MineARC Systems America is excited to announce the annual recipient of the Mine Rescue Team Scholarship, Jacob Collier.
Jacob Collier, a junior mining engineering major at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT), has been selected for the 2020 scholarship.
“I knew that I wanted to go into some form of engineering, but I could not decide on which branch I liked the best. I then discovered mining engineering as the jack-of-all-trades of the engineering branches, and I was sold,” said Collier
Supporting Young Miners
The purpose of the scholarship is to foster young students’ passion for mine engineering and enable their future contributions to an exciting and vital industry. Since the creation of the scholarship in 2017, three members have been awarded. After the completion of his degree, Sky Dragoo, the first scholarship recipient, joined the Westmoreland Rosebud Mining team as a Dragline Engineer/Supervisor. Dragoo has since accepted a position as Junior Project Manager for Harrison Western in South Dakota.
To be an eligible recipient, students must be members of the Mine Rescue Team at SDSMT. They are then selected based on their future goals and involvement with the rescue team.
“We frequently hear from students what receiving a scholarship means to them. From making it possible for them to earn a degree from SD Mines, to gaining confidence that someone believes in them, every story is unique, but all point to the impact receiving a scholarship has on their lives,” explains Katie Howard, Director of Stewardship.
Combining Emergency Response and Leadership
Collier has been an active member of the Mine Rescue Team for over two years and has held various leadership roles throughout that time. His dedication to contributing to mine safety and excitement about the vital role mining will play in future technological advances makes him a worthy candidate for the scholarship.
“I find the willingness of manufacturers in the industry to automate equipment to be inspiring. I believe that it shows that although sometimes the industry is slow to change, it is willing to grow and adapt to a changing environment. I think the rise of electric vehicles will change the industry significantly, requiring increased mining of rare earth and various other metals to supply the increased demand.”
Since obtaining the scholarship, Collier has been able to devote more time to the mine rescue team at SDSMT and was elected Vice President of the organization this past spring.
Collier is expected to graduate in May of 2021.