January 02, 2013

Mining Engineering students earn scholarships

by Jance Staten

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Nine students in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Mining Engineering program in the College of Engineering recently earned scholarships totaling more than $6,000.

The scholarships are from the St. Louis chapter of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) chapter and the Illinois Mining Institute (IMI).  The Saluki Miners is a registered student organization at SIU Carbondale and also an SME student chapter.  The St. Louis SME chapter holds various events during the year, including technical meetings and an annual dinner dance that raises funds for mining scholarships.   In addition, each participating university also hosts a meeting to showcase student research and activities. 

The Illinois Mining Institute, an active and integral resource to the state’s mining industry, supports mining education and provides scholarships for Illinois residents studying mining and related courses at universities and community colleges.  The institute also hosts an annual exhibition in Marion each year.  Students are eligible for awards of up to $1,000 per year in recognition of their service.

Scholarship recipients must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.  Scholarship recipients for the fall 2012 semester listed by hometown, scholarship award, and parents, include:

Avon:  Luke Tolley, $1,000 Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Scholarship, $500 Illinois Mining Scholarship.  Tolley is the son of David and Kathy Tolley.

Beach Park:  Petar Willhite, $500 SME Scholarship, is the son of Jime Willhite and Madolyn Serdar-Willhite.

Benton:  Nick Culbreth, $1,000 SME Scholarship. Culbreth, is the son of Robin Culbreth.

Benton:  Anthony Jamerson, $500 IMI Scholarship.  Jamerson is the son of Ed and Nancy Jamerson.

Germantown:  Nick Boeckmann, $500 IMI Scholarship.  Boeckmann is the son of Kevin and Kathy Boeckmann.

Johnston City:  Kirk Smith, $750 IMI Scholarship.  Smith is the son of Darryl Smith and Debbie Knoob.

Marion:  Luke Gribble, $500 IMI Scholarship.  Gribble is the son Lance and Rosie Gribble.

Orland Park:  Larry Andrews, $250 IMI Scholarship.  Andrews is the son of Larry and Cindy Andrews.

Peoria:  Ashcon Gozloo, $500 SME Scholarship, and a $500 IMI Scholarship.  Gozloo is the son of Bahman Gozloo and Homa Gozloo.

All of the winners are mining engineering majors and all are seniors, with the exception of

Gribble.  A.J.S. “Sam” Spearing, associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Mining and Mineral Resources Engineering, is the faculty adviser for the Saluki Miners.