The Arch Magazine is produced collaboratively by the SD Mines Foundation and the Office of University Relations.
SD Mines Foundation 306 East Saint Joseph Street Suite 200 Rapid City, SD 57701 (605) 394-2436 Email: foundation@sdsmt.edu Website: Foundation.sdsmt.edu Editors: Katie Howard Stephanie Powers Contributors: Fran LeFort Dani Mason Charles Michael Ray Creative Director: Brian Hill
2
The Arch Spring 2017
Table of contents Message from the Board Chair
5
SD Mines Welcomes First Energy Resources Initiative Director
6
Scholar-Athletes who Score Scholarships Thrive at Mines
9
Todd Kenner
Hardrocker Highlight Reel Scholarship Recipients Making Music at Mines
12 15 17
Planning for the Future
24
New Faces
28
Foundation Board of Trustees
31
A planned gift to Mines can leave a lasting legacy to help future generation of Hardrockers
The Foundation welcomes two new staff members to the team.
The Arch Spring 2017
3
MISSION The Foundation exists to develop and manage private resources to support the mission and priorities of SD Mines, to support the needs of students, faculty, and staff and to contribute to institutional excellence.
HISTORY of the Arch
The Liberal Arts Building was the third building constructed on campus. The first phase was completed in 1901 including the arch that served as the front entrance. Over the ensuing decades, the building became the nucleus of the campus, housing many functions. Due to structural problems, the ninety-three-yearold building was demolished during the summer of 1994. However, the arch was painstakingly dismantled by hand to facilitate its reassembly. Each block was chiseled out and numbered. This process allowed reconstruction of the arch much like a jigsaw puzzle. The arch was reconstructed during the summer of 1995 using a design selected by the Save the Arch committee. The actual arch is surrounded by two smaller archways. The three-arch structure, now the Memorial Arch and Plaza, is representative of the first three buildings on campus, links SD Mines’ past and present, and stands to pay tribute to the university’s rich heritage.
Spring is always a busy time on campus. With the school year winding down, our graduating seniors are gearing up to leave on their next adventure, with eager anticipation of starting new jobs or plans for graduate school. We also say goodbye to President Heather Wilson and thank her for the lasting impact she has made on the SD Mines community. We wish her all the best in her new role as Secretary of the Air Force. The Foundation board and staff look forward to working with the new university leadership. Scholarships remain the top priority for the university and the Foundation as they have been proven to increase retention and graduation rate success. When you fund scholarships, you invest in each new generation of Hardrockers and preserve the tradition of the School of Mines as a top science and engineering school. The Campus Hub project aims to support a growing, thriving campus. Project plans include expanding the Surbeck Center with much-needed space for an increasing student population, including the addition of a Student Success Center. It also includes building a new Alumni Center that will house offices for the Foundation and Alumni Association with meeting and event space easily accessible for university needs. Dr. Feiszli retired after three decades of service, and the music program welcomed Dr. Haley Armstrong as Director of Bands last fall. The program continues to be a vital part of the student curriculum, realized by the doubling of the number of band participants. The Energy Resources Initiative is ready to launch with the hiring of its inaugural director, Dan Soeder. Mr. Soeder brings a wealth of expertise as a research scientist, hydrologist, and geologist. Fundraising efforts resulted in over $3 million from industry partners and alumni for the initiative. Thank you for your continued support of the university and Foundation. We are committed to being good stewards of the trust and confidence you have placed in us to make SD Mines a special place.
Todd Kenner, Chair Foundation Board of Trustees
The Arch Spring 2017
5
SD MINES WELCOMES FIRST ENERGY RESOURCES
INITIATIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. Daniel Soeder has been hired as the inaugural Energy Resources Initiative (ERI) director at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. He joined SD Mines after retiring from the US Department of Energy (DOE) in April. A research scientist, hydrologist, and geologist, Soeder was a researcher and technical project coordinator with the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, West Virginia. His focus was on shale gas, tight oil, and geological sequestration of carbon dioxide.
6
The Arch Spring 2017
He previously worked as a hydrologist for the United States Geological Survey at its Maryland-Delaware-Washington, D.C., Water Science Center and at the Yucca Mountain Project branch in Nevada. Prior to joining the USGS, he investigated unconventional gas resources at the Gas Technology Institute in Chicago. SD Mines announced plans for its ERI in 2014, when a petroleum systems minor was approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents. Fundraising efforts have since resulted in over $3 million from industry and alumni supporters. The Energy Resources Initiative builds upon the university’s existing faculty research expertise in enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons from fine-
Dan Soeder with SD Mines students and faculty members on an oil and gas development site last summer.
grained reservoirs, water resources, and materials development. The state of South Dakota previously funded the university’s Shale Research Initiative, another element of the energy effort, in which faculty and students collaborated with RESPEC. Researchers investigated the geomechanical and hydrological properties, mineralogy, and composition of various shale units to further the scientific and engineering applications of shale and other fine-grained rocks. “Oil and gas production is essentially an empirical activity, where successful operators know what works, but they often don’t know why it works,” Soeder said. “For example, oil production from the Bakken Shale is better in some areas than others. Operators know where
the line is between marginal and good production, but not why the line is there. The role of scientific and engineering research at an institution like Mines is to investigate the underlying principles to better understand the problem. If we learn how production works on the Bakken, that knowledge can be applied to other resources. Many of the midsize companies operating in Rocky Mountain basins cannot support a research staff to study such issues, and ERI staff will meet with them to learn their needs and develop relevant scientific research,” he said. In recent years, nearly 20 percent of Mines graduates have gone to work in the oil and gas industry. Students will participate with faculty members in hands-on projects to solve some of these real-world
The Arch Spring 2017
7
problems. This experience is expected to provide students with the opportunity to better understand the practical, dayto-day issues faced by industry, and thus make them more marketable as job candidates. Soeder said Mines will apply a broad range of monitoring technology to better understand how drilling and production activities may impact the environment, and investigate ways to improve recovery efficiencies for oil and gas. “Higher efficiency means lower costs for operators, less wasted resources, and lower impacts to the environment,� he said. An additional focus will be to increase communication on energy-related topics within and across departments on campus as well as with the greater scientific community and the public.
To learn more about the SD Mines Energy Resources Initiative, visit
http://www.sdsmt.edu/EnergyResourcesInitiative
who score
scholarships
thrive at Mines
Participating in athletics can hone leadership and teamwork skills, while building a lifelong passion for excellence. For many, attending SD Mines on an athletic scholarship means they can afford a first-class education, which can be a ticket to a successful future. Balancing the challenging academics at Mines while competing at the NCAA Division II level takes commitment and dedication. Currently there are over 250 young men and women who represent SD Mines by competing at the highest level of their individual sports. Whether on the field or in the classroom, these scholarathletes at Mines aspire for greatness. When he is not on the football field, athletic scholarship recipient Jakeb Sullivan is still working hard. “Having a scholarship means that someone is investing in me to succeed and represent the school in a positive manner,” said Sullivan. A junior industrial engineering and engineering management major from Rapid City, he is currently completing a co-op with local company RPM Innovations as a laser process intern. He has plans after graduation to pursue a master’s degree in engineering management. “As an athlete, my life revolves around competition, so obtaining a scholarship is another thing for me to work for,” said Sullivan.
Megan Rohrer, a senior from Greenwood Village, Colorado, was recruited to play basketball at Mines. She fell in love with the campus and the Black Hills, and knew it was the school for her. “I’m really grateful for receiving scholarships and lucky to be here getting a great education,” she said. She is inspired by the scholarship donors’ generosity and says she wants to “financially help out after graduation because I want other students to have the same opportunity as I was given here.” Rohrer, an industrial engineering major, earned RMAC Second-Team honors and RMAC All-Academic First Team accolades. These remarkable students are supported through the Hardrock Scholarship Fund, the SD Mines athletics official scholarship program. “The Hardrock scholarship fund supports our goal to fully fund athletic scholarships at SD Mines as well as our mission to produce leaders in science and engineering,” said Athletic Director Joel Lueken. Donors to the fund are passionate about providing scholar-athletes with the resources they need to reach their fullest athletic and academic potential.
Hardrock Club Contact Sandy Carlson • 605-394-2601 • Sandra.Carlson@sdsmt.edu
9
Why did you choose Mines? I chose Mines for the opportunities I will have upon graduation. I heard great things about the school, and the family atmosphere drew me in.
What is one thing you would want to tell your scholarship donor about you? How grateful I am, and my family is as well. My family would not be able to put me through school financially, and this scholarship gives me an opportunity to graduate from a highly touted engineering school. I also want to reiterate my gratitude, not only to my scholarship donor, but to all the scholarship donors who are helping young, determined men like myself become the best versions of themselves by giving them the chance to prove they are more than just a football player.
What are your future plans? My future plans are to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and engineering management. After graduation, I want to pursue a master’s degree in engineering management. I want to work for a company that gives me the chance to work hard for them and make their company the best it can be.
JAKEB
SULLIVAN Rapid City, SD
Why did you choose to come to Mines?
MEGAN
ROHRER Greenwood Village, CO
On my recruiting trip for basketball I fell in love with the school. I loved Rapid City, the size of the school, the personal attention by the professors, and the oneon-one relationships. The teachers, students, and coaches made me feel so welcome. My scholarship helped immensely, and I probably wouldn’t be here without it. I am very grateful and am lucky to be here getting a great education.
How do you plan to give back to the university? After graduation, I want to give back financially to help the school. I want to help other students have the opportunity I had coming here. I also want to be a mentor for future students. I had a couple of summer internships that came with the help of Mines alumni, who have all been so supportive. I want to be able to provide support and be that resource for future students because internships and getting experience outside the classroom is so valuable.
Where are you headed after graduation? I will be going to North Platte, Nebraska to work for Union Pacific Railways. Starting in the fall, I will be getting my master’s online in engineering management from CU Boulder.
11
HARDROCKE HIGHLIGHT REEL
17
consecutive semesters Hardrocker Athletics have earned an average cumulative GPA above 3.0
7|2
Men’s and Women’s Basketball: seven players earned RMAC Academic accolades & two Hardrockers earned RMAC All-Conference Second Team accolades
12
The Arch Spring 2017
5
th
SD Mines Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams earn NCAA Div. II Scholar Team Honors for fifth consecutive season
7|7
4
Hardrocker Football: seven RMAC AllConference Honors & seven All-Academic honors
Volleyball had four scholarathletes receive RMAC AllAcademic honors
2
Two Hardrocker men’s soccer players awarded RMAC AllConference honors
8
Eight SD Mines men’s soccer athletes receive RMAC AllAcademic awards
126 scholar-athletes with GPA of 3.0 or higher
The Arch Spring 2017
13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Scholarships open the door to a college education for talented students who might otherwise be unable to attend Mines. For the 2016-2017 school year, SD Mines donors provided almost $2 million in academic scholarships and over $1.1 million in athletic scholarships. The following scholarship recipients were recognized at the 66th annual Honors Convocation held in April. 1
Mark Wathen
11
Anthony Videckis
12
Philip Schmeichel
13
Jason Stock
14
Ethan Marcoux
15
George Bernard
16
Hallie Bower
17
Francis Marso
18
Nels & Elise Afdahl Presidential Scholarship Mechanical Engineering Junior 2
Surbeck Scholarship Computer Science/Mathematics Junior
Lorin & Mary Brass LIFE Award Chemical Engineering Senior 3
Terry Newlin Memorial Scholarship Mechanical Engineering Junior 9
Michael Vortherms
Northwestern Energy Scholarship Electrical Engineering Senior 10
Riley Braegelmann
Colton Medler
John P. Wold Scholarship Geology Senior
Alvis Lisenbee Scholarship Geology Junior 8
Abigail McBride
John P. Wold Scholarship Metallurgical Engineering Junior
Bruce & Deanna Lien Scholarship Mechanical Engineering Freshman 7
Justin Nielson
Surbeck Scholarship Electrical & Computer Engineering Freshman
Joy Global Inc. Scholarship Mining Engineering and Management Senior 6
Timothy Hays
Surbeck Scholarship Computer Science/Mathematics Freshman
Joseph F. Nelson Scholarship Physics PhD Candidate 5
Cameron Hainy
Surbeck Scholarship Mechanical Engineering Freshman
Class of 1968 Scholarship Electrical Engineering Freshman 4
Aaron Campbell
Blake Stone
John P. Wold Scholarship Civil Engineering Junior
Jessica Tisdale
John P. Wold Scholarship Civil Engineering Senior
Victoria Oveson (not pictured) C.J. & Mary Carlson Scholarship Chemical Engineering Senior
Surbeck Scholarship Mechanical Engineering Sophomore The Arch Spring 2017
15
( * &
" ( 2 4 DW
0LQHV
Albert Einstein once said
“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.� Einstein regularly turned to Mozart when the going got tough devising his theory of general relativity. According to the physicist and historian Arthur R. Miller, “whenever he felt that he had come to the end of the road or into a difficult situation in his work, he would take refuge in music.�1
When most people think of science and engineering universities, music is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Hannah Covey, a junior civil and environmental engineering major from Winner, South Dakota, thinks differently. “Music is my life. I know many music students at Mines feel this way and it’s true. Without music, we would be lost. Music gives us a place to go when the world doesn’t understand, it makes tough parts of life hurt a little less, and it provides a human connection that nothing else can. Music is our magic,� she said. Science, engineering, and music share many similar qualities, including creative problem-solving. Like the rigorous academic curriculum, experiences like teamwork and leadership, continuous
1. Ball, Phillip. “The best and oddest science-inspired music.� BBC. March 20, 2015
17
improvement, time management, and creating a collaborative product while striving for excellence are all part of the music program at Mines. Thirty-four years ago, the music program was comprised of a piano, twenty music stands, a set of choral risers, and a handful of musical instruments, hidden away in a single room in the King Center. Today, it has evolved into an integral part of campus life for many students. Last August, James Feiszli, PhD, retired after three decades of teaching and Haley
Armstrong, DMA, joined the program as the Director of Bands. Armstrong comes to Mines after an active-duty career, most recently as one of eighteen officers leading the U.S. Air Force Band’s global presence. She earned music degrees from Eastern Washington University, Indiana University, and the University of Kansas. Mines’ music program has been growing steadily for the past several years. The continued program growth is partially attributed to a recent change which allows students to receive general education
2016 holiday concert featuring the symphonic band, jazz band, and concert choir
humanities credit for participating in large ensembles. The symphonic band has eighty-three members, orchestra and jazz ensembles continue to be popular, and the studentrun pep band has grown to over fifty members who purchased their first drumline. The choirs are holding steady at seventy-seven and ready to welcome the new full-time, tenure-track Director of Choirs, Matthew Bumbach, DMA, next fall. He brings a varied background in choral conducting, composing, and performance to Mines. Bumbach is currently finishing his Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. A key element that sets the music program at Mines apart from other schools is that it is entirely made up of non-music majors.
Foundation Trustee Ken Miller (CE 75) says, “it’s unique for Mines to be a science and engineering school with a full music program. The students in the program truly want to be in music.” As a student, Miller performed with the Singing Engineers, and his passion for music stayed with him well past graduation. He has been performing with the Gillette Chamber singers for twentyfive years and still sings with the Mines choir. Community members are invited to perform alongside students, representing that music can be a lifelong pursuit. In 2011, the ‘old gym’ was converted into the Music Center. Many volunteer hours and unique donor gifts have transformed the ninety-year-old building into a venue for rehearsing, studying, and performing. When you open the doors, it is hard to
The Arch Spring 2017
19
recognize that the historic building once housed gymnastics equipment and a basketball court. Now the beautiful sounds of blending voices, instrumental ensembles, laughter, and thoughtful instruction can be heard echoing the halls. Stage lights, a state-of-the-art sound system, carpeting, risers, and instruments now fill the space where school dances were once held. The stage floor has been remodeled, entrance doors to the main hall were installed, lighting, plaster, and painting of the main hall were also completed. Repurposing the former old gymnasium for the music program has created opportunities for growth, and according to Armstrong, “Dr. Feiszli set everything up very nicely to move forward with future plans.” Those plans included expanding the staff to include two full-time, tenuretrack instructors and one adjunct faculty member. With the recent addition of a part-time secretary and the new Choral Director, the team is coming together and Armstrong says, “there is a real sense of community on this campus.” One of the biggest challenges for the growing music program is determining a long-term building solution. The increase in student participation is making it difficult to find enough space to accommodate everyone. However, that phase will be addressed later down the road. Right now, the number one priority is providing more scholarships for music students to attend Mines. There are currently eight scholarships available, with a goal to grow that number to twenty-five for students in orchestra, band, or choir by next fall. Miller, a scholarship donor, states “a music scholarship provides a great foundation for students to be able to have an activity they enjoy while pursuing a science or engineering degree.”
Sophomore Summer Rogers is a music scholarship recipient and echoes Miller’s statement. The mechanical engineering major from Brandon, South Dakota, said, “having a music scholarship allows me to worry a little less about paying for school and focus even more on my academics and practicing my music.” Mitchell Kovash, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Dickinson, North Dakota, greatly appreciates the generosity of donors like Miller and understands the accountability that comes along with receiving a scholarship. “Without financial help, I would not have had the time and energy that I do to pursue excellence in my singing. The recognition from the scholarships also places a huge focus on the leadership role that scholarship students are expected to take.” Miller and Armstrong are partnering with the SD Mines Foundation to help more students follow their passion with the support of music scholarships. Miller is a natural fit to lead the fundraising efforts with his continuing involvement in the alumni and friends choir and Foundation Trustee role. He is excited to be working with Armstrong and raising funds for a program that gave him so many opportunities as a student. “Dr. Armstrong is a wonderful addition to the music program. She will continue the tradition of performing excellence at Mines,” said Miller. Armstrong loved working for the Air Force, but felt the Director of Bands role was too intriguing to pass up and she is glad she made the move. “There is so much good here, the level of excellence is high in everything these students do. You can feel their commitment and passion,” she said. “Musically we will go where the students want to go, and with Mines students, the sky is the limit.”
Hannah Covey Winner, SD
Summer Rogers Brandon, SD
Mitchell Kovash Dickinson, ND
21
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.� Ralph Waldo Emerson
Photo courtesy of Jesse Punsal
You are the secret to
SUCCESS! Success is possible because of your investment
Your gift helps us to carry out our mission— to support the needs of students, faculty, and staff, and to contribute to continued excellence at SD Mines.
MINES Annual Fund
foundation.sdsmt.edu/gift
Future PLANNING FOR THE
Have you thought about the kind of legacy you would like to leave? What about a lifechanging planned gift that helps a future student? Donors may choose a planned gift for tax advantages, however there is usually more to the story. “Charity is an important part of people’s lives, and we help our donors leave a footprint for the future. We can help them accomplish their goals while impacting future students at Mines,” states Leah Mahoney (GeolE 80), Director of Planned Giving for the SD Mines Foundation. That impact is keenly felt throughout campus. Generous donors are behind the scenes providing scholarships, facility upgrades, and support to extracurricular activities. In addition to cash and stocks, gifts have included an incredible instrument collection, the legendary M-Hill, and funding for students to apply their engineering skills through volunteer opportunities in other countries. Working with donors to help them accomplish their goals is what Mahoney enjoys most about her job. “Each donor is unique and there is a unique planned gift for each of them. It is a privilege to play a small part to help others pay it forward,” she said. Our donors’ enduring legacies touch every corner of our university, from cutting-edge research to the education of tomorrow’s leaders. For Bob Kelley (CE 58), the benefit of a planned gift is pairing it with your passion. Kelley set up a charitable
24
The Arch Spring 2017
remainder unitrust with a real estate gift, which provides him supplemental income each year. He likes the ability to designate where the funds go. “You have the flexibility to put your investments where you think you can make the biggest impact on the school and areas that you feel the strongest about.” Complementing your financial goals, your gift also makes a statement about your experience at Mines. “It feels good that I am supporting a college that I think is a great institution. I have always been proud of being a graduate of the School of Mines and the education that I received,” stated Kelley.
Tricia Gomulinski (EE 98) has included
Mines in her estate planning and is a Heritage Society member. The Heritage Society honors alumni and friends who have committed to the future of Mines by designating a gift in their long-term charitable giving and estate plans. “I give to Mines because it was a great place for me to learn, it holds a lot of memories, and I believe it is a great place for our future engineers to learn today. Giving back provides opportunities for them,” said Gomulinski. “After my husband Shawn Schwaller (EE 95) passed away in 2007, friends and family established a scholarship in memory of him. Receiving the letters each year from the scholarship recipients and hearing their stories and how the scholarship is helping them means a lot to me.
Heritage Society Founded in 1994, the Heritage Society honors alumni and friends who remember the institution in their long-term charitable giving and estate plans.
If you are thinking about a planned gift to help future generations of Hardrockers, there are several options available.
Charitable Trusts
Trusts provide lifetime income for yourself or others while making a gift to SD Mines.
Charitable Gift Annuities
A gift annuity is a contract under which the Foundation, in return for a transfer of cash or securities, agrees to pay a fixed sum of money for a period measured by one or two lifetimes.
The foresight and dedication of individuals who plan today ensures that SD Mines will remain a high-quality institution in the years ahead.
Wills and Bequests
With the help of an advisor, a gift can be made as part of your estate plan. The benefits include leaving a legacy, lessening the tax burden on your estate, and impacting the lives of others.
Charitable Bequest
A charitable bequest provides a one hundred percent deduction for estate tax purposes. You are encouraged to work with your legal and financial advisors to make this designation.
Life Insurance
Contact your insurance agent to change the beneficiary and ownership designations to the Foundation.
A planned gift is any major gift, whether it is made as part of financial planning goals or through estate gifts. Whether a donor uses cash, appreciated stock, real estate, life insurance, retirement plans, or other assets, the benefits of planned giving can be attractive to both donor and the Foundation. To learn more about the details of arranging a planned gift, please contact Leah Mahoney, Director of Planned Giving at Leah.Mahoney@sdsmt.edu or 605-394-2436.
The Arch Spring 2017
25
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.� Aristotle
SD Mines
Foundation Staff PRESIDENT
DEVELOPMENT Ron Jeitz (CE 69) Regional Development Officer
Joel Kincart
Joel.Kincart@sdsmt.edu
Ron.Jeitz@sdsmt.edu
Brad Johnson (EE 92) Vice President of Development
PLANNED GIVING
Brad.Johnson@sdsmt.edu
Leah Mahoney (GeolE 80) Director of Planned Giving
Mike Keegan Development Officer
Leah.Mahoney@sdsmt.edu
Michael.Keegan@sdsmt.edu
Elizabeth Sailer (IS 93) Development Officer
SUPPORT STAFF
Elizabeth.Sailer@sdsmt.edu
Peggy Dixon (ChemE 86) Director of Database Administration Peggy.Dixon@sdsmt.edu
REAL ESTATE
Janice Horner Administrative Assistant
Jim Wilson Property Manager
Janice.Horner@sdsmt.edu
Katie Howard Director of Stewardship
Kathryn.Howard@sdsmt.edu
Stephanie Powers Director of Campaign Communications
Stephanie.Powers@sdsmt.edu
James.Wilson@sdsmt.edu
FINANCE Lana Thom Director of Finance
Lana.Thom@sdsmt.edu
Andy Myscofski Accountant
Andrew.Myscofski@sdsmt.edu
CHECK US OUT ONLINE foundation.sdsmt.edu
The Arch Spring 2017
27
NEW FACES Tell us a little about your background. I spent the last ten years in Student Affairs at the School of Mines where I was the Director of Student Activities and Leadership Center (SALC). During that time, I earned my master’s degree in student affairs and doctorate in higher education administration. I fell in love with the school and developed a heartfelt appreciation for our students.
What would you say most motivates you to do what you do? Having worked so closely with the students, faculty, and staff for ten years, I witnessed firsthand the wonderful impact our donors have had on the school and our students. I believe in what we are doing and want to help in any way that I can.
What is most rewarding about your job?
Q&A with
MIKE KEEGAN Development Officer Region: Eastern SD, Michigan, and Southern California
28
The Arch Spring 2017
I am rewarded by the fact that what I am doing helps. It helps students get their education, faculty members have what they need to equip our students for their careers, and it helps students have the facilities they need to prepare for their future.
What are you most excited about in your new role? As director of the SALC, I was working directly with the students through orientation, M-Week, student organizations, and leadership activities. Now I get to help the students, faculty, and staff in ways that were not possible before. Whether it is support of scholarships, needed building space and renovations, or getting student organizations funding for a trip, I am excited to help.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working hard and raising money? I am sucker for the beautiful Black Hills and family. My wife, Nicole, and I are foster parents, and we love teaching our kids to love and appreciate their surroundings. Whether we are camping in Custer State Park, rock climbing behind Mount Rushmore, hiking the Flume Trail, swimming in Pactola Reservoir, or skiing Terry Peak, we are always trying to enjoy quality time together.
NEW FACES Can you tell me a little about yourself and your background? I graduated in 2010 with a double major in geology and sociology. Before starting at the Foundation, I worked as a student advisor with National American University in Rapid City. I am excited to continue working in higher education and supporting students in a new capacity.
What is your connection to SD Mines? I grew up hearing a lot about SD Mines. My parents are both alumni; they are 1983 bachelor’s graduates in geological engineering. In 2009, I completed my field camp in Turkey through the Geology & Geological Engineering department. My husband is a 2014 graduate with a master’s degree in paleontology.
What are you most excited or passionate about? Making a positive impact on people’s lives in everything I do is important to me. I am a firm believer in the value of higher education to create a future of possibilities. An education is something that once achieved, can never be taken away and can serve to enrich people’s lives. Being part of the SD Mines Foundation means I can help serve students and faculty in a very real and meaningful way.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working hard at the Foundation? Spending time with family and friends is always something I enjoy and am blessed to have my family nearby. For hobbies I enjoy singing, reading, and exploring the beautiful Black Hills with my husband.
Q&A with
Katie Howard Director of Stewardship
Anything else you would like to share? I met my husband when taking a few classes at SD Mines in 2012. We have been married for almost a year. My parents also met and married while attending SD Mines. I am excited to be giving back to the school that shaped my life in so many impactful ways.
The Arch Spring 2017
29
The SD Mines Foundation Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the addition of two new board members.
Mr. Sean Hayes
is a Wear Parts Specialist for Caterpillar Inc. and has been with the company since July 2010. He was hired as an engineer shortly after graduation and has recently been promoted to a more sales-driven, customerfacing role. In addition to serving on the SD Mines Foundation Board of Trustees, Hayes helped build a chapter for Young Professionals at the Decatur office of Caterpillar. He has remained active in supporting the Hardrocker Racing team (Formula SAE) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers, both organizations he participated in as a student at Mines. Hayes has coached two middle school teams to state competitions for the First LEGO League, where students build LEGO-based robots to solve real-world problems. Mr. Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and is considering an MBA in the near future. He is recently married and interested in encouraging alumni to build relationships and spread their own passion for engineering and science. An avid BMW car enthusiast, Hayes serves as the President of the Illini Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America, and dabbles in their restoration as well as driving them on the track.
Ms. Kristi Hafner
is a two-time graduate from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, with a bachelor’s and master’s in chemistry with an emphasis on organic chemistry. She brings her thirty-five years of experience in human resources and benefits to the SD Mines Foundation Board and is interested in assisting with organizational efficiency. Hafner recently retired from her position with Starbucks as Vice President of Global Compensation and Benefits. After graduating from Mines, Hafner began her career working for H.B. Fuller, an adhesives manufacturing company, as a chemist, but quickly found her passion for human resources. Prior to working at Starbucks, she held the position Director of Global Compensation and Benefits for the Climate Control sector of Ingersoll Rand. Now that she is retired, Hafner is indulging in many new hobbies including piano and photography lessons, golf, pastoral care training, hiking, reading, and her main hobby of cooking. Ms. Hafner served on the board for the Minneapolis based non-profit HIRED, an organization dedicated to providing counseling, training, and job placement for those in need.
30
The Arch Spring 2017
2016-2017 Foundation
Board of Trustees
*Todd J. Kenner (CE 83) Chair
*Stephen T. O’Rourke (GeolE 83) 1st Vice Chair
*Larry V. Pearson (ME 72) 2nd Vice Chair
Gaurdie E. Banister (MetE 80)
Kristi Hafner (Chem 84)
Owen A. Palm (GeolE 75)
*Mark W. Benson (MetE 82)
Sean Hayes (ME 10)
*Linda L. Rausch (ChemE 75)
Clifford J. Bienert (CE 79)
Daniel C. Himelspach (Chem 70)
Lawrence G. Schmaltz (CE 79)
Jeane L. Hull (CE 77)
Marcia Taylor
John C. Hull (MinE 77)
Janice L. Vosika (ChemE 81)
*Walter Jones (EE 75)
*Heather Wilson, SD Mines President
*Lorin L. Brass (MetE 75) Julie Carver (GeolE 86) Willie C.W. Chiang (ME 81) Sharon Chontos (ChemE 87) Ed Corwin Gary W. Dirks (Chem 73) Daniel F. Dolan Anita Freeman (EE 76) *James A. Green (ME 74)
*Lynn R. Kading (CE 73) Scott J. Kenner (CE 77) Roger Kiel (GenE 58) Gene N. Lebrun Kenneth R. Miller (CE 75)
Jerry Wright (CE 71) Thomas Zeller
* Executive Committee Member
SD Mines Foundation
306 East Saint Joseph St. Suite 200 Rapid City, SD 57701
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit #618 Rapid City, SD 57701