Colorado School of Mines Alumni

Record of 13 current students & recent grads earned the 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship—one of the most prestigious STEM grad awards in the U.S. Research highlights include wildfire prevention, nuclear fuel reprocessing, PFAS “forever chemicals,” quantum sensors, and advanced materials.⁠
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Also, 7 additional Mines alumni received NSF support for grad school at top institutions like MIT, Caltech, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, and more.⁠
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Read More: https://www.minesnewsroom.com/news/13-mines-students-alumni-win-nsf-graduate-research-fellowships

Hannah Halpern ’18 and Evan ’18 met at Mines in 2016 while studying petroleum engineering, and graduated together in May 2018.

They got engaged in 2020, married in 2021, and welcomed their daughter in February 2025. Today, they are both working as reservoir engineers: Hannah with INEOS Energy and Evan with Bayswater Exploration and Production. Beyond their careers, they credit Mines for shaping much more than their education. Their time on campus helped build lasting friendships, strong professional connections, and a supportive network.

The Mines legacy also runs deep in Hannah’s family, with her parents and brother all proud alumni.

Paarth Nair ’26 described his time at Mines as both exciting and rewarding. He immersed himself in the automotive program, participating in clubs such as Battery Workforce Challenge (BWC) and taking courses like EV Powertrains with Dr. Brodsky.

He culminated his academic journey with the Datsun resto-mod senior design project, where he led a team of 11 students in restoring and modifying the vehicle into a sporty canyon cruiser. After countless late nights and hard work, the project came to life and will now be passed down to the next capstone team for another year of restoration and modifications before eventually being sold, with proceeds supporting future capstone projects.

Paarth will now begin a full-time role with Rivian’s charging products team.

What a fantastic day at the 42nd Annual Golden Golf Tournament. From the first tee shot to the final awards, it was incredible to see alumni, friends, and supporters come together in support of students at Mines.

A huge thank you to everyone who played, sponsored, and helped make this long-standing tradition such a success. Your support continues to create meaningful opportunities for current and future Orediggers.

More photos here: 38108980@N04/albums/72177720334012054/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/38108980@N04/albums/72177720334012054/

Looking for a fun way to support Mines this summer and have an impact on the lives of future Orediggers? Mines Admissions is seeking alumni with a graduate degree from Mines to volunteer at upcoming graduate student recruitment receptions.

These relaxed networking events are a fun, easy way to connect with future Orediggers, with appetizers, beverages, and Admissions staff on site for support. Events run June 9 at New Terrain Brewing, June 17 at Denver Beer Co. in Olde Town Arvada, June 25 at Resolute Brewing Company in Centennial, and July 2 at Outpost on Platte in Denver, all from 6–8 p.m.

Learn More: https://volunteer.mines.edu/need/index?agency_id=122460

Kick off the summer season with the Denver M Club at a Helluva Happy Hour on Tuesday, June 30. Join fellow Orediggers at Method & Muse to connect, meet local leaders and enjoy a complimentary tasting of award-winning craft spirits led by founder and Mines alum Aubrey Wigner ’09, ’11. Hear his story, get a behind-the-scenes look at the distilling process and pick up tasting notes along the way.⁠
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Stick around after to keep the evening going. Alumni will receive exclusive discounts on bottles and the Method & Muse yearly bottle club. Space is limited.
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Learn More: https://weare.mines.edu/s/840/19/interior.aspx?sid=840&gid=1&pgid=9803&cid=21894&ecid=21894&crid=0&calpgid=5873&calcid=14616

Emmalea Yunk '26 graduated magna cm laude in Mechanical Engineering from Mines, where she also had the honor of delivering the commencement address to her graduating class. In her speech, she reflected on the Mines community that played a foundational role in her success.⁠
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During her time at Mines, she held several leadership and service roles, including President of Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), Marketing Director for the Senior Traditions and Networking Team, SWE mentor, and honors student. She also worked for over three years at the PASCAL Center and served as a teaching assistant in the Mechanical Engineering department for two years. One of her favorite contributions was designing the Senior Blaster logo used at graduation.⁠
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She was awarded the John Steele Commemorative Service Award in Mechanical Engineering in recognition of her commitment to serving the Mines community. She also shared a memorable moment celebrating her graduation alongside her close friend and Student Trustee, Charles O’Donnell. She will next attend George Washington University Law School to pursue a career in patent law.

Two graduating Dignitaries helped strengthen student philanthropy at Mines through the Mines Foundation Dignitaries program, launched in 2024. Jessie Ledesma ’26 and Estevan Gonzalez ’26 played key roles in engaging their peers in giving back—helping contribute to a record 580 student donors and $62,000 raised this year.

Through their work, they helped shift the conversation around philanthropy on campus, showing that giving isn’t just for after graduation, it’s something students can be part of now.

Read More: https://weare.mines.edu/s/840/19/interior.aspx?sid=840&gid=1&pgid=9822