Dear Friends,
Spring break has ended and the campus is again busy with the many activities that come with the second half of the spring semester. Here are just a few of the upcoming campus events:
The Cultural Expo will be held in the Surbeck Center ballroom on Saturday, March 29 from 10:30 am-2:30 pm. There will be display booths, cultural dancers, and a variety of food from around the world. The public is invited--admission is free, and there is a nominal charge of $6.00 for food sample tasting on Saturday between 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
Also on Saturday from 1-4 pm, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Museum of Geology will be hosting a "Dinosaur Extravaganza." Activities include cast painting and activities about dinosaurs, their habits, diets, footprints, and more. The event is staffed and coordinated by members of the School of Mines Paleontology Club. This special event is free and open to the public, including children of all ages. To sign up, call (605) 394-2467.
On Tuesday, April 1, we will host the fifty-seventh annual Honors Convocation where 123 students, faculty, staff, and friends will be honored for their academic and leadership achievements as well as their contributions to the campus and community.
The Drama Club will present their spring production, "Hamlet II", by Sam Bobrick--a comedic twist based on Shakespeare's play. The public is invited to nightly presentations at 7:00 pm, April 10, 11, and 12 in the Surbeck Center Ballroom. Free to School of Mines students, $5 to the general public.
The campus will welcome prospective students and their families on Saturday, April 19 for Junior Preview Day. For more information or to register, visit http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/jr.
The School of Mines' presents its spring concert on April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public, and features the School of Mines Concert Choir under the direction of James Han and the Symphonic Band under the direction of David Mitchell.
The Senior Design Fair will be held at the School of Mines on Tuesday, April 22, from 9 am-2 pm in the Surbeck Center Ballroom. Every year, our talented seniors display their skills in developing innovative technological designs. You will be amazed at the talent.
In research news...the Department of Defense EPSCoR program (DEPSCoR) has announced its awardees under the FY08 competition. Congratulations to Dr. David Boyles, Professor of Chemistry, who was awarded one of only 34 awards nationally. His project is entitled "New Coploycarbonates and Fully Miscible Polycarbonate Blends for Transparent Armor". This award marks the fourth DEPSCoR award that South Dakota has received in the last four years making the state one of the most successful in the competition during this time period. Over the past four years, the majority of DEPSCoR awards in South Dakota were awarded to faculty from the School of Mines. More information on the awards can be found at: www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11785.
The School of Mines offers a variety of fun programs for kids to learn math and science. Visit our website to learn about specific classes and camps for elementary, middle, and high school students at http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/learn/youth.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments. I can be reached at charles.ruch@sdsmt.edu.
Charles Ruch