RMCMI Thirteenth Annual Scholarship Award Winner Profiles

Profiled on these pages are the eight RMCMI 1996 Scholarship Award winners. All eight winners were present as guests of the Institute at the June convention in Durango, Colorado. Each received recognition at the Institute Awards Luncheon Monday, July 1. 1996. Each state vice president sewed as the host for the collegiate winner and his firm provided travel and hotel expenses. In addition to receiving a plaque from the Scholarship Chairman, Alan Czarnowsky, each winner receives $1,000 tuition credit for the coming academic year, as well as transportation hotel lodging and meals at convention as guests of the Institute. Because this is a continuing award, the winners from the previous year also receive a $1.000 tuition credit in their senior year if recommended by the dean of the college or university and are full time students. A resident from each of the eight RMCMI member states is selected from among Board approved institutions. Criteria for these awards to be made in the spring annually is that the recipient (1) Is a full time sophomore student who will use the tuition credit during the junior year. (2) Be both a U.S. citizen and a resident of the member state. (3) Maintain good academic standing, be pursuing a degree in a mining related field and have an expressed interest in western coal as a possible career path. The scholarship program includes curricula other than in the mining departments, but in engineering disciplines, such as geology, mineral processing and metallurgy. Contributions to this worthy project are tax deductible to each individual RMCMI member or his firm. Through annual donations of $100 or more, the Patrons of the Institute fund the scholarship program. A listing or current donors is found elsewhere in this book. Donations to this worthwhile program are payable to RMCMI Scholarship and may be mailed to the RMCMI Office, 3000 Youngfield Street, Suite 324, Lakewood, Colorado 80215. Profiles of the 1996 Scholarship Winners follow. [ ] ARIZONA WINNER Michelle Begaye New Mexico Tech - Socorro. New Mexico Michelle Lisa Begaye plans to work in a mine near her Navajo Reservation after graduation. She would like to continue teaching the young in her community as she has been doing for the past few years. As a volunteer with the Natani' Trails, she takes at-risk students on wilderness experiences such as rafting, repelling, etc. Active in school, she played the trombone, was in speech and drama, played softball, and was the first female to play football as a right and left tackle. A member of National Honor Society in High Shool, she also made the Dean's List at Navajo Community College. Michelle will pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering when she transfers to New Mexico Tech this fall. [ ] COLORADO WINNER Nicole Albert Colorado School of Mines - Golden. Colorado Nicole is pursuing a BS in Mining Engineering with a Minor in Mineral Economics - and has already proven her serious intent with her many activities related to mining. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers; Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration; and has participated in two different projects related to mining, one of which was to clean up a mine tailings site. Nicole enjoys hunting, camping, fishing, softball and horses. Growing up with her father, working at a surface coal mine, sparked her interest in this industry.