2008 Engineering/Geology Scholarship Winners

Colorado Winner

Brandon D. Sullivan
The Colorado School of Mines

Brandon grew up in a small mining community in Colorado.  Consequently, he has become committed to the western coal industry.  In pursuit of a mining career, Brandon is working on a mining engineering degree at CSM.  He has held summer engineering internships with Arch Coal, Inc. in their West Elk Coal Mine since graduating from high school in 2005, and has greatly enjoyed the challenges and new learning opportunities presented each summmer.  He envisions himself working for Arch Coal, or a similar company, following graduation.

In addition to his studies, Brandon started a club wrestling team at CSM and is an active participant in the student chapter of the SME, as well as the CSM Budget Committee (correlating with his economics minor).  He also acts as a ranch hand at his father's cattle ranch and at a nearby farm when home from school. 

Montana Winner

Steven C. Pemble
Montana State University

After disassembling and reassembling a dragline for the Mine Equipment Safety Company in Florida in 2005, Steven decided to follow a large machine career path.  A 2007 engineer internship at Western Energy Company reinforced that choice.  Mechanical Engineering Technology, the degree he is pursuing at Montana State University, allows him to be involved in every aspect of large equipment and to take his trade skills to the next level.  He hopes to stay in Montana after graduation and become involved with the generation of electricity from clean coal, and work toward changing the negative image coal often receives.

In his spare time, Steven is building an electric car.  He is also a first-rate photographer, having been awarded Student of the Year by the Montana Environmental Education Association for his photography project about the Tongue River.

New Mexico Winner

David R. Burkhard
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

After following chemistry and then construction career paths for several years after college, David returned to the classroom and received a master's degree in environmental science from The Colorado School of MInes.  During that undertaking, he became interested in the mining industry, and later decided he wanted further credentials to follow this career direction. As such, he finds himself at New Mexico Tech, pursuing a mining engineering degree.  He envisions himself as a problem-solver for the industry, specifically working with others to resolve production, safety and environmental concerns. 

David is an active volunteer with charitable organizations such as the Special Olympics.  He also provides meals to homeless shelters and tutors students with disabilities.

North Dakota Winner

Andrew R. Roed
Minot State University

Andrew's love for the outdoors and the unknown brought about his desire to obtain a degree in geology with a minor in environmental science at Minot State University.  Because of his early interest in geology, Andrew became one of one ten students chosen from his high school to participate in trips to Banff National Park and the Black Hills of Michigan.  These trips sparked his interest in the geologic field.  He fine-tuned his pursuits in 2007 while working as an intern geologist at the Falkirk Mine.  Upon graduation, Andrew would like to work in the U.S. coal mining industry as a geologist or hydrologist.

Andrew is currently researching the efforts of mining on groundwater.  He had a memorable time in Alaska last year studying fossils, formations and animals.  He enjoys camping, fishing, swimming and hunting with his family. 

Texas Winner

Cathryn E. Pratka
Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Cathryn has collected rocks since she was eight years old, so it is not surprising that she intends to graduate from Texas A&M University with a geology degree (and a minor in math).  As a result of discussions with her father about geologists with whom he has worked in the electric power industry, Cathryn is looking forward to exploring geologic opportunities in the coal industry after graduation.

Named Most Valuable Track Athlete in high school, Cathryn remains active in track as a member of the A&M track and field team.

 

Utah Winner

Bradley A. Voss
University of Utah

After over five years in the business world, Bradley returned to college to earn a mining engineering degree.  He hopes to be influential in improving mining methods.  He sees this career path as a great opportunity to mold communities, our country and possibly the world.  In following this pursuit, he held a summer internship with Monsanto in 2007.

Bradley previously attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where he spent two years on the men's basketball team.  He suspended his education to participate in a church mission to Argentina where he spent two years.  Currently, he is involved with the student chapter of SME and teaches Sunday School.  He is married and has a son.

Wyoming Winner

Dustin Hagen
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Dustin has been interested in mining since he was a child; he had the opportunity to gaze at the big equipment at Eagle Butte Mine in Gillette, Wyoming where his father has worked for 28 years.  As he got older, he became interested in the production process.  Accordingly, he decided to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and earn a mining engineering and management degree. 

Dustin spent the summer of 2007 as an intern at Thunder Basin's Black Thunder Mine and is currently employed as a Coop Employee with the company.  After graduation, Dustin would like to stay in the Thunder Basin area.  He is a student member of SME and ISEE.  


Wyoming Winner

Shane K. McCreary
University of Wyoming

Shane has always been interested in how things worked.  At a young age, he dismantled remote control cars, CD players, VCR's, and the like to try and fix them.  Shane took pleasure in learning how these things worked, but oftentimes was unable to make the needed repairs because of the electronics involved.  Consequently, he is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Wyoming in order to find out the answers.

Shane is following his family's long history of working in the mining industry, having spent time at Coal Creek Mine as an engineering intern.  Upon completion of his degree, he sees himself working in Wyoming or the Rocky Mountain area in a mine-related field.  Shane enjoys hiking, backpacking, camping, rock-climbing, and downhill skiing.

2008 Technical School Scholarship Awards

In 2007, RMCMI started a new Technical School Scholarship Program to provide financial assistance in the amount of $1,000 to students in their second year of a two-year program.

The 2008 Technical School Scholarship Award Winners are:

Logan Biffert, North Dakota State College of Science
Trevor Heupel, North Dakota State College of Science
Joshua Hewson, North Dakota State College of Science
Jordan Melby, North Dakota State College of Science
Donn Olstad, North Dakota State College of Science
Zach Tosner, North Dakota State College of Science
Adam Walsvik, North Dakota State College of Science
Sabrina Ayala, Palo Alto College