Mines magazine emailed a readership survey in May, to which more than 1,600 alumni responded. To complement the analysis provided in The Network, we offer a selection of comments that were provided anonymously by respondents in response to three survey questions.
Innovation is a theme that runs throughout this issue. While not everyone is driven to innovate, it’s second nature for those connected to Mines, and the people and projects covered in the pages that follow provide an interesting cross section of the many ways a spirit of innovation permeates the Mines community.
On August 19, 291 members of the Class of 2015 moved mini-refrigerators, laptops and laundry baskets into a brand-new residence facility located north of 17th Street on the east side of Maple.
Located on the south side of the Mines campus, the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center is one of the most advanced seismology centers in the world and the first place where many major media outlets turn for information in the aftermath of a major earthquake anywhere in the world.
Love the smell of chain grease in the morning? A gorgeous day in Golden greeted racers for Stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, which took riders up and down Lookout Mountain, through the center of Golden three times and into Denver for the finish. Many members of the Mines community were present to cheer on the cyclists.
Mines is the top-ranked university in Colorado in the 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s listing of “America’s Best Colleges and Universities,” ranking 75th in the category of Best National Universities, both public and private, and 52nd in the publication’s listing for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs at schools with doctoral programs.
One of the largest, highest-quality rhodochrosite specimens ever mined was displayed in the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum this summer.
Most current urban water systems were designed and built in the first half of the 20th century and are ill-prepared to cope with the impacts of climate change, population growth and ecosystem demands. On top of that, the infrastructure is deteriorating.
At the 2011 Mines Century Society Dinner on September 30, the university honored some of its most generous donors. This year’s event was themed “Rio to the Rockies” to highlight Mines’ many collaborative relationships in South America.
In June, the Colorado School of Mines Foundation named Brian Winkelbauer the new executive vice president for university advancement. Brian came to Mines from the University of Colorado Foundation, where he last served as vice president for development for the Colorado Springs campus, assisting in launching a $1.5 billion campaign for the CU system.
Each year, the CSM Foundation provides approximately $12 million in private support for the university, one-third of which comprises funding made available through the Mines endowment. During fiscal year 2011, the endowment grew in total value from $166 million to $196 million.
Colorado School of Mines recently received 14 large gifts, including a $100,000 gift from Lonnie L. and Maria E. Abernethy that will provide continuing support for graduate fellowships in ceramics. Read on for the rest…
Twenty-five years ago, a colleague mentioned to Annette Bunge that dermatologists at the University of Utah were finding strange results in their study of chemicals moving through skin. Boldly crossing the discipline barrier, Bunge took a sabbatical in Utah, where she applied an engineer’s perspective to the biological problem, and quickly resolved the anomaly.
Results are in: Colorado School of Mines’ final spring ranking was #18 out of 235 in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup NCAA Division II standings. Read on for individual sport updates.
Mines magazine’s reader survey results mostly positive, constructive Figuring that silence doesn’t necessarily signify consent, Mines conducted an online survey this spring to find out what you really think of this publication. The answers—at times nearly unanimous and at others polar opposite—left us encouraged that, on the whole, you approve of the direction we’ve taken
Charles Cooper ‘05, ME ‘06 and Anna Sullivan were married on August 8, 2009 at the Shrine of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Arvada. Multiple alumni were included on the guest list. Laura Pearl ’09 and Jeremiah Tucker ’09 were married on May 24, 2009 at Foothills Chapel in Golden. Many Mines
“Some people know from a really early age what they want to do,” says Frances Vallejo ’87. “I was not one of them.” But a summer program at Mines for minority high school students changed all that for the Pueblo, Colo., native.
Students and alumni celebrated this year’s homecoming (September 30 – October 1) by reuniting with old friends, parading down Washington Street and watching their team trounce Fort Lewis. Here are a few scenes from the events. Click on a thumbnail below to view the entire photo, and mouse over it to view the arrows that
Everett Lawrence was born on June 3, 2010, to Jamie (Stadtlander) ’03 and Andrew Headley ’03. Josh ’01 and Cassie Viets welcomed Scarlett Lillian to their family on September 15, 2010. She joins sisters Lydia Jean and Claire Elizabeth. Charles Cooper ’05, ME ’06 and Anna Sullivan
Brock O’Kelley ’74 has seen the good times and weathered the bad ones at Molycorp’s Mountain Pass Mine, located 50 miles south of Las Vegas. He was there 22 years ago, when the mine ranked as the world’s largest single producer of rare earth metals. And he endured the dark period of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when a changing market and regulatory challenges slowed production to a trickle.
Harry D. Campbell ’42 died May 6, 2011, at the age of 97. Harry was born in Redondo Beach, Calif., in 1913 and attended Pasadena Junior College prior to coming to Colorado School of Mines. At Mines he excelled academically and played quarterback on the historic undefeated 1939 football team.
Guy Thornton McBride Jr., the 12th president of Colorado School of Mines (1970–1984), died March 21, 2011, at the age of 91. Guy was born in Austin, Texas, in 1919. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas and a doctorate in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
William “Bill” C. Bagby ’58 of Houston, Texas, died on February 20, 2011. Bill graduated from the second graduating class of St. John’s School.
Harold “Herc” E. Clark MS ’73 of Waldport, Ore., died on August 9, 2010. Herc was born in 1937 in Natrona Heights, Pa., where he attended grade school. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Vincent College, and later attended Mines for a master’s in physics.
Genevieve “Jenny” A. Darden of Littleton, Colo., died July 8, 2011. Jenny was the wife of Jim Darden, who coached the baseball and football teams at Mines from 1954 to 1992. In 1995, Jenny set up a memorial fund in honor of her husband, who passed away in 1994. The Darden Basketball Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to undergraduate student athletes from Colorado or Wyoming with financial need.
S. Norman “Norm” Domenico ’48, DSc ’51 of Tulsa, Okla., died March 27, 2011. Norm was born in 1925 in Louisville, Colo., but was raised in Denver. He spent two years in the Naval Air Force before enrolling at Mines, where he earned a professional degree in geophysical engineering. A member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Norm went on to acquire a master’s in geophysics from the California Institute of Technology, where he worked as a graduate research assistant for Charles Richter.
Fereshteh Ebrahimi PhD ’82 of Gainesville, Fla., died January 29, 2011. Fereshteh was born in 1951 in Tehran, Iran, and graduated summa cum laude from Arya-Mehr University of Tehran. She came to the United States in 1979 during the Islamic revolution with the goal of pursuing a graduate degree. At the time she received her PhD in metallurgical and materials engineering, she was one of the first women ever to receive a PhD from Mines.
Pamela “Pam” Woods Edrich ’82 of Lakewood, Colo., died January 2, 2011. Pam was born in 1959 in Pueblo, Colo., and graduated from Pueblo East High School in 1978. She attended Mines on an academic scholarship, where she was a member of Blue Key and earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.
Thomas J. Ellis III ’52 of Largo, Fla., died May 2, 2011. Born in Sarasota, Fla., in 1928, he attended Marion Military Institute and the University of Florida. At Mines he worked on the Oredigger and the Prospector, and was a member of the boxing team, glee club and talent show.
Irwin William “Bill” Engel ’60 of Aurora, Colo., died April 17, 2011. He was born in 1937 in Chicago, Ill., and moved to Denver at a young age, where he graduated from South High School in 1955. A member of Theta Tau honor society and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Bill graduated with a professional degree in metallurgical engineering. At Mines he played football and golf.