2001 Scholarship Winners

Profiled here are the eight RMCMI 2001 Scholarship Award winners.

Arizona Winner

Steven W. Shipley
University of Arizona

The son of Bonnie Fawcett and David Shipley, Steven graduated from Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Arizona where he attained a 3.5 GPA. In his second year at the University of Arizona he is pursuing a degree in mining engineering. He is a member of SME, Northwest Mining Association, and a volunteer at San Xavier Mining Laboratory - Miner. He participated in Football, Track, Wrestling and the DECA club while in high school.

He is the recipient of both the WAAIME and the Phelps Dodge scholarships. Steven volunteers during the academic year at the U of A San Xavier Mining Laboratory. He is working the summer of 2001 at the Black Butte Coal Company in Point of Rocks, Wyoming.

Colorado Winner

Brian Gerdes
Colorado School of Mines

Graduating as the Valedictorian of Horizon High School with a 4.0 GPA, Brian is well prepared for the rigors of academia. In high school he was recognized in the President's Education Awards Program and as a Radio Shack Tandy Scholar. He belongs to SME, is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and volunteers at a local elementary school tutoring children. He enjoys intramural Sports. His father is Bruce Gerdes of Broomfield, Colorado.

Brian is holding a 3.75 GPA while studying for a mining engineering degree. He would like to go into reclamation stating that his dream would be to reclaim an old mine and restore it to a functional role in society again.

Montana Winner

Ryan Bender
Montana Tech

Ryan is pursuing the field of Mining Engineering because it offers him the chance to work with large equipment, continue living in the west and make an honest living in an area he has always called home. The son of Bob and Carol Bender, Ryan graduated from Billings Central Catholic High School where he was in varsity football and track. He received the billings Central High School Government Award and was an Honors student.

He is a member of Montana Tech Student SME and of Marcus Daly Mining Club. He is also a member of Resident Hall Association.

New Mexico Winner

Audrey Hurst
New Mexico Tech

Audrey was concerned that she might be a hypocrite with her decision to change her major from Environmental Engineering to Mineral Engineering. One day she wanted to save the earth, the next - dig holes in it. She came to the conclusion that she would make an excellent Mineral Engineer because she would have an environmental consciousness.

Scholarships are not new to Audrey. She has received many along with many distinguished awards for grades and achievements. She was an Odyssey of the Mind State Champion and lettered in Academics in High School. She also lettered on the Tennis team. She is a Cooney Mining Club Member, a student member of the Society of Mineral Engineers, and a GOAL member. Audrey is the daughter of Anthony and Sharon Hurst.

North Dakota Winner

B. Nathan Schafer
North Dakota State University

Holding a 4.0 GPA in high school and close to that in college, Nathan was named to Who's Who in American Colleges during his first year. His honors and achievements are outstanding and varied with a Black belt in Taekwondo, honors in track, basketball, baseball, and golf. His love of music as shown in concert band, pep band and jazz band made it more difficult, but still possible, to find the time to be selected for Acalympic, Math Track Meet, and Science Olympiad teams. He was also selected to attend the Masonic Honors Banquet and ND Boys State.

The son of E. Brett and Janet Schafer of Washburn, ND, Nathan is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His goal - to be able to say someday that he has made a difference in at least one person's life.

Texas Winner

Colleen Lanan
Texas A&M

A love of the outdoors has allowed Colleen to camp and hike in 48 states, including Alaska, with her family. She also plans and executes backpacking, camping, motorcycling, sailing, canoeing, and road trips whenever possible. In her spare time she enjoys playing the clarinet and oboe. Colleen is the daughter of Glenn A. Lanan of Houston.

During these various trips, her mother, a Petroleum Geologist, would explain the types of rocks and features they witnessed within the numerous states. Colleen also has an interest in maps and hopes to acquire a minor in geoinformatics. But her primary goal is to receive her Bachelor of Science in Geology and pursue a job in an environmental field.

Utah Winner

Cody Whipperman
University of Utah

A student in the mining engineering program and a recent Distinctive Browning Scholar, Cody is a dedicated scholar. In high school he maintained a 3.65 GPA while completing six advanced placement and honors classes. He earned university credits in the areas of calculus, chemistry, American history, Spanish, biology, and English Literature.

Cody is the son of Scott and Toni Whipperman of Sandy, UT. He was a Region 4 champion varsity football player and played competitive soccer. An Eagle Scout, an accomplished pianist, a four- year religious seminary graduate, a coach, a volunteer for numerous groups, and tutor helped fill his time throughout high school and college.

Pursuing a degree in mining engineering, Cody hopes to find a job where he will be productive and beneficial to society. He hopes to obtain his MBA.

Wyoming Winner

Charles Beavis
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

The son of Randy and Sylvia Beavis, Charles graduated from Wright Junior-Senior High School in Wright, Wyoming. While there he was a member of National Honor Society for six years; was Class President; a member of the Civil Air Patrol; a state champion in Cross Country; a Future Business Leader; a member of Drama Club; a varsity member on the Golf Team and a member of D.A.R.E. Pursuing all of the above offered Charles the opportunity to win numerous honors and awards. Living in Wyoming, he also found a love of the outdoors.

As a child, Charles was always creating and designing crazy machines. He is fascinated with the way things work and finding ways to make them work more efficiently. It is that curiosity that brought him into the study of Mechanical Engineering.