August 31, 2007

Article Body: Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe that today is the last day of August, and that classes will begin next Tuesday, September 4th. The School of Mines’ administration, faculty, and staff are busy preparing to welcome our students to campus for the fall 2007 semester.

A welcome convocation for faculty and staff was held on Monday. A copy of the presentation to the campus may be viewed at: http://resources.sdsmt.edu/president/message.ppt.

Dr. Hao Fong, Assistant Professor in the School of Mines Chemistry department, has received a $750,000 three-year grant from NASA (National Aeronautics Space Administration) for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The project on high performance carbon fibers will develop next generation structural materials that will be relevant to aeronautics and space applications.

Dr. Vojislav Kalanovic has been awarded a U.S. Patent for his “Control System and Method for Processing Jewelry and the Like”. This patent makes a fundamental contribution to the field of modular robotics i.e. Flexible Robotic Environment systems. Dr. Kalanovic’s company, Control Systems Technologies LLC, has implemented the use of these systems in industry.

The NSF has awarded a planning grant for an IU/CRC for Bio Fuels Research and Development to be established at the School of Mines in conjunction with SDSU, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and collaborating industries. Additional universities and industries will be included in the final Center design through the planning process.

Our congratulations go to six School of Mines students who have received nearly $15,000 in scholarship funds from the Women’s Auxiliary to the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. (WAAIME). WAAIME scholarships are awarded to male and female full-time students who are majoring in an earth science-related field of study, such as geology, mining, metallurgy and petroleum engineering. Recipients are chosen based on need, leadership and volunteerism.

The student recipients are: Robbie Hahn (MetE, Sioux Falls), Collin Rogers (MEM, McKinleyville, Calif.), Stephanie Pashina (MEM, Minnetonka, Minn.), Andrew Johnson (MEM, Chisago City, Minn.), Jordan Hoff (MEM, Rapid City), and Brandon Fredrickson (MEM, Fort Collins, Colo.).

I stated in my last newsletter that the women’s volleyball team’s first home game would be on Friday, September 7th. There has been a schedule change: the game will now be played on Saturday, September 8th at 3 pm in the King Center, Goodell Gymnasium on the School of Mines campus. For a complete list of these and all other upcoming School of Mines events visit: http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/sdsmtcalendar.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments. I can be reached at charles.ruch@sdsmt.edu.

Best wishes for a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.

Charles Ruch

Posted by Mitchell Vander Vorst on 8/31/2007 3:45:00 PM

August 31, 2007

August 31, 2007

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