Much to celebrate
2022 was a big year for Mines. It would be impossible to cover all of the accomplishments, celebrations and new additions to campus, but here is a sampler of the many things we accomplished:
- Mines is now one of the 146 U.S. universities with a Carnegie R1 “very high research activity” classification.
- The Petroleum Engineering Department celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and its inaugural Hall of Fame class.
- Mines was featured in an episode of The College Tour, a TV series that gives an in-depth, insider look at colleges and universities around the world.
- New academic degree and certificate programs were launched at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
- Construction began on the 37,000-square-foot Labriola Innovation Hub and the 31,000-square-foot Beck Venture Center—two key components of Mines’ growing Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem.
- We welcomed our largest incoming class in Mines’ history in Fall 2022 with 1,665 first-year and transfer students.
- We welcomed more than 30 new faculty to Mines, one of our largest cohorts ever.
- Mines teams excelled at national and international student competitions.
- Mines Athletics had its most successful fall season ever, with all fall sports advancing to the post-season. Mines Football even made it to the national championship game for the first time in school history. (Check out more on page 42).
- Many of our student-athletes garnered significant individual recognition with Dillon Powell placing first in the men’s national cross-country championship and outdoor 10K championship races, football quarterback John Matocha winning the Harlon Hill Trophy and other national awards, and distance runner Zoe Baker being named a Top 9 finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year. (Read more about her on page 10.)
We’re clearly on a roll, and 2023 is going to be another exciting and busy year as we advance the initiatives, projects and programs begun under our MINES@150 strategic plan and Campaign for MINES@150 fundraising efforts. Plus, it’s time to start planning 150th anniversary celebrations.
If you’re wondering how to get involved, please reach out. Leveraging alumni expertise, knowledge and experiences is a MINES@150 goal, and there are many ways to connect and engage through our degree programs and courses, alumni interest groups, student mentoring and more.
Best wishes to all of you for a happy, healthy and productive 2023. Go Orediggers!
Paul C. Johnson
President and Professor
Follow our progress at mines.edu/mines-at-150.
