South Dakota Mines - Mining Engineering & Management Dept.

This past week, the SD Mines Mining and Mucking teams traveled to Tucson, Arizona
for the 48th International Collegiate Mining Competition, held March 24-27, 2026. What
they brought back is something this program has never seen before.
The competition is one of the oldest and most respected collegiate mining events in the
world, challenging teams in authentic historical mining skills, including gold panning,
track laying, hand steel drilling, mucking, jackleg drilling, and surveying. These
exercises are not simulated solely for competition; they are the same methods that built
the mining industry, and they demand both technical precision and physical endurance.
The Hang-Up Men, competing in the Men& #39;s division, captured 1st place overall. They
earned 1st in Trackstand, 2nd in Gold Pan, and 3rd in Survey. Any other year, this alone
would have been the headline. But not this year.
The Boomtown Blasters entered the Co-Ed division carrying the weight of history and
heritage. In the competition& #39;s Co-Ed division, no SD Mines team had ever claimed the
overall title. That changed in Tucson. The Boomtown Blasters did not simply win the Co-
Ed division. They swept it, taking 1st place in every single event: Trackstand, Hand
Steel, Gold Pan, Muck, Jackleg, and Survey. Six events. Six first-place finishes. A
perfect performance and a first in program history.
None of this happens without the work that begins long before March. Both teams start
practicing at the opening of the fall semester and train continuously through the
competition, dedicating months to mastering skills that most people will never attempt.
That commitment was on full display in Tucson.
Congratulations to the Boomtown Blasters: Bayley Anderson (MEM), Tamsyn Kockler
(CENG), Zack Figus (MEM), Westyn Mendenhall (MEM), Mitchel Masters (ME), Evan
McKane (ME); the Hang-Up Men: Brandon Armstrong (MEM-GEOE), Jayde Jordahl
(MET), Will Ford (ME), Tatum Tyrell (EE), Nick Costner (ME), Grayson Caricofe (MEM),
and the Alumni team: Kate Weyeneth (MET & #39;18), Heath Pirkey (MET & #39;18), Rahel Dean
Pelikan (MEM & #39;18), Greyson Devries (BME & #39;24), Andrew Jespersen (MEM & #39;22).
You made SD Mines proud!
This is only part of the experience available to students here at SD Mines! Have you
considered a career as a Mining Engineer? Graduates earn an average starting salary
in excess of $85,000 per year and enjoy 100% hiring placement upon graduation! For
more information about the Mining Engineering and Management Department, visit our
website: https://www.sdsmt.edu/.../mining-engineering.../index.html

Meet Elena Lieb, a graduate of the Mining Engineering & Management department (BS 2024, MS 2025). During her time on campus, Elena was a researcher at The Forge (a Caterpillar-sponsored research center), where she conducted research in specialized areas for CAT. Elena is a phenomenal example of how a student can take advantage of on-campus opportunities to create an amazing career for themselves. Elena now works for CAT MineStar.
During her time at The Forge as both an undergraduate and graduate student, Elena conducted groundbreaking research, tackling real-world problems such as boosting fuel efficiency and simplifying cost-estimating tools. Elena chose South Dakota Mines because of the many opportunities that the Mining Engineering and Management department had at the time, which have paid off tremendously! After completing her accelerated master’s degree in Mining Engineering & Management, Elena continued with full-time employment in the CAT MineStar division. In the CAT MineStar program, there is a rotational layout where Elena is to learn about every aspect of MineStar technology and become an expert in her favorite discipline of MineStar. Elena’s story is truly a perfect showcase of the Mines experience in the Mining Engineering department!
And Elena continues to support the SD Mines community as well. On February 5th, 2026, she visited SD Mines and hosted a seminar where students and staff interested in The Forge or CAT could learn about present and upcoming opportunities for career development. Elena demonstrates what it means to be a Hardrocker!
This is part of the benefits for students here at SD Mines. Have you considered a career as a Mining Engineer? Graduates earn an average starting salary in excess of $85,000 per year and enjoy 100% hiring placement upon graduation! For more information about the Mining Engineering and Management Department, visit our website: https://www.sdsmt.edu/.../mining-engineering.../index.html

Earlier this month, 14 students from the SD Mines Mining Engineering program made the trip to the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD — built within the legendary Homestake Mine — to explore several miles of historic drifts and stopes on the 1700’ level to learn firsthand from the people who helped build and operate one of the greatest gold mines in North American history.

It was the first time ever going underground for four of our 14 students. For all of them, this was an experience that no classroom can fully replicate.

The site visit was conducted by Jason Connot, SURF Underground Operations Engineer. The students were able to observe firsthand the impact of a steep incline, scale rock with both steel and aluminum scaling bars, and stand on the edge of a failed stope where they were able to see the exposed roof bolts hanging onto broken rock. Our students left with sharper eyes, broader perspectives, and a deeper appreciation for what it means to plan, operate, and preserve an underground mine.

This trip also included visits to the Black Hills Mining Museum and the SURF-Homestake Mine visitor center. The visit also underscored something bigger: the story of Lead, SD itself — a town that refused to die when the mine closed, finding new life through science and innovation at SURF. The Homestake Mine became a world-class science laboratory, and the community of Lead endures.

This underground experience is always a pivotal one for all Mining Engineering students at SD Mines. Many students may never have considered a career within the underground realm of mining before getting this opportunity to visit the old Homestake Mine. This trip is a vital part of the educational development for all future mining engineers. This underscores the objective at SD Mines: no graduate from the Mining Engineering program will leave without being exposed to underground mining operations.

This is part of the benefits for students here at SD Mines. Have you considered a career as a Mining Engineer? Graduates earn an average starting salary in excess of $85,000 per year and enjoy 100% hiring placement upon graduation! For more information about the Mining Engineering and Management Department, visit our website: https://www.sdsmt.edu/.../mining-engineering.../index.html