Geological and Mining Engineering and Science News

Tag: award

Celebrating the 2025 WAAIME SME Scholarship Recipients

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We are proud to congratulate this year’s GMES recipients of the WAAIME SME scholarships! All of these Michigan Tech grad students in mining engineering, Brighton Muwi, Daniel Muchabaiwa, Kudakwashe Mutanga, and geology student Ben Mperekwa, received awards. These outstanding students have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their academic and professional journeys in the fields of mining, metallurgy, geology, and related disciplines.

The WAAIME scholarship is awarded annually to students who exhibit academic excellence, leadership potential, and a passion for advancing the future of the mining and minerals industry. This prestigious award supports their educational pursuits and recognizes their contributions to shaping the future of mining and earth sciences.

Championing Academic Excellence and Innovation
Each recipient is committed to academic achievement and a drive to innovate and contribute to the mining and geological fields. Through their hard work, these students represent the next generation of industry leaders who will tackle challenges, drive sustainable practices, and lead advancements in mining and mineral exploration.

Empowering Tomorrow’s Industry Leaders
Receiving the WAAIME SME scholarship is a testament to the recipients’ dedication and potential. This support allows them to further their education, pursue internship opportunities, and engage with industry professionals who will mentor them throughout their careers.

We celebrate each recipient’s hard work and the bright future they represent. Congratulations again to all the WAAIME SME scholarship winners – your achievements inspire us all and pave the way for a stronger, more innovative future in mining and geological sciences.

Stay tuned for more updates and stories from our incredible students as they continue to achieve and impact the world of earth sciences!

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A Legacy of Giving: How the Wickstrom Family Supports Michigan Tech Students Across Generations

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Michigan Tech’s legacy resonates deeply across generations for some families, and the Walter Wickstrom ’37 family is a perfect example.

Although none of Walter’s three children—Betty Wickstrom Kendrick, Jean Wickstrom Liles, and Phil Wickstrom—are Michigan Tech alums or live nearby, each has established scholarships in memory of their father. They credit Michigan Tech with laying the foundation for their family’s success. In 2021, Betty created the Walter William Wickstrom Memorial Annual Scholarship to support the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences students.

“My father attended Michigan Tech during the Depression. I established this scholarship in his name because I want to brighten the day for current students,” says Betty Wickstrom Kendrick. She treasures the thank-you letters she receives and is continually impressed by the students’ stories, learning how the scholarships have made a tangible difference. To date, she has impacted the lives of twenty-eight undergraduate students directly.

One of the recipients shared how even a small scholarship can make a meaningful impact: “Receiving the Wickstrom Scholarship helped ease the financial pressure and allowed me to cover some of my essential expenses, like textbooks and lab fees. It’s made a noticeable difference and reminded me that there are people who believe in my potential and want to help me succeed.”

The Wickstrom family’s generosity continues to make a lasting impact, providing opportunities for future generations of GMES students to thrive and succeed, just as Walter Wickstrom did many years ago.

The latest eight to receive Betty’s gift in Fall 2024.

Pictured L to R: Avery Spalding, a junior in geology from Midland, Michigan.
Zeke Martin is a junior in geology from Alanson, Michigan.
Carlee Erhardt is a junior in mining engineering from Mt Pleasant, Michigan.
Luke Mariuzza is a senior in geological engineering from Ishpeming, Michigan.
Stephanie Wiegand is a senior in geological engineering with a minor in mining from Caspian, Michigan.
Jacob Ojala is a geological engineering junior from Hancock, Michigan, with a minor in aerospace.
Lucas Maxon is a mining engineering junior with a minor in mineral processing from Iron Mountain, Michigan.
Not pictured: Anton Smirnov, a senior in geology from Houghton, Michigan

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Ian Gannon Receives the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship

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Ian Gannon (GMES) recently received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship. The Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship is given to students who excel academically and have demonstrated originality in their research, leadership skills, and professionalism.


Advised by Dr. James DeGraff, Ian successfully defended his MS thesis titled “Integrating LiDAR, Aeromagnetic, and Geological Field Data to Identify Structural-Lithologic Elements Within the Archean Carney Lake Gneiss Complex” on August 3, 2023.


Ian contributed significantly to the U.S. Geological Survey under the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) project. He helped the survey to understand the complex geological makeup of a section of the Minnesota River Valley subprovidence.


Gannon’s achievement is an inspiration for all the students who are passionate about research and innovation. Congratulations, Ian!

Ian Gannon
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Addison Goecker Wins Poster Award at AIPG Meeting

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Addison Goecker, an applied geophysics senior at GMES, presented her research at the AIPG Michigan Section end-of-year meeting in Ann Arbor on December 8, 2022. Addison’s poster “Tectonically Versus Magmatically Accommodated Extension at Different Mid-Ocean Ridges and Ridge Segment Offsets” won her $500.00 in the student poster contest. Addison worked on this research during her summer internship at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (Honolulu) with Prof. Garrett Apuzen-Ito and Dr. Jana Schierjott. Congratulations, Addison!

Addison Goecker at her award-winning poster. 
Addison Goecker discusses her poster with Chuck Graff (MS Geology ‘91), a Senior Geologist with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Addison Goecker (right) with David Adler (Geology ‘82), the industry sponsor of the GMES AIPG Student Chapter, and Sienna Meekhof (Mining Engineering ‘21).
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Beth Bartel Receives the NAGT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award

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Beth Bartel, a geology doctoral student at the Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Department, receives the NAGT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. NAGT recognizes outstanding teaching assistants in geoscience education.

“Teaching at Tech has been a fantastic learning experience. GMES assigned me to courses I could contribute to from my particular academic and professional experience—and yet, I have learned how much more I still have to learn in these subjects, through the planning of courses, the lead instructors, grading, and the students,” Bartel says.

“Coming into my PhD, I was curious whether I would enjoy teaching a semester-long course after having only recently taught short courses and workshops,” she adds.

“I love it!

“I appreciate being able to support students, come up with creative ways to engage students, and take time to explore material together.”

Beth Bartel pictured at Fuego Volcano, Guatemala.
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MTU Students Receive DeCleene Scholarships from the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club

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Pictured left to right: Elliz McClelland, Sam Johnson, and George Schriver, president, Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club.

Geology majors Elliz McClelland, a senior, and Sam Johnson, a junior, were awarded the DeCleene Memorial Scholarship by the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club (CCRMC). This scholarship is for students in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Tech who have demonstrated academic achievement, and best exemplify the blending of mineralogy and mineral collecting as both a hobby and an educational pursuit.

This fund was established in memory of Nathan DeCleeene, a geological engineering student and an active member of the CCRMC.

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Jake Maxon Receives 2022 Department Scholar Award

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Jake Maxon pictured at Adventure Mine

Congratulations to Jake Maxon (BS Mining Engineering), who received a 2022 GMES Department Scholar Award to recognize his scholarly achievements! This award, presented to a student entering their senior year, recognizes one who best represents student scholarship in the department by participating in research or scholarly activities, demonstrating a high level of intellectual curiosity and creativity, and showing excellent communication skills. Jacob participates in research led by Associate Professor Dr. Snehamoy Chatterjee on fire size and fire location optimization in an underground mine using machine learning. Jacob is also involved in multiple mining-related activities within the campus and the community, including community-based research to map historical documents, including mining documents.

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Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship Awarded to Emmeline Wolowiec

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Emmeline Wolowiec Emmeline, pictured with Turrialba Volcano in Costa Rica, thinks that her travel to Costa Rica and Switzerland for research has been a highlight of her time at Michigan Tech.

Emmeline Wolowiec, MS geology student, is recognized for her academic accomplishments, receiving the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship in the Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Department. A certificate of recognition for this award will be presented to Emmeline at the Graduate Research Colloquium Banquet held this spring. 

Emmeline, advised by  Dr. Chad Deering, is working to look at the generation of high silica magmas in Costa Rica. They’re looking at the connection between plutonic and volcanic rocks to see what that can tell about where in the crust the volcanic rocks formed in relation to the plutonic rocks and what the possible magma chamber structure looked like. Hopefully, this will give insight into how the volcanic rocks formed, whether through fractional crystallization, magma mixing, or other processes.

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The Institute on Lake Superior Geology Awards Geology MS Student $1k

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Katherine Langfield, a geology master’s student, received a research grant from the Institute on Lake Superior Geology (ILSG). The $1,000 award will help defray the research costs for her proposed work on the Hancock Fault. A portion of the work will be conducted in the Quincy Mine adit in West Hancock. Katherine is advised by Research Professor, James DeGraff.

The ILSG Student Research Fund is available for undergraduate or graduate students conducting research on the geology of the Lake Superior region.

PC: U.S. Geological Survey
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Michigan Tech wins 2021 AIPG Student Chapter of the Year Award (again)

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The 2021 American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) Student Chapter of the Year Award goes to Michigan Technological University for the second year running!

Each year, AIPG recognizes the most outstanding student chapter for its activities, achievements, and contributions to the Institute. Nationwide there are 55 student chapters at AIPG. The award letter states: “the Student Chapter at Michigan Tech stood out among the AIPG Student Chapters in the nation this past year, and are highly deserving of this distinction and honor.”

Currently, the chapter officers are Elana Barth (President, Geology), Olivia Salvaggio (Vice President, Geophysics), Emilie Pray (Treasurer, Geology), and Nolan Gamet (Secretary, Geology). The officers during the year of the award were Elana Barth (President, Geology), Breeanne Huesdens (Vice President, Geological Engineering), Emilie Pray (Treasurer, Geology), and Makala O’Donnell (Secretary, Geological Engineering).

Chad Deering, Associate Professor in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, and David Adler, a Mannik & Smith Group Certified Professional Geologist (B.S. Geology ‘82), advise the Michigan Tech chapter.
Congratulations once again on a job well done. The GMES department is proud of your continued success!

Michigan Tech AIPG Student Chapter members while exploring the Eben Ice Caves. Photo courtesy of Dave Adler.
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