role is alignedwith Chemtura's new corporatestructure, designed to be morecustomer-focused: closer to the final-product industries to drive value andidentify opportunities for bothChemtura and its customers.Peninger previously served asChemtura's global business director,PVC additives. Prior to Chemtura, shespent 18 years at Celanese inincreasingly responsible positions,most recently as director, glass fiberbusiness, emulsion polymers. She ledthe development of strategies toimprove profitability and to increasethe business' presence in China.Peninger also successfully integrateda team of 35 sales managers after a$350 million acquisition. She alsoworked in strategic marketing,engineering, and procurement, in theUnited States and Europe.

Cindy (Clenn) Salfrank (Ex80) wrote,“I am married with three children.Work for a biopharmaceuticalcompany. I have lived on the eastcoast for the past 19 years and welove being near the ocean.”

Dr. Jeffrey E. Shield (MetE87) wasawarded the Distinguished TeachingProfessor of Mechanical Engineering,College of Engineering. Shield joinedthe faculty at UNL in 2001 after eightyears on the faculty in theDepartment of Materials Science andEngineering at the University of Utahand one year as a scientist at AmesLaboratory of the United StatesDepartment of Education. Bothundergraduate and graduate studentsare actively involved in his researchprogram. Shield is a member of TheMinerals, Metals and MaterialsSociety (TMS), the Materials ResearchSociety (MRS), and the AmericanSociety of Engineering Education(ASEE). The underlying theme ofShield's research is themicrostructural development inmaterials during processing,

especially solidification. Particularly,he is involved in various aspects ofnanoscale materials.

1990s

Lafarge Tulsa Cement Plant hasnamed James Bachman (MinE93) asits manager. Bachmann will overseemore than 100 employees generatingan annual payroll in excess of $6million. The plant produces 800,000tons of cement a year in its 24/7operations. He most recently wasoperations manager at the LafargeAlpena Cement Plant in Alpena,Michigan, a position he took in 2004.A native of South Dakota, Bachmanngrew up on a small farm. He thenworked for more than 14 years in themining industry in largeunderground and surface coal andgold operations across Wyoming,West Virginia, Nevada, and Alaska. In2001, Bachmann led the design andstartup activities for the TrueNorth/Fort Knox operations, a mid-size, complex gold mine outsideFairbanks, Alaska. While in Alpena,Bachmann and his wife, Michelle,were active members of St. PaulLutheran Church, and he served asvice president for the local ExchangeClub. He also was a member of theboard of the local Habitat forHumanity chapter, and coachedelementary and junior highbasketball. The couple has a nine-month-old son, Benjamin.

John Bomgren (ME99) wrote, “I haverelocated to Mankato, Mankato andtaken a position with TaylorCorporation doing machine design inthe printing industry.

Ward Dobler (ME92) said he has adream job. He is able to combine hisengineering expertise with hislifelong interest in guns and hunting.Dobler is director of technicalservices and head of engineering forDakota Arms, a Sturgis company thatmakes high-end rifles and shotguns.Dakota Arms is part of the growinggun industry in Sturgis, mostlyheadquartered in the SturgisIndustrial Park off the Whitewoodservice road on the northwest edge



of town. Dobler got his job at DakotaArms almost by accident. Originallyfrom Ashley, North Dakota, where hegrew up hunting, he took a tour ofDakota Arms before he graduatedfrom the School of Mines. He said, “Itkind of just fell into my lap.” Dobleris part of the team that helps designthe guns, and he also helps make theguns by hand. The company makes50-55 rifles and 40- 45 actions permonth for customers all over theworld. About 95 percent of the gunsit makes are custom built tocustomer specifications.

Martin Drefs (ME92) writes, “I amstill at Navitaire which continues togrow and evolve as a business.Navitaire is now integrates intoAccenture which opens newopportunities. I’m still travelingregularly both within the UnitedStates and around the globe. Kat andI headed to Spain at the end ofFebruary 2008. We also went toAnchorage with Rickey Baruth(CE92) in March to visit Marc Piwko(ChE92) for a few days. My twins arein kindergarten now. It’s anadventure everyday it seems. Kat isstill working part-time as a physicaltherapist. She also volunteers at ourkid’s school on her days off amongstother things that keep our householdrunning. On the school front, Ifinished off my MBA at the Universityof Minnesota in December. Woohoo!”

Jodi Elliott (ChE96) shared that “Timand I have four beautiful boys, Adam(12), Andrew (nine), Aaron (five), and

Alex (three). Tim is employed byHutchinson Telephone Co. as thetechnology manager and I work part-time for 3M as a project engineer. Weenjoy all sports and spending timewith family and friends. We arehoping to take a trip to Rapid Citysoon and show them the school. Weare hoping to have some littleengineers someday!

Brian Hass (Phys92) emailed, “I amstill residing at the same address andam still employed at Jet. Myemployers have been treating meextremely well. On February 5, my37-year-old brother, Kevin, passedaway in Hawarden, Iowa. He and Iwere aware of the terminal nature ofhis medical situation for only a shorttime; so in many ways, I am still in astate of shock. He left behind a13-year-old daughter named Alexandra. Imoved to Beresford, South Dakotawith my mom and brother in 1977.After that time, the only members ofmy household were my mom, mybrother, and me; and, my GrandmaFarley was often at the house onmost days and was effectively amember of the household as well.When I decided to attend the Schoolof Mines, those three peopleprovided me with moral support andencouragement. And when Igraduated, my brother was screamingout to me from the audience at theRushmore Plaza Civic Center. Thosethree people were always there forme and now they are all gone. I stillhave my dreams and goals and Iknow that those three people willalways be with me in spirit. But, I'llhave to move forward without them.”

Christopher A. Kinney (MetE97)emailed, “I would like to thank all ofmy past professors and fellowclassmates for preparing me tosucceed in the challenges I've facedthroughout my career. I would alsolike to thank the Department ofMaterials and MetallurgicalEngineering and Dr. Jon Kellar(MetE84) for nominating me for the2008 Recent Outstanding GraduateAward. I was proud to have thesupport and be accompanied by mywife of three years, Ramona, and myparents Jim and Carol during the

February 21 ceremony. Thank you to all who wished congratulations andsupport but were not able to attend.It was truly an honor to bedistinguished and receive suchrecognition for the past 10 years asmany other graduates have hadachievements, which deservedrecognition as well.”

Roger Kurtenbach (Chem99/MetE99) emailed, “I’m now with Special Metalsin Huntington, West Virginia. We arein the midst of rebuilding ourcompany, which is a leadingproducer of nickel based superalloys. In fact, we developed most ofthe common alloys when the plantwas owned by International Nickeland called INCO. The company has alot of needs as far as engineers sincethe company was purchased by PCC,Precision Cast Parts Corp, a couple ofyears ago. They are a worldwideproducer of super alloys forapplications like turbine blades and other elaborate parts designed forhighly corrosive environments.Huntington is at the extreme edge ofwestern West Virginia and a personcan live in any of three states, WestVirginia, Kentucky or Ohio. Thecountry here reminds me of the BlackHills as everything is forested hills.Also, Huntington is roughly the samesize as Rapid City, with thepopulation being slightly over50,000.”

The South Dakota EngineeringSociety (SDES) held its 48th AnnualConference in Rapid City, April 23-25, 2008. During this conference, the2007 SDES Young Engineer of theYear Award was given to Jason T.Love (CE97). Jason is a graduatefrom the South Dakota School ofMines and Technology with abachelor’s and master’s degree incivil and environmental engineering.He is a registered professionalengineer and is currently themanager for the Water and NaturalResource Division of RESPEC, Inc. inRapid City. Jason is a contributingauthor to more than 14 publications.He is also an active member of Rapid

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City’s Young Professionals Group, theAmerican Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE), and the National Society ofProfessional Engineers (NSPE).Thanks go to Tracy Painter (CE91),SDES Awards Chairperson forsending the story and photo.

An update from Daniel Machacek(ME97) included, “My family and Ihave actually been over seas for thepast eight years. We spent six yearsin Shanghai, China and now we arefinishing our second year in Doha,Qatar. My wife’s name is Angie andshe is a middle school counselor. Wehave two kids. Our son Max is goingon four and will start school nextyear. Our daughter, Mya, is going ontwo. We adopted her from China lastApril. We started the adoptionprocess when we were living in Chinaand were able to go back to Chinalast April to get her. After graduatingfrom the School of Mines, I spent acouple of years near Boston workingas a sales engineer. In 1999 I took ajob selling ERP (manufacturingsoftware) in Naperville, Illinois at acompany my brother Sam Machacek(EE87) is with. That is where I met mywife who was teaching at the localhigh school. Her parents were livingand working in Shanghai and my wifegot a job at the international schoolin Shanghai, so off we went. I workedas a business/sales consultant for ajoint venture company. I studied

Chinese and traveled around Chinafor a year doing that. The secondyear, I was offered a job to teachhigh school math (algebra I,geometry, algebra II). So I made acareer change into teaching and havebeen doing it ever since. That alsomeans I had to go back to school toget my teaching certificate and alsoearned my master’s in secondaryeducation. I am going to Spain withmy family this summer to finish mysecond master’s in leadership andadministration so I can hopefullybecome an associate principal orprincipal. We are going to leave Dohaat the end of the next school year(2008-2009) and looking for new jobopportunities back in Asiasomewhere. We go back to Floridaevery summer, except for this one.Angie’s parents live in Windermere,so we use their address for ourmailing address in the United States.My parents live out at Hart Ranchthere in Rapid for the summers, sowe plan on going there for thesummer of 2009. We plan on being atthe reunion the summer of 2010 aswell. We actually are thinking aboutselling our rental home in Floridaand buying a cabin up in the Hills sowe can go back to Rapid during oursummers. So that’s a little bit aboutme and my family. Keep in touch!”

2000s

A note from Jolisa Bahr (EnvE06)shared, “I am now working for theHealth Service Department ofEnvironmental Health andEngineering. I’m in Rhinelander,Wisconsin. I love my new job. I workwith several different reservationsand I primarily design drain fields. Ido lots of office work but love ithere. I plan on taking the F.E. atMichigan Tech. I think a lot about myeducation at the School of Mines andI really want to return to school formy master’s. I’m not sure where I willpursue my master’s degree. Yourencouragement and instruction hasimpacted me greatly and I would liketo thank you for educating me.”

Congratulations to Dennis Clary(ME01) of Boeing, for being namedthe Kansas Leukemia & Lymphoma

Society 2008 Man of the Year. Dennisraised $60,476. The candidates werejudged solely on a philanthropicbasis. The Man and Woman of theYear are those who raise the mostfunds. The Leukemia & LymphomaSociety is the world's largestvoluntary health organizationdedicated to funding blood cancerresearch and providing educationand patient services. They offer awide variety of programs andservices in support of our mission:cure Leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin'sdisease and myeloma, and improvethe quality of life of patients andtheir families.

Chris Dougherty (IE04) emailed, “Mywife (Christine) and I have movedfrom Wisconsin to North Dakota. Ournew address is: 4161 18th Ave SW#111, Fargo, ND 58103. I took aposition as manufacturing engineerwith Infinity Windows. I will bewriting again within the next coupleweeks with the addition of our firstborn.”

Alan Gertonson (ChE01) wrote“We’ve been back in Amarillo withSavage Services for about a year now.Things are going well. Busy, but verywell. We have done a lot of things inthe last year. We have started ourown business leasing and managingoffice space and we have becomefoster parents. Robin is attendingclass full-time working toward herdegree in business. Between all ofthat, church, work, and family, wekeep active. Stop by if you’re ever inthe area.”

Nick Newell (CEng04) details in ashort film – available for viewing onthe Internet – his troubles trying toget into what he characterizes as anundemocratic Democratic NationalConvention in Denver. “You heardthe guy in the film,” Newell said in aninterview with the Havre Daily Newsvia e-mail. “I have a better chance ofwinning the lottery.” Newell, whoworks for EchoStar in Denver, tells inthe film, “Sold Out,” how he has triedto gain admission to the nationalconvention in Denver, where theDemocratic candidate for the 2008presidential election will be

Jason T. Love (CE97)



nominated. In the film, Newell sayshe has tried to buy a ticket, volunteerto work at the convention, and triedto gain admission as a filmmaker.Newell put his film in a contest atCinemocracy, where people can viewfilms and vote for them online. Thetop 25 vote-getters in the contest[were] screened at a public eventduring the Democratic Convention,Newell said, and will be shown at<www.denverfilm.org> throughJanuary 31. The makers of the 10top-ranked films also will introducetheir films at the Cinemocracy FilmFestival public screening in Denver.Newell works in Denver as acomputer programmer for thesatellite and digital televisioncompany EchoStar as a computerprogrammer. He started making filmswhile in college; writing, starring in,and making “The Snooze.” That is afeature-length film about a man whodiscovers the cure for cancer whileliving his life “in a series of snoozedreams,” Newell said. Since then, hehas made a short film called “SquareOne,” which he submitted to StevenSpielberg’s reality television show“On the Lot.” The film wasn’t selectedfor the show, but Newell said heplans to submit another this year,and is working on a sequel to “TheSnooze” and another short film titled“The Other Side.” (On the net: “SoldOut” at the Cinemocracy Web site<http://www.cinemocracy.org/video/sold-out>.)

Sarah (IS02) and Steve Radabaugh(CSc02) sent a note that “Steve loveshis job working as the only computerguy at the local high school andrunning his own computer businesson the side. Sarah graduatedvaledictorian from NorthwesternCollege of Chiropractic with herdoctor of chiropractic degree in Apriland loves being a small-town doctor.”

Lisa Schlink (MetE04) had a LittleLeague thrill of sorts this summer.No, she did not travel toWilliamsport, Pennsylvania as part ofthe Canyon Lake All-Stars at the LittleLeague World Series. However, she,son Caden, and family experiencedthe next best thing – a T-ball game onthe South Lawn of the White House!!

Caden, age six, who also has twoolder bothers, Matt and Jake, and onelittle bother, Thomas, was selected toplay in a T-ball game on the SouthLawn for a team of players who areall dependents of active militarypersonnel. Lisa and her family live inCasa Grande, Arizona, where sheworks for Freeport-McMoRan. Caden'sfather, SFC Larry Schlink, has almost18 years service in Active, NationalGuard and Army Reserves. He servedin both Iraq wars as a combat medic,and he now serves as a Drill Sergeantat Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Little League

International (<www.littleleague.org>)also sponsored a luncheon at theMarriott Metro Center and co-sponsored a picnic with the WhiteHouse on the grounds following thegame.

Sam Tlustos (MetE08) emailed theMetE department that he is “out atBarrick Goldstrike and it's a fast-paced job. I'm using most of myextraction classes and the physicalmetallurgy material I learned wasused to diagnose a heat-affectedmixing globe. There is a strong need(like everywhere) for seasoned Mets(~10 years experience), and my bossis looking for a few. I hope to returnin the fall for the career fair. We'll seehow things go. Best wishes for theduration of the summer that remainsand good luck with the comingschool year.”

Barbara Toews (IS06) wrote, “Wefinally moved into a new house herein Gardner, and I started a new jobwith Marshall Miller and Associates inLenexa, Kansas. David is recoveringwell from a stroke he suffered inNovember, and is finally getting backto work. Our son will be starting firstgrade in the fall, and loves schoolalready (who knows, maybe a thirdgeneration Hardrocker here!)”

Congratulations to the followingnewlyweds:

Devon Burke (ChE07) married HanneWold in July 2007 in Rapid City.

Bridget Fiegen (ChE07) married EvanMohr (ME07) in LaCrescent,Minnesota in June 2007.

Courtney McFarland (GenSt06) andGalal Fischbach (GenSt06) weremarried on July 16, 2007 at PiedmontValley Lutheran Church. Courtney is adental assistant for Dr. RichardSchmid in Sturgis, South Dakota.Galal is a pipe layer for Mainline

Caden, Lisa (holding Thomas), and Larry Schlink

Caden receiving a signed baseballfrom President Bush – September 7, 2008 Continued on page 67

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RAY DONALDAPPLEBYRay Appleby (ME57) passed awayMarch 2008 in Katy, Texas. Heworked for Conoco Oil Co. for 34years and retired in 1992. He issurvived by his wife Betty, sixchildren, 15 grandchildren, andthree great grandchildren.

LESTER GEORGE BASHAMLester Basham (MetE34), 98, ofGrants Pass, Oregon died April2008 at Fair View TransitionalHealth Center. He was born inOctober 1909 in Fulton, SouthDakota. He attended schools inWoonsocket, South Dakota, andwas valedictorian of hisgraduating class. From 1928 to1934, he attended the SouthDakota School of Mines andTechnology. After the death of hisfather, he took over the familybusiness for a year and then soldthe business to his uncle. Hecompleted engineering schoolwith a bachelor’s degree inmetallurgy in 1934. From 1928-1932, he served in the SouthDakota National Guard. He workedfor the South Dakota planningboard in 1935 and for Gold Inc.Mine in Deadwood, South Dakotaas an assayer and plant boss from1936-1941. In 1941, he moved toCalifornia and went to work forthe Lockheed Aircraft Vega factoryin Burbank, California, until 1945.He moved to Cave Junction in1945 and bought land on CavesHighway, where he built a home.After moving to Oregon, heworked for the Forest Service, forthe Josephine County SchoolDistrict at Illinois Valley HighSchool, and in the radio andtelevision business. He retired in1975. He married Clara ChristineSchoenfelder in 1932, who passedaway in 1983. In 1984, he marriedMildred Scallin Dowdell, who diedin 1977. He was a 50-year memberof the Masonic Lodge, Belt LodgeNo. 18, for which he served aspast master and received theHiram Award. He also was a

member of the Civil Air Patrolsince 1989 with a major rank.Survivors include a daughter,Kathleen “Kathy” Williamson; ason, Christopher “Chris” Basham;a brother, Marvin Basham (EX39);and several grandchildren andgreat-grandchildren.

RICHARD M. CLARKSONThe Alumni Association recentlywas informed that Richard “Dick”Clarkson (EE62) passed awayseveral years ago (2003). Dick wasborn in Rapid City in 1934. Whileattending the School of Mines, hewas involved in intramural sportsand Delta Sigma Phi-National List.

ANTHONY JOSEPH DEPAOLAAnthony DePaola (ChE52), athree-term Amherst mayor andformer Amherst city councilman,died at New Life Hospice Center inLorain, after a battle withpancreatic cancer. He was 79.DePaola, who was Amherst mayorfrom 1972 to 1983, was recalledas a man with a passion for hiscity and his family. He was also anengineer for U.S. Steel and held apatent on one of his inventions,according to his widow Patricia.The couple was married for 58years. They shared distaste for bigcities that took them from theEast Coast to South Dakota, whereAnthony DePaola earned hisbachelor’s degree from the SouthDakota School of Mines andTechnology in 1952. They traveledto Texas, where he worked for B.F.Goodrich, and to Lorain, where hewas a chemical engineer for U.S.Steel. DePaola is survived by hiswife, their four children and theirspouses, seven grandchildren, andone great-granddaughter.

ROBERT MORGAN FETCHRobert Fetch (ME48) passed awayApril 2008 at the age of 90. Sincethe Alumni Office was informedthat there were no survivingfamily members, a memorial willbe printed in a future issue if one

is received.

GERALD MAYNARD GOODWINGerald “Jerry” Goodwin (ME63) ofPhoenix, Arizona, died May 2008at the age of 66. Mr. Goodwin wasborn in Austin, Minnesota. Heattended Austin High School,where he was a member of thestate champion basketball team in1958. He attended the SouthDakota School of Mines andTechnology on a scholarship forbasketball and track and field. Heearned his mechanical engineeringdegree in 1963. He was a memberof the Triangle Fraternity. Aftercollege he was employed withEastman Kodak Company. He alsoworked for Sperry-Univac in Eaganfor many years. He moved withhis family to Phoenix in 1987, andworked for Honeywell in theirspace systems division for morethan 20 years. Survivors includehis wife of almost 37 years,Nancy; a son, Andrew; a daughter,Melinda (Jamie) Blanchet; and asister, Carol Lewis. Memorialcontributions are preferred to theSouth Dakota School of Mines andTechnology Foundation.

WATSON ROBERT HANSCOMWatson Hanscom (GeolE60), 71,died in June 2008, at the VictorianHealthcare facility in Rapid City.Watson was born in April 1937 inKennebec, South Dakota. Hemarried Mary Jo White ofEdgemont in 1959 and graduatedfrom the South Dakota School ofMines the following year. Through1972, Watson worked as ageologist for the Homestake GoldMine in Lead. After leavingHomestake, he had variousadventures in motel ownershipand the pet grooming business. Heis survived by two sons Scott andMitch Hanscom; three daughtersJodi Scott, Jill Popham, and JuliThome; 11 grandchildren; and asister. He was preceded in deathby his wife, Mary Jo.

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MemorialsLYDELL BAYARD HANSENThe Alumni Association recentlywas informed that Lydell Hansen(Chem58) passed away severalyears ago (2002) in Garland,Texas.

WALTER GEORGE HANSENWalt Hansen (CE53), 76, founderof a transportation planningconsulting company, died ofcancer in May 2008 at InovaFairfax Hospital. He lived inAnnandale. Mr. Hansen co-founded Alan M. Voohrees andAssociates in 1961. By the mid-1960s, it was operating worldwide.It was acquired by PlanningResearch, later AshlandTechnology, and finally AECOMTechnology. He worked for eachof those firms in executivepositions, including chiefoperating officer. He retired in1996. He was born in Watertown,Wisconsin, graduated from theSouth Dakota School of Mines andTechnology in 1953, and thenreceived a master’s degree in 1959in city and regional planning fromthe Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology. He began working forthe Bureau of Public Roads, apredecessor of the FederalHighway Administration, until hestarted his firm. He was a memberof the George WashingtonUniversity National Council forEducation and HumanDevelopment, the Institute ofTraffic Engineers, and the UrbanLand Institute. His wife of 45years, Peggy Lee Hansen, died in1998. His son Gregory P. Hansendied in 1992 and son Corey J.Hansen in 1994. Survivors includehis wife of nine years, MarilynBriggs Jackson of Annandale; adaughter, Danielle Briggs-Hansen;a stepson, Tyler Jackson; and asister.

ELVIN GORDON HELLINGElvin Helling (EE49) passed awaypeacefully at home in March 2008in Bellevue, Washington. He was

born in Hanska, Minnesota, andmarried Beverly Browning in 1954.After serving in the United StatesArmy during WWII in Europe, hegraduated from the South DakotaSchool of Mines and Technology.In 1949, he joined the BoeingCompany as an electrical engineer,then manager, until retirement 37years later. Gordon was devotedto his family and loved skiing,travel, and lefse. He generouslyvolunteered his time with manycivic organizations. He is survivedby his beloved wife of 53 years,Beverly; his children, Sue Flower,Don Helling, Bob Helling, GaryHelling, Keith Helling, MarianWildgruber, and Richard Helling;his siblings, Georgene Lee, BettyPflaumer, and Robert Helling(CE54); nine grandchildren; and alarge extended family and circle offriends.

SHANNON LEE HOTHEMShannon Hothem (Ex96), 34, BelleFourche, died June 2008 at hishome in Sherman Oaks, California.Survivors include his parents,Dennis and Linda Hothem; onebrother, Justin; one sister, VictoriaPickett; and many other familymembers that will miss himdearly.

RICHARD KENNETH LANGBEHN Richard “Rich” Langbehn (CE74)was born March 1949 in Wosley,South Dakota. He graduated fromWosley High School in 1967 andfrom his beloved South DakotaSchool of Mines and Technology in1974. He married the love of hislife, Mary Gross, in 1970, inHuron, and in 1976 they wereblessed with a son, Michael. Richwas lucky to work in professionshe loved – farming, ranching, andconstruction. He worked for theBureau of Reclamation as a civilengineer in Huron, South Dakota;Parker, Arizona; and Alamosa,Colorado. He was co-owner ofseveral construction businesses –first in Alamosa, (Asphalt

Constructors, Inc.); then inAberdeen, South Dakota, (UpperPlains Construction); and next inHuron, South Dakota, (MidlandContracting). Rich loved pheasantand deer hunting, fishing, andcamping with family and friends.Many will remember Rich for hisquiet demeanor, humility,integrity, and warm smiles. Hishappiest moments were spentoutdoors – planting, combining,riding his John Deere, checkingcattle, and comparing rain totalswith the neighbors. Rich was anoutstanding host and enjoyedholidays surrounded by his largeextended family. Grateful forhaving shared his life are his wifeof 37 years, Mary Wosley; sonMichael and Sarah Langbehn; hismother; parents-in-laws; twosisters; one brother; twograndchildren; and many otherrelatives and friends.

HUGH WALTER “PAT” LEDYARDHugh “Pat” Ledyard (EE46), 86,died July 2008 in Glendale,Arizona. Pat was born in SiouxFalls, South Dakota. Pat graduatedfrom Sioux Falls High School in1939. He served 3.5 years in theArmy Air Force during World WarII. He graduated from the SouthDakota School of Mines andTechnology in 1946 with abachelor of science degree inelectrical engineering. Pat wasemployed by WestinghouseElectric Corporation as a salesengineer for 36 years, retiring in1984. Many of his clients in theiron mining and paper-makingindustries became close personalfriends, and he enjoyed thosefriendships long past hisretirement. Pat married EstherWiseheart in 1946; together theyraised five children. During thattime he was active in the FirstMethodist Church and DuluthRotary. In 1973 Pat married hisbeloved wife Rosemarie “Rosi”Ledyard. Together they enjoyedgolf, dancing, travel, and just


Memorialsrelaxing by the pool. They movedto Arizona in 1988. He is survivedby his wife Rosi; children, Bonnyand Mike Headley Mense, Hughand Linda Ledyard, Jane and JohnCrain, James Ledyard, and MaryEllen and Roger Anderson; step-children, John Mottonen, DianeFrommes, and Cindy and WesDammer; and sevengrandchildren.

RICHARD JAMES MONHEIMRichard Monheim (EE66), 69,passed away August 2008 in LosAlamitos, after a most courageousbattle with cancer. Richard wasborn in 1939 in Rapid City, andgraduated from Rapid City HighSchool in 1957 before attendingthe South Dakota School of Mines.He was employed by Honeywell,Inc. throughout his career,providing support to the UnitedStates Space Station Mission, thespace shuttle program, and otheraircraft guidance control systems.He served his country in theUnited States Navy from 1959 to1963 as a Sonarman. Thedestroyer he served aboard wasinvolved in the Cuban MissileCrisis of 1962. Richard loved theBlack Hills and made frequentvisits home to enjoy the Hills andfamily and friends. He was also anavid car enthusiast and enjoyedcollecting and restoring 1957Chevys. He is survived by abrother, Larry Monheim and hiswife, Carol; a sister, Carol AnnMonheim Furiga; six nieces andnephews; and many dear cousinsand friends. He is further survivedby his former wife and dearestfriend, Carole Batog Monheim.

RICHARD GEORGE SAUNDERSRichard “Rich” Saunders (EE57),73, of Dunnellon, Florida, diedApril 2008. He was born in 1934in Newport News, Virginia. He wasliving in Pearl Harbor when he wasseven years old when the Japaneseattacked, making him a PearlHarbor Survivor. Rich was a

retired United States ArmyColonel with the Signal Corp. Heserved two tours in Vietnam andwas a recipient of the Bronze Star.He retired in 1983 after 28 yearsactive duty. He then served 17years as a senior vice president ofengineering and customer serviceat I.D.C.C. in King of Prussia,Pennsylvania. He was a member ofM.O.A.A. of Ocala; and was an avidsportsman, including fishing,hunting, and shooting. He was adog lover and was alwaysaccompanied by his dog Ginger.Rich volunteered at the FoodPantry at St. John the BaptistChurch in Dunnellon. He issurvived by his wife of 51 years,Doris Saunders; children Mary Joand Steve Flinn, Richard, Jr. andBelinda Saunders, MichaelSaunders, Sr. and John Saunders;and five grandchildren.

DUANE PAUL SMITHDuane Smith (EE60) died February2008 in Pinetop, Arizona. He wasborn in Sioux Falls, South Dakotain 1939. While attending theSchool of Mines, he was a memberof Delta Sigma Phi, AIEE, IRE,intramural sports, and varsity golfhis senior year. He received hisJuris Doctor (JD) from Universityof Arizona College of Law in 1969.He resigned from the SuperiorCourt in Tucson, Arizona in 1978and went into private practiceshortly thereafter.

JOHN CHARLES THAYERJohn “Easy” Thayer (ChE68) wasborn in May 1946 and joinedGod's team of angels in August2008 as a result of complicationsfrom cardiac bypass surgery. Johnwas allowed to remain here withus many times in the past,overcoming health issuesincluding cancer and a previouscardiac bypass, to fulfill God'splan for his life. He is survived byhis loving children, Scott, a seniorat Texas Tech, and Kara, a juniorat Brazoswood High School; the

mother of his children, TerryCummings; and his partner andsweetheart over the last threeyears, Kay Rainey. Serving,teaching, and leading in manyaspects, John had a multitude offriends who will miss him greatly.John's greatest joys in his lifewere his children, Scott and Kara.John never missed any of theiractivities, from Boy Scout campingtrips and treks to Philmont toyears of soccer, softball, baseball,roller hockey, and football gamesto dance competitions andrecitals. He glowed wheninteracting with his children. Hewas so proud of Scott earning hisEagle Scout rank and Kara beingselected a Brazoswood BelleMilitary Officer for 2008-2009.John retired from Dow Chemicalafter 34 years of service. Heenjoyed the outdoors and servingthe community as a MasterNaturalist, Boy Scout Leader(Troop 394), member of the LakeJackson Parks and RecreationBoard, and was active as a bird-bander through the Gulf CoastBird Observatory. As a tirelessvolunteer John served as executivedirector of the Texas Ski Council,several positions with Space CitySki Club, and Z-Krewe. John lovedvolunteering at the annualGalveston Sand Castle competitionand golf tournaments around theHouston area. He loved hockeygames, geocaching, and birding.He was a beacon of light andsunshine for all who knew him,always jumping in to "be there"for whatever! Loving life and thejourney he took, John will beremembered in our hearts always.John enjoyed wonderful schooland college days filled withscouts, playing football, going toBoy's State, being selected to All-State Band, and honing a golfgame, and a snow-skiingtechnique that was the envy ofmany. Scott, Kara, Terry, and Kayplan to travel to South Dakota,visit John's boyhood home, and

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Memorialsspread his ashes in the Black Hills,returning him to the earth in away a master naturalist wouldsurely appreciate.

ROSCOE VAN WINKLERoscoe “Rip” Van Winkle (ChE42)age 87 of Knoxville, Tennessee,completed his life's journey onSeptember 3, 2008. Roscoe was areactor-development engineer withUnion Carbide and Martin-Mariettain Oak Ridge before hisretirement. Born in Canton, SouthDakota, he grew up in FortThompson, South Dakota, wherehe swam in the Missouri River as achild. He was the grandson ofNorwegian pioneer sod-busters ofNorth Dakota. After graduatingfrom the School of Mines, he wenton to the University of Michiganfor his master’s degree inchemical engineering. It was therethat he met his future wife,Frances. During World War II, heassisted Enrico Fermi at theUniversity of Chicago on the firstnuclear reactor and was sent toOak Ridge, Tennessee, toparticipate in the ManhattanProject, where he did his part toshorten the war. He later was inthe first nuclear engineering classoffered at the University ofTennessee and was awarded asecond master’s degree. As part ofhis achievements in his work, heearned three patents for valvedesign for reactors. Rip, as he wasknown to his friends, was notablefor his honesty, ethics, andmodesty. He was a quiet man, buthe had a wonderful ability to carryon a conversation with just aboutanyone on just about any subject,and never forgot a name or face.As a classical music aficionadoand lover of the arts, he enjoyedattending the Metropolitan Operaproductions whenever he foundhimself in New York, and listenedto the Met radio broadcastsregularly. His acute ear forintonation made him a discerningcritic. Locally, he had season

tickets to the Knoxville Symphonyfor many years, until his illnessmade it difficult to get out. Hewas an avid reader and enjoyedhis Great Books collection anddaily read the Bible. As a lifetimeLutheran, he sang in the choir ofMessiah Lutheran Church for 35years. He also used his mellowbaritone voice in the KnoxvilleChoral Society for numbers ofseasons. His love of the outdoorswas evident by the many campingtrips and hikes throughout hisadopted and well-loved EastTennessee, and vacations "outWest" that he gave his family. Hisbelief in the value of the BoyScouts led to a stint as ScoutMaster of Knoxville Troop 16, andhe was awarded the Order of theArrow for his efforts. Roscoeleaves behind Frances, his wife ofmore than 60 years; daughtersElizabeth V. Farr and Susan V.Dunn and their husbands; sonsJohn W. Van Winkle and FrederickP. Van Winkle; a daughter-in-lawCarol K. Van Winkle; fivegrandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. He also leavesmany well-beloved nieces andnephews, and many dear friends.

FRANKLIN D. WEBERFranklin D. Weber (EE92), 52, ofMitchell, and formerly of RapidCity, died August 2008 inDeadwood. He was born in KansasCity, Missouri. He served in theU.S. Navy from 1979 to 1985 as anelectrician. Franklin graduatedfrom the South Dakota School ofMines and Technology in 1991with a B.S. in electricalengineering. He then worked as anelectrical engineer for KennecottUtah Copper Mine with thegenerators for the largest mine inthe world. Franklin enjoyed alloutdoor activities and spendingtime with his dog, Lucky.Survivors include his parents; andtwo brothers, a sister, and theirfamilies.

KENNETH EMMANUEL WITTKenneth Witt (EE61) of Westlake,California, passed away June 2008at his home and at the age of 68.Kenneth was born in Tyndall,South Dakota in 1939. Hegraduated from Tyndall HighSchool in 1957 and the SouthDakota School of Mines andTechnology in 1961. He alsoattended the following schools:University of Maryland (EuropeanDivision), University of IowaBusiness School, Coe College,University of California, LosAngeles, and University ofSouthern California, where hegraduated with a master's degreein business. He was a helicopterpilot during the Vietnam conflict.He was a member of the followingorganizations: SDSM&T AlumniAssociation; USC AlumniAssociation; Army AviationAssociation of America; NationalGuard Association of the USA;Aircraft Owners and PilotsAssociation; and National RifleAssociation. Survivors include hisdaughter, Amy Nicole and herfamily, including her husbandKeith Foster and three children –Keith, Kristal, and Kyle Foster; twobrothers; and a sister. Memorialscan be directed to South DakotaSchool of Mines and TechnologyFoundation.


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Personnel Changes Kristina Grinnell, exempt, chemistry(6/2/08)

Christi Carter, exempt, admissions(5/30/08)

Cheryl Holt, exempt, residence life(5/21/08)

Arlene Lichtenecker, CSA,mathematics and computer science(5/21/08)

Dr. Lebert Alley, faculty, mathematicsand computer science (5/19/08)

Dr. James Fox, faculty, geology andgeological engineering (5/19/08)

George Wayne Douglas, faculty,materials and metallurgical engineering(5/19/09)

James Nelson, faculty, mathematicsand computer science (5/19/08)

Jong-Hoon Han, faculty, humanities-music (5/19/08)

Ann Konechne, exempt, athletics(5/15/08)

Bruce L. Carter, exempt, Office ofMulticultural Affairs (4/25/08)

Dr. Sherry O. Farwell, exempt, Instituteof Atmospheric Sciences (4/4/08)

Dale E. Nickels, CSA, miningengineering and management (3/21/08)

Change: Dr. Hao Fong, from faculty, assistantprofessor, chemistry to faculty,associate professor, chemistry (7/1/08)

Dr. Rodney Rice, from faculty,associate professor, humanities tofaculty, professor, humanities (7/1/08)

Dr. James Stone, from faculty,assistant professor, civil andenvironmental engineering to faculty,associate professor, civil andenvironmental engineering (7/1/08)

Dr. Patrick Gilcrease, from faculty,assistant professor, chemical andbiological engineering to faculty,associate professor, chemical andbiological engineering (7/1/08)

Dr. Umesh Korde, from faculty,associate professor, mechanicalengineering to faculty, professor,mechanical engineering (7/1/08)

Dr. Andrea Surovek, from faculty,assistant professor, civil andenvironmental engineering tofaculty, associate professor, civiland environmental engineering(7/1/08)

Dr. Donna V. Kliche, from exempt,research scientist II, Institute ofAtmospheric Sciences to exempt,research scientist III, Institute ofAtmospheric Sciences (6/22/08)

Charles D. Claymore, exempt,director, admissions to exempt,associate director/senior recruiter,admissions (6/22/08)

Pamela M. Escott, from CSA,secretary, business and adminis-tration-business services to CSA,purchasing assistant, business andadministration-business services(6/16/08)

Jamie M. Hillyer, from CSA,purchasing assistant, business andadministration-business services toCSA, secretary, industrialengineering (5/5/08)

Tamara M. Moore, from CSA,secretary, admissions to CSA,secretary, academic and enrollmentservices (3/22/08)

Debra Renken, from CSA,programmer/analyst, academic andenrollment services to CSA, seniorprogrammer/analyst, academic andenrollment services (3/22/08)

Bradley O’Brien, from CSA,computer support specialist, ITS toCSA, computer support team leader,ITS (2/22/08)

Debra Rowse, from CSA, senioraccountant, business and adminis-tration to CSA, accounting manager,business and administration(2/22/08)

Welcome: Stacy M. Hook, exempt, campuschemical materials coordinator,business and administration(8/15/08)

Reta J. Davies, CSA, secretary,mathematics and computer science(8/11/08)

Brenda J. DenOtter, CSA, secretary,business and administration(8/11/08)

Dr. Robert A. Wharton, exempt,president, Office of the President(7/1/08)

David A. Murphy, CSA, computersupport specialist, mining engineeringand management (6/2/08)

Kimberly K. Osberg, CSA, secretary,CAMP (6/2/08)

Dr. Lew P. Christopher, exempt,director, Center for BioprocessingResearch and Development(CBRD)/professor, chemicalengineering (5/19/08)

Dr. Siva Kumar V. Kelekanjeri G.,NFE, research scientist/engineer II,Center for Accelerated Applications atthe Nanoscale (5/1/08)

Debra D. MacDonald, CSA, secretary,admissions (4/22/08)

L. Eric James II, exempt, director,sponsored programs (3/10/08)

Farewell: Mary L. Maher, CSA, business andadministration (7/27/08)

Dr. Gautam Pillay, exempt, Office ofResearch Affairs (7/18/08)

Dr. Charles Ruch, exempt, Office ofthe President (6/30/08)

Carolyn Brich, CSA, electrical andcomputer engineering (6/21/08)

Dr. Abul Hasan, faculty, electrical andcomputer engineering (6/21/08)

Violet Stoltz, CSA, Office of theProvost (6/21/08)

•Starting salary offers for School of Mines graduates average nearly $56,000. Consistently, approximately 99 percent of graduates find jobs intheir career fields or graduate or professional programs within one year of graduation. This shows employers are looking for students with thekinds of skills School of Mines graduates posess.

Average Starting Salaries

•Approximately 75 percent of School of Mines graduates have relevant work experience throughco-ops and internships. That increases theirmarketability to employers.

Co-ops and Internships

Chemistry

Featured Major

Prepare for your successful career at the School of Mines

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KEEP IN CONTACT!!The 2007-2008 SDSM&T Alumni Directory includesinformation on your classmates and friends from

around the globe.

New in this edition are indicesthat include graduate’s majorsand years; alumni awardrecipients, and LifetimeContributors.

Please mail your check for $35 (includes tax andshipping) with a memo for “Alumni Directory” to:

SDSM&T Alumni Association501 East Saint Joseph StreetRapid City, SD 57701-3995

THANK YOU!

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The students: Benjamin Bangasser (ChE, New Hope,Minn.), Andrew Brosnahan (ME, Lead), Cody Fredricksen(ChE, Rock Springs, Wyo.), Tom Fryslie (EE/Phys, RapidCity), Joshua Hammell (ME, Evansville, Wyo.), ShaneHeier (EE, Sioux Falls), Amery Kuhl (ME/Phys,Worthington, Minn.), Lisa Rebenitsch (CSci, Bismarck,N.Dak.), Alexander Schmidt, (EE, Mandan, N.Dak.) KajdaStevens, (ChE, Benson, Minn.), and Brady Wiesner (CE,Watertown).

Students Inducted Into Leadership Hall of FameSeven School of Mines students and one alumnus

have been inducted into the university’s Leadership Hallof Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes students based ontheir contributions to the campus community. It’s notabout how many leadership positions the students liston their resumes. The award recognizes students whohave made a difference.

The students: Karl Barfuss (IE08), Kaycee Carson(Math08), Jason Fields (ME, Milbank), Jade Herman (IS,Mission), Mark Sauder (IE04), Fanariot Sefa (ChE08),Wes Snaza (ME08), and Melanie Vedvei (IE08).

School of Mines Student Receives NationalScholarship

Channing Thompson (Chem, Rapid City) has beennamed a Scholar of the American Chemical Society (ACS)Scholars Program.

Thomspon, of Rapid City, is one of approximately150 Scholars chosen nationwide. The goal of thescholarship program is to aid in building an awarenessof the value and rewards associated with careers in thechemical sciences and chemical technology by assistingstudents in acquiring the skills and credentials neededfor success in these areas.

Student SpotlightContinued from page 26

LandSat 7 Image of the Black HillsSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Alumni Association

This high-resolution, full-landscape image ships digitallyprinted on 20”x40” matte finish paper. Prints are available for$20.00 PLUS $5.00 Shipping & Handling*, which includes a colordescription sheet denoting image landmarks, and ships in a 3”mailing tube. The SDSM&T Alumni Association thanks you foryour support through your purchase of this panoramic print.Order your print online at <www.sdsmt.edu/alumni>

-or-Mail your request and address information, along with a checkfor $25.00 payable to:SDSM&T Alumni Association501 E. St. Joseph StreetRapid City, SD 57701-3995

*For orders shipping to outside the U.S., please [email protected] for additional Shipping and Handling rates tointernational destinations.


Cale

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of EventsCalendar

November 7-8Family WeekendMeeting of the MinesNovember 8Fall Visit MinesCommUniversityNovember 27-28Thanksgiving Day Holiday — No

ClassesDecember 4Fall Band Concert — Surbeck Center

Ballroom, 7:30 PMDecember 1-5Parade of TreesDecember 4Children’s Holiday Party — Surbeck

Center Ballroom, 6 PMDecember 13-14Christmas Concert Choir — Our Lady

of Perpetual Help Cathedral, 7:30 PMDecember 15-19Final ExamsDecember 20Fall Commencement — Rushmore

Plaza Civic Center Theatre, 9 AM December 25Christmas Day HolidayJanuary 14Evening Classes BeginJanuary 15All Classes BeginJanuary 19Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday — No

ClassesFebruary 10Career Fair Surbeck

Center Ballroom, 11 AM — 5 PMFebruary 16President’s Day Holiday — No ClassesFebruary 16-20Engineers WeekFebruary 26Health and Wellness Expo — Surbeck

Center Ballroom, 10 AM — 3 PMMarch 7-15Spring BreakMarch 22-28Greek WeekApril 6Presidential Inauguration — Rushmore

Plaza Civic Center TheatreApril 7Honors Convocation — Surbeck

Center Ballroom, 11 AMApril 10-13Easter BreakApril 25Spring Visit MinesMay 4-8Final ExamsMay 9Spring Commencement — Rushmore

Plaza Civic Center Arena, 9 AM May 11West River Math ContestMay 25Memorial Day Holiday

Visit the on line calendar for details:http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/sdsmtcalendar

For details about K-12 events: http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/SDTechK-12

For details about athletic events:www.gorockers.com

For details about adult and professionaleducational opportunities:

http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/learn If you can’t wait for the next issue ofthe Hardrock to get your School of

Mines news, sign up to receive news and other

updates through RSS feeds or by e-mail.

More information is available at<http://news.sdsmt.edu/rss/>

Sign up now for School of Mines news updates!


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Construction in Rapid City. The couple resides inRapid City, South Dakota.

Dickson Pongrekun (MetE04) married Katie RandolphJune 2, 2007 at Rimrock Free Evangelical Church inRapid City, South Dakota. The bride graduated fromColorado State University in 2004 and is a teacher.The groom graduated from the South Dakota Schoolof Mines and Technology with a degree inmetallurgical engineering in 2004. He is ametallurgical engineer and they live in Golden,Colorado.

Erin Vanneman (Chem06) married Travis Schmidt(MetE, Sioux Falls) March 15, 2008 in Rapid City. Thebride works as an environmental program scientistfor the Department of Environment and NaturalResources. The groom attends the School of Minesand works for RPM & Associates as an engineeringintern.

Bruce Zavesky (CEng99) married JeanneRothlisburger on May 17, 2008 in Huron, SouthDakota. Bruce received his master of informationsystems from the University of Phoenix in May 2008as well. They currently reside in Huron, South Dakota.

Congratulations to the following proud parents:

Kent Hendricks, P.E. (EE90) wrote, “We are blessedagain with the birth of our fourth child. Joshua DavidHendricks was born on March 1, 2008, just missingLeap Day by a few hours. Next generation ofHardrockers – Class of 2030!”

Tyler Mickelson (ME04) and his wife Jenniferwelcomed baby Will on June 12, 2005. Tyler andJennifer were married on August 7, 2004.

Display Your HardrockerPride with Grubby decals!!

Continued from page 55

Advertise in the Hardrock

For more information contact:

Melinda Poyourow Publications Manager

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology phone # (605) 394-6081

fax: (605) [email protected]

The School of Mines invites you to join ourfamily of advertisers. The Hardrock has acombined circulation of more than 18,000. Totalreadership is estimated at more than 40,000.

Publish your company’s message to our loyalconstituents and readers.

The Grubby decals are available from theSDSM&T Alumni Association and theorganizational license plates are availablefrom your South Dakota county treasurer.Call (605) 394-2347 for details or simplysend your $50 tax deductiblecontribution with a request for a pair ofdecals to:SDSM&T Alumni Association501 E. St. Joseph StreetRapid City, SD 57701-3995


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SDSM&T Hardrock Magazine Fall 2008

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