As president of the Colorado School of Mines Alumni Association Board of Directors, I consider it a privilege to be associated with the rich traditions of Mines and all that this special university represents. And I am especially proud to serve such a vibrant group of alumni.

The Alumni Association is a great source of strength for Mines. By strengthening relationships between graduates and the School, we support Mines' noble mission and promote excellence; and by building community among alumni, we foster a rich network of personal connections.

As we reflect on a particularly dynamic year at the Alumni Association, I wanted to share a few highlights:

1. Reunion 2008: This year we launch the Golden Miner Reunion, which welcomes all classes who have passed the 50-year mark to come back to campus and reconnect with friends on an annual basis. Reunion program highlights include a symposium entitled "Our Energy Future"; a luncheon featuring a speech by Tim Marquez '80, donor of Mines' largest-ever individual gift; a graduation and alumni banquet featuring Nobel Laureate in Physics James Cronin; an all-class BBQ; and the ever-popular class dinners.

2. Student Support: Through the generosity of Alumni Association members, 14 students were beneficiaries of Legacy Grants this year and several others received Field Session Grants. We also assisted the enthusiastic staff of The Oredigger with exposure to their online version (if you'd like to receive it, please give us your email). And our mentoring program continues to build momentum, as you can read on p. 34. Our next objective in this area is to launch a Student Alumni Association—more on that later.

3. Personal and Professional Development: We continue to offer opportunities on and off campus in this area. Notably, we recently drew a standing-room-only crowd of students and alumni to the event, "Lessons in Leadership: Advice You Can Use," which featured a panel of four highly successful alumni who answered questions about the values, strategies and personal characteristics that contributed to their accomplishments.

4. Communications: Several communications initiatives are under way. A new online community is in the works. Along with providing a more flexible alumni directory, it will also enable chat rooms/forums, blogs and much more. The Alumni Association website is going to be completely revamped; this will be done in concert with a completely revised School website. And lastly, Mines magazine was recently transformed and an online version launched.

As a distinct nonprofit organization, you might wonder how the Alumni Association funds these programs. Simply put, with your generous support. Thank you. Many have responded to our focus on membership growth: we now have 548 life members, double the number we had three years ago; and we had a strong response to annual membership this year, with many members choosing to include additional gifts with their dues. As of March 2008, we have 5,199 total members. Additional revenue has been harnessed in several other areas. For example, our new and traditional golf tournaments have enthusiastic support. And as you may have noted, Mines magazine has increased its number of advertisers considerably.

I'd like to close by once again saying thank you for your continued interest in, and support of, the Alumni Association and the School. Mines is a wellspring of talent and creativity in our increasingly technology-dependent world, and I am very proud of my association with the School. I hope you share these sentiments and will continue to support our mission with your membership. If you are not currently a member, I'd like to ask that you consider joining. A strong and dynamic Alumni Association provides opportunities for all of us to cultivate old and new relationships, connect with Mines in meaningful ways, and support our alma mater. We have created a great deal of positive momentum, but it must be fueled with our collective support.

We look forward to hearing from you. Go to www.alumnifriends.mines.edu/ for additional information or contact csmaa@mines.edu.

Sincerely yours,

Eric M. May '99
CSMAA President

Betas Getting New Digs

The Beta Phi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi celebrates 100 years at Colorado School of Mines this fall. To commemorate the occasion, the Betas are constructing a new state-of-the-art chapter house to be opened in September, and many alumni of the fraternity will be returning to campus to celebrate the occasion. The fraternity was initially begun as The Gastronomic Criterions in the early 1900s, and the Beta Phi's affiliation with Beta Theta Pi was officially recognized in 1908. Fundraising for the facility has been ongoing for the past seven years, and the hard work has now paid off, with construction at 1701 W. Campus Road well under way. The Centennial Celebration marking the historic 100-year milestone for the chapter and the opening of the new building will take place September 19–21, with a variety of activities planned (more information available at www.betaphialumni.org, or contact John Green '91 at jggreenjr@yahoo.com). All Beta alumni are invited to attend.

Mentors Illuminate Life-Changing Decisions

With only a month to go before graduation, a handful of seniors are still wrestling with what they are going to do after graduation. A few months ago there were many more in this predicament. Decisions are hard, especially when they must be made with little information about what the consequences will be.

Thanks to dedicated alumni around the country, students enrolled in CSMAA's Mentoring Program received a little help with those tough choices this year. And by all accounts, it's a win-win deal for all concerned—mentors convey how gratifying it is for them to help current students, and the students report that the insights about their future professions are invaluable.

The CSM Alumni Association launched the program in 2005, with the aid of Brandon Segura and Joe Mahoney (both current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors). Segura came forward with the idea while still a senior at Mines. He saw the opportunity to put students in touch with industry veterans, who were in a position to inform students' career choices. To this end, he worked with the Alumni Association staff and board members to create the Mentoring Program. Now in its third year, the program has paired almost 50 students with alumni-mentors, and its 2008 goal is to connect at least 50 more.

Felicia Blush, a doctoral candidate in material science, was paired with Bill Wilson '65, who has decades of experience in the materials industry. "Bill was a great conduit into private industry," she said. "He helped me make some professional contacts and gave me all kinds of good advice. And it wasn't just professional advice." Watching Bill and Felicia talk, it is clear that a meaningful relationship has evolved, and it's not one-way. "I like being back on campus," said Bill. "I have a lot of industry experience and knowledge to share, and I enjoy being with students because I learn from them as well."

Other mentors echoed these sentiments. "Becoming a mentor really allowed me to come full circle as a former student and Mines alum," said Mahesh Vidyasagar '00. "I was able to connect with a new generation of students who wanted the same things out of a Mines education that I did when I attended. During the process, I found that the relationship I had with my mentees was mutually beneficial. I appreciated learning from them while they learned from me."

Mentors frequently help students to get a head start on industry networking. Sometimes they also help students clarify their life goals and create structure for achieving them. Craig VanHorn '06 is a graduate student studying metallurgical and materials engineering. He meets regularly with his mentor and repored, "He has really helped me figure out what I love to do." Stephanie Schmidt '07 says her mentor "has really helped me…figure out what I want to do and where I want to go." One former student was even helped through the process of purchasing her first home by her former mentor!

The Mentoring Program is always looking for alumni who are willing to mentor a student, and students who are looking for a mentor. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Serena.Stickney@is.mines.edu.

For more information:
www.alumnifriends.mines.edu/Alumni/csmaa_mentoring_program.htm

An E-Days Retrospective

While the fireworks went off in Golden on April 3, 2008, over 350 alumni around the world raised their glass to Mines in celebration of E-Days! It is truly one of the most fondly remembered Mines traditions, and E-Days 'Round the World drew Miners together in locations from Antarctica to Anchorage, and many places in between.

The first E-Days, or Engineers' Days, celebration at Mines was on January 29, 1927, when Mines was a very different place. Students could specialize in one of only four academic "options": metal mining, metallurgy, geology and petroleum engineering. And the School operated from four main buildings: Guggenheim Hall, Stratton Hall, Chauvenet Hall and the Hall of Engineering. In the spring of 1927, 65 seniors graduated from Mines.

The event was organized by the Colorado Engineering Council and was intended as a day of entertainment for engineers and engineering students across the state. A Mines committee, which included Melvin F. Coolbaugh, made the campus arrangements. Activities included talks given by council engineers in Guggenheim, campus tours, a basketball game with the University of Wyoming, and a dance sponsored by the sophomore class.

Eighty-one years later, E-Days has evolved into a weekend of merriment and traditional competitions, including the tricycle race, arm wrestling, beer Olympics and cold spiking competitions. One thing that has remained the same throughout all E-Days celebrations is that the weekend starts with a spectacular fireworks show—the best in the state.

CSMAA launched E-Days 'Round the World in 2006 as a way for alumni in various regions to gather, get to know each other and reminisce about their days at Mines. Credit for the success of this event goes largely to our group of energetic volunteers around the world who call and rally enthusiasm. To see photos of this year's gatherings, go to www.mines.edu/magazine. If you want to volunteer to organize a gathering next year, email Serena.Stickney@is.mines.edu.

Scoggins Attends Regional Receptions

President Bill Scoggins and his wife, Karen, greeted alumni and friends in Washington, DC, Oakland, Palo Alto and Grand Junction last fall and in Houston and San Diego in early 2008. At each event Scoggins took the opportunity to update alumni and friends on recent events at Mines.

He spoke of the recently formed Nuclear Engineering and Biochemical Engineering programs, and provided an update on capital needs and improvements. He also discussed our ongoing relationship with the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi, pointing out that 17 percent of students at the PI are now women.

Scoggins outlined some administrative changes, including Nigel Middleton's recent appointment as provost and senior vice president for strategic enterprises. Middleton will be responsible for promoting international collaborations with governments and private industry, as well as developing strategic alliances with federal laboratories, corporations, and other federal and state agencies.

Changing student demographics were addressed. The president pointed out that enrollment this year is approximately 4,250, reflecting the increased interest in a Mines education. Increased enrollments are also putting pressure on classroom and lab space and increasing the need for additional student housing on campus—priorities that he believes will need to be addressed in the coming years.

For details about upcoming regional events in 2008, call Serena Stickney at 303.273.3290.

Miners Attend Marine Ball in Oman

In Muscat, Oman, a group of alumni attended the 232nd US Marine Corps Birthday Ball on November 14, 2007. Pictured from left to right are Glenn Vangolen '81, Tracey Vangolen '83, Tom Walker '89, Mark Reeves '90, Donnie Enns '82 and Ross Macfadyen '89.