Always a sure sign that summer is coming to an end – Back to School. Here at the SME Foundation it means that Scholarship season is right around the corner. We have been updating scholarship guidelines, speaking with donors and working on the website and online application process. Making sure that SME students have a good experience applying for scholarships is really important to us. Access to scholarships is one of the many benefits to student members that we are most proud of. Last year the SME Foundation gave out $57,000 to 12 outstanding candidates. In 2017, we look forward to increasing that amount!
Mark your calendar for September 1, when the application portal opens. Not only are there SME Foundation scholarships but SME Divisions give out more than $300,000 each year. Apply here.
The difference that these scholarships make to a student is huge. I just recently interviewed the 2009 SME/MMSA scholarship recipient Scott Shields. He told me, “After graduating from the University of Arizona in May of 2011, I accepted an offer from Joy Global Inc. to serve as the Manager of Mining Application Engineering in the Surface Mining Division for P&H Mining Equipment. I currently lead a team of Mining Engineers based out of the P&H Corporate Headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and plan to further my education by working towards an MBA in the near-future.” Scott has continued his involvement with the SME and served as the 2013 SME National Conference Session Chair for “Technology Applications for Safety in Mining and Mining Equipment,” is serving as a Mining & Exploration (M&E) Division representative on SME's Student Member Affairs Committee through 2016 and is a member of the M&E Division's Executive Committee.
I personally cannot wait to meet the next class of scholarship recipients at the 2017 SME Annual Conference & Expo. If you, or a student you know, needs any assistance please call Rachel Grimes at 303-948-4247.