Where are they now:
MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship 2011
Laird Horigan accepting the award from SMEF President Marc LeVier
Larid used his scholarship to complete his Bachelors Degree in Mining and Minerals Engineering from Virgina Tech in the Spring of 2011. After which he took a position with Golder Associates Incorporated as a Level II Mining Engineering Consultant (EIT) in Denver, Colorado. His job will allow him to travel all over the world, something that he is looking forward to.
2010 MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship Winner
Scott Shields accepting the Scholarship from SMEF President Marc LeVier.
After graduating from the University of Arizona in May of 2011, Scott Shields accepted an offer from Joy Global Inc. to serve as the Manager of Mining Application Engineering in the Surface Mining Division for P&H Mining Equipment. He currently leads a team of Mining Engineers based out of the P&H Corporate Headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and plans to further his education by working towards an MBA in the near future. Scott has continued his involvement with SME and will serve as the 2013 SME National Conference Session Chair for “Technology Applications for Safety in Mining and Mining Equipment” and will also serve as a Mining & Exploration Division representative on the SME's Student Member Affairs Committee through 2016.
MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship 2009
Alek Duerksen accepting the award from John Murphy, SMEF President
After receiving the MMSA/Presidential Scholarship in 2009, Alek finished his Masters program under Dr. Erik Westman at Virginia Tech. He then decided to leave academia and pursue and opportunity with Rio Tinto in their Australian coal operations as a Production Engineer executing project work and providing support to mine leadership. This new position required a 10,000 mile relocation in January of 2012. He set off with his dog Cooper on this amazing Australian adventure in January of 2012.
MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship 2008
James Martin accepting the scholarship from
MMSA President Robert Washnock (l) and SMEF President John Murphy (r)
After graduating, James took a position with BHP Biliton's San Juan Coal Company in New Mexico. He has had the opportunity to work in various roles over the past few years including ventilation engineering, outby engineering and financial analysis. He is looking forward to planning and executing longwall operations projects and working to ensure operational efficiencies. He is enjoying the activities that New Mexico offers including snowboarding, hiking, camping and spending time with his friends and his dog.