When Tim and Laura Pike talk about giving back, they are not focused on a single moment. Instead, they describe it as a habit, one that started early on in their careers and quietly grew alongside their family, their professions and their connections to their alma mater.
When Tim and Laura Pike talk about giving back, they are not focused on a single moment. Instead, they describe it as a habit, one that started early on in their careers and quietly grew alongside their family, their professions and their connections to their alma mater.
When Jeremy Feist (CE 2017) packed his bags for Seattle after graduation, he was eager to test himself on some of the biggest structural engineering projects in the country.
At 96 years old, Lowery Smith (GeolE 51) has lived through nearly a century of change, but some things remain constant. When he returned to South Dakota Mines for the all-school reunion this summer, he was reminded that while buildings may shift and faces come and go, Mines still feels like home.
When Dan Carlson (ChE 77) pulled into Rapid City for this year’s All-School Reunion, it marked a special milestone—50 years since attending his very first.
When Cody Marshall (MetE 2023) arrived at South Dakota Mines in spring 2019, he already knew how to forge steel—but he was about to learn how to forge something even stronger: leadership.
The slide rule came with bragging rights—and a story Donn Lobdell (ME 58) would never forget.
When Randy Parcel (MineE 67) and Marv Truhe (ME 67) met at South Dakota Mines over 60 years ago, they couldn’t have imagined that their bond—first forged in a debate team meeting and strengthened through lifelong friendship—would one day rekindle a tradition that could shape generations of engineers and scientists to come.
When Linda Rausch (ChemE 75) arrived on the South Dakota Mines campus, she didn’t know anyone—but that didn’t last long. Like so many others, she quickly found her footing in the close-knit community of students who shared not just classes but aspirations.
For Scott (ME 96) and Abbie (IE 96) Wickersham, South Dakota Mines isn’t just an alma mater—it’s the foundation of their personal and professional lives.
Want even more alumni news, features, and campus updates? Explore The Hardrock, our alumni magazine, for in-depth stories that highlight the people, progress, and pride that shape the Mines community. Dive in and stay connected with fellow Hardrockers around the world.
