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.
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.
Erin McCullough (MinE 14) was a self-described rock collection kid. “While out exploring, I would pick up interesting rocks, put them in my pocket, and eventually they would end up in the washing machine.”
Most alumni agree that one of the best things – maybe THE best thing – about South Dakota Mines is the traditions and campus experiences that form strong connections.
NASA has a rich history in developing technologies that benefit space travel and exploration but that also contribute value back to life on Earth. For example, Velcro was a NASA-developed technology created to resist vibrations during launch and flight. Of course, now it is used on Earth for everything from hanging pictures to kids’ shoes.
When Mitchell Sueker was a first-year student-athlete at Mines in 2017, he was asked why he was proud to be a part of the Hardrocker Men’s Basketball Program. His response was, “I’m proud to be a part of a family that challenges themselves in the classroom as well as on the court. We strive to be great in many areas of life, in addition to basketball.”
One of Bruce Bad Moccasin’s (CE 72) memories from growing up in Pierre is of watching his dad work.
“My dad worked a lot. He worked outside. I watched him all the time. He was a strong man.”
Even when all of the cards were stacked against him – when most people probably would have thrown in the towel – Hani Shafai (CE 87) never gave up on his dream to become an engineer. Never.
If you would have told Andrea Brickey (MinE 99) as an undergraduate that she would one day return to South Dakota Mines as a professor, she probably would have laughed.
“Being a professor was not on my list of things to do,” she said.
Toward the end of his commencement speech this May, Chami Senarath (Physics 18, MS Physics 21, CSc 23) reminded his fellow graduates that they have the power to choose how to move forward during challenging times.
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.
