News
LAIS prof sweeps awards
Professor Toni Lefton of the LAIS Department has been awarded the Outstanding Faculty Award. Every year graduating seniors choose a professor from each department to receive this honor. This year, Professor Lefton was chosen by the undergraduate and the graduate seniors. “I can’t think of a greater honor,” Professor Lefton reflected upon her double win. “To have students remember those moments we shared in class…this is why I teach.”
Board of Student Organizations honors outstanding clubs with Organization of the Year award
Student organizations are a fundamental part of student life at Mines. With almost 160 organizations, Mines organizations have something for everyone. This year, the Board of Student Organizations would like to recognize two organizations for their outstanding leadership and dedication to the students on campus. We feel these organizations exemplify what it means to be an active, responsible, and effective club on campus. Please help us thank them for all of their hard work!
Mines alumnus returns for Leadership Summit
Graduates from the Colorado School of Mines are well trained in the science of moving mountains. But on October 2, Mines alumnus and celebrated author Mr. Robert Waterman will lead one of many plenary sessions that will help Mines students learn how to mobilize people and teams to move those mountains. They will be learning how to apply engineering principles to the art of leadership.
Along with co-author Tom Peters, Waterman penned the leadership tome “In Search of Excellence”, which has been heralded as the “greatest business book of all time” by Bloomsbury UK.
Scientific discoveries this week: 5-3-2010
Beijing, China - A new study shows that certain dinosaurs changed the appearance of their feathers during adolescence. Somewhat like modern birds, who molt while growing, the study suggests that the basic structure of dinosaur feathers changed as they grew. The study's authors analyzed two 125 million-year-old fossils of the feathered dinosaur, Similicaudipteryx. One of the dinosaurs, presumed to be younger because of its size and skeletal structure, had ribbon-like bases on its feathers. The older dinosaur, however, had quilled feathers along the base. It is presumed that this change took place after the animals molted and their feathers grew back.
Tau Beta Pi initiates largest class in history
On Monday, April 26th the Colorado Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society initiated 61 new members into the organization. To be eligible for Tau Beta Pi membership, you must be in the top eighth of the junior class or top fifth of the senior class. Candidates for Tau Beta Pi must also demonstrate good character and integrity by completing an interview process. Tau Beta Pi is an active honor society on campus and sponsors the annual E-Days Cardboard Boat Race and Trebuchet Contest. Tau Beta Pi members also participate in a number of community and campus service events, including the Castle of Cans food drive, EPICS II Judging, and Engineering Futures sessions.
LAIS expands program opportunities
You may think of Liberal Arts and International Studies (LAIS) as a pision that offers some writing classes but no majors, masters programs or real value for a Mines graduate. But that old reputation is rapidly changing. LAIS still offers required courses like Nature and Human Values and Human Systems, but it also has growing offerings in minors like STEP (Science, Technology, Energy, and Policy), LSE (Literature, Society and Environment), Humanitarian Studies, IPE (International Political Economy), and an outstanding masters’ program called MIPER (Masters in International Political Economy of Resources). MIPER has no GRE requirement and can be completed with a Mines undergraduate degree in as little as an additional year.
Headlines from around the world: 5-3-2010
Democratic Denver Mayor, John Hickenlooper, has raised about 1.1 million dollars towards his campaign since he entered the race for Colorado governor in January. His campaign began when incumbent Bill Ritter announced that he would not seek reelection.
The unemployment rate in Spain was reported to be up to 20.05 percent from 19 percent in the last quarter. Spain has the second highest unemployment in Europe after Latvia, and the government says that there are 4.6 million unemployed people in the country.
CSM Mining Team brings home bronze
For the first time in three years, the Colorado School of Mines attended the International Intercollegiate Mining Competition, regarded as the measuring stick for worldwide mining universities. Consisting of seven events based on historical mining methods, the games were established to commemorate the 91 Idaho miners lost in the 1972 Sunshine Mine Disaster. At this year's competition, held in Kalgoorlie, Australia on April 8 and 9, the Oredigger team placed second in four events, solidifying an overall bronze medal in the games.
Mines continues to support Haiti
Amidst cramming for final tests, projects, and papers, it is easy to lose sight of everything you experienced and learned this semester. In two weeks, you will probably be ready to get past the struggles of these last weeks. But before you check out, I’d like to return your attention to another ongoing struggle: disaster relief in Haiti.
The earthquake on January 12 that killed some 230,000 people garnered support from around the world, and Mines was not absent from the efforts. Late January, a committee formed to fundraise for Haiti relief by selling used textbooks donated by students and faculty. The result was at least 240 books donated, 38 books sold, and nearly $1,000 raised to be donated to the American Red Cross!
AISES Powwow Parties Down
![]() Katie Huckfeldt / Oredigger |
The event began with a sampling of free traditional food including Navajo tacos, and flat bread. Ben Michaud, a freshman at Mines, commented on the food saying, "I have never had flatbread before and it's quite the experience-a good one." Another student, Emily Nicholas, agreed saying, "The food is amazing." But aside from the draw of free food, student came to enjoy the culture of the night.
Mines faculty bring together classic talent
For years, Marie Hornickel has played piano and Rebecca Flintoff has played cello, and for years they have worked together as administrative faculty at Mines. On April 29, the duo showcased their skills and performed together in the library.











