Mines in Motion: Taking the Oredigger Spirit on the Road
What do mining industry trends, a world-class water engineering program, socio-cultural engineering challenges and a petroleum eld session have in common? They are a sampling of the diverse research activities and programs happening at Mines, which, last spring, served as focal points for ve special events held in cities around the country as part of the Mines in Motion series.
In addition to putting the spotlight on these particular topics, the series also took Mines on the road, bringing over 250 alumni, parents and friends together for campus updates, department news and a healthy dose of Oredigger spirit.
With M Club alumni leaders at the helm, Mines in Motion was a first step in helping to spark a renewed energy within our regional alumni networks. M Club leaders serve as ambassadors for Mines and liaisons with our alumni all over the world. Currently, there are 54 different M Clubs around the world, from Brisbane to the San Francisco Bay Area, and just about every major city in between. Each M Club is overseen by at least one alumnus, and in most cases, a small committee of alumni, who plan and implement programs and events for local alumni throughout the year.
For Mines in Motion, these alumni leaders served as events hosts and emcees, playing a critical role in planning and promoting their respective events. Each featured city’s venue offered an informal setting where guests could network, enjoy food and drink and interact with faculty members and students about their projects. And, in the case of a few events, an enthusiastic, impromptu rendering of the Mines fight song capped off the occasion in true Oredigger fashion.
“Having the Mines in Motion visit in conjunction with our E-Days get-together made for a special event. The presence of faculty, student and administrative representatives from Golden provided a direct connection to Mines that was greatly appreciated by the alumni attendees,” says Stafford Maheu ’96, Albuquerque’s M Club leader.
“These events are a great way to nd out about what is going on at the school, meet alumni in the area we haven’t met before and visit with the ones we’ve had at previous events. It is always so interesting to nd out what other alumni have been up to,” Portland M Club leader Karen Dennis ’99 explains.
Taking this spirit on the road is a top priority in the year ahead. As we look to enhance alumni engagement and offer more volunteer opportunities, the newly-launched M Clubs will enjoy heightened programming and resources, staff support, rebranding and increased marketing efforts and more support from the campus community. This year, Mines plans to visit M Clubs in Las Vegas, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Boston, with several more cities to be determined later this year.
Watch www.minesalumni.com for details on upcoming M Club events in a city near you.
Spring 2016 Mines in Motion Destinations
Phoenix, AZ
February 20, Christopher’s
Mines in Motion got rolling in Phoenix this year, in conjunction with the annual Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) conference. Alumni and friends enjoyed a presentation by Priscilla Nelson, Mining Department chair, who shared the latest news from the department. In addition, student Erica West, a sophomore Harvey Scholar and Phoenix native, gave a colorful snapshot of her day-to-day Oredigger experience and her plans for the future.
Santa Fe, NM
April 3, Eldorado Hotel
A hearty group of alumni from both Santa Fe and Albuquerque gathered for a special Sunday brunch, which featured Terri Hogue, associate professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Hogue was joined by senior Aspen Anderson, a ConocoPhillips Center for a Sustainable WE2ST scholar, who shared news on current environmental issues and what Mines is doing to address them. Guests also raised a glass in honor of E-Days ‘Round the World, a favorite, long-standing Mines tradition.
Portland, OR
April 20, BridgePort BrewPub
Alumnus and department head of Geology and Geological Engineering, Paul Santi ’95 highlighted his research on socio-cultural needs and appropriate, affordable engineering solutions. This popular Portland pub was the perfect setting for younger and senior alumni alike to connect, reconnect and celebrate their Mines roots.
Bakersfield, CA
May 21, Café Med
Held in conjunction with the Petroleum Engineering Department’s annual eld session, a spirited gathering at Café Med highlighted student stories and helpful (as well as humorous) words of wisdom from alumni. Special guests included President Paul C. Johnson and Mrs. Elyse Johnson, Mines Foundation President and CEO Brian Winkelbauer and Dean Ramona Graves and Linda Battalora from the College of Earth Resource Sciences and Engineering. “The students were genuinely interested in my re ections of life at Mines during the early 1980s and my rather random career tips,” Dave Miner MS ’83 explains. “I think these kinds of events help the students to visualize the spectrum of careers and experiences that they can expect as Mines graduates.”
San Diego, CA
June 23, Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens
John McCray, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Head, and senior Paige Becker, discussed their work with ReNUWIt, the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center on Urban Water. Incoming freshmen and their parents enjoyed visiting with local alumni. An unrehearsed yet enthusiastic rendition of the Mines fight song, led by newly-appointed student body president, Mines Alumni Association board member and El Segundo, California resident, Jonathan Paz, brought the evening to a memorable close.
