Alumni Volunteer Opportunities

Once a Hardrocker, always a Hardrocker!

Alumni Mentorship Program

This program connects current juniors with alumni mentors for one-on-one guidance. Students apply after their sophomore year and are matched with mentors over the summer. They meet at least five times in the fall semester, discussing topics like career exploration, navigating a new job, and work-life balance. We provide the Alumni Mentorship Handbook with the following topics: 

•    Discovering your career passion, career interests, or career calling
•    Success in the first week and first year of a new position and career advancement
•    Effective networking/relationship building in your field
•    Managing family/life balance
•    Proper etiquette with co-workers/interactions with difficult co-workers

Over the summer we will match our students to their mentors and introduce them in August each year.

Fill out this form to match you with a student: 

Alumni Mentorship Application

Share your Industry Knowledge

CAMP is seeking subject matter experts to advise teams during their design reviews. Teams present three one-hour design reviews: Functional, Preliminary, and Critical during the fall semester. Alumni can attend the reviews in person or remotely on Zoom to learn about the teams’ plans, lend their expertise, and provide feedback. If you are interested in attending a design review for any of the following teams, email Amy.DiRienzo@sdsmt.edu for scheduling. Please indicate your technical background and expertise or what teams you are interested in advising. 

•    Aero Design
•    Baja SAE
•    ChemE Car
•    Clean Snowmobile
•    Concrete Canoe
•    Formula Racing
•    Esports
•    Human Powered Vehicle
•    Moonrockers
•    Mines Association for Rocketeers (MARS) 
•    RoBoat Robotics
•    Rocker Robotics 
•    Steel Bridge
•    Supermileage
•    Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Welcome Freshmen

Write a postcard offering words of encouragement to incoming students. Learn more here about this encouraging outreach program. 

Career Guidance

Speak at Campus to Career Events. This monthly event series connects current students with a diverse range of alumni from various industries and career paths. It's a platform for students to gain valuable insights, explore career options, and build their professional network. Each session features a panel discussion followed by Q&A and casual networking. If you are interested in speaking please email Shelli.Grinager@sdsmt.edu or call, 605.394.6148.

Session Dates and Topics

Sept. 3, 2024 - 5 - 6:30 p.m.(MT)  Beyond the Resume: Building Soft Skills for Employability: Focus on crucial soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, with alumni sharing practical tips and strategies.

Oct. 1, 2024 - 5 - 6:30 p.m.(MT) Creative Problem-Solving: Thinking Outside the Box: Feature alumni who have tackled complex challenges in their careers. Explore creative problem-solving techniques, brainstorming strategies, and fostering an innovative mindset. Students can develop valuable skills for navigating future workplace obstacles.

Nov. 5, 2024 - 5 - 6:30 p.m.(MT) Work-Life Balance in the Real World: Discuss the importance of maintaining work-life balance with alumni from various industries. Explore strategies for managing time effectively, prioritizing mental health, and setting boundaries. This session offers practical advice for students entering a demanding professional world.

Feb. 11, 2025 - 5 - 6:30 p.m.(MT) Financial Literacy for Young Professionals: Featuring alumni from finance or wealth management backgrounds, this session can equip students with practical knowledge on budgeting, saving for the future, managing student loans, and navigating personal finance in the early stages of their careers.

March 18, 2025 - 5 - 6:30 p.m.(MT) The Power of Networking: Building Relationships for Success: Alumni with strong networks can share tips and strategies for effective networking, attending industry events, cultivating relationships with colleagues and mentors, and building a strong professional support system. 

April 8, 2025 - 5 - 6:30 p.m.(MT)   Failing Forward: Embracing Mistakes and Building Resilience: Alumni share stories of career setbacks, how they learned from them, and the importance of resilience in professional development.

Fall Election Engagement

Share your insights on the importance of being an active citizen. Email Samantha.Harkin@sdsmt.edu if interested. 

Career Advice

Offer one-on-one career advice or job search strategies to graduating seniors still looking for employment. 

Handshake

If your organization is hiring or open to hosting interns, use Handshake, our free online career portal, to recruit Mines students.

Senior Design Mentor

Lend your expertise to senior design students through project reviews and guidance.

Inspire Student Groups

Speak at a club meeting or event related to your field.

Local Campus Volunteers

We are always looking for a group of local alumni willing to help in person on campus with Career Service Workshop volunteers, Science Fair judges, West River Math Competition, Freshmen Move-In help, and M Hill clean up.