Student Involvement depends on YOU!

SME Pittsburgh is pleased to announce a new student chapter located within the geographical boundaries of the section. The new University of Pittsburgh SME Student Chapter held their kick-off meeting on March 16th, 2010 at the Pitt Student Union on the Oakland Campus in Pittsburgh, PA. This exciting event included a social hour with snacks/refreshments, a silent auction, and a technical presentation entitled “The Shoemaker Mine Renovation Project” given by four prominent engineers from CONSOL Energy, Inc. The speakers include Joseph C. Wilcox, PE (Introduction of Shoemaker Project), Adrienne Carney, PE (Underground Rehabilitation/Construction), Jim Mazzocca (Overland Conveyor Installation) and Chad Cunningham (Preparation Plant & Harbor Upgrades).

Student chapter President, Nicole Iannacchione, opened the meeting by welcoming over 50 mining industry professionals including representatives from coal companies, mining contractors, state and government agencies, vendors, machine manufacturers, mining consultants, academia, and SME members from the Pittsburgh Section. Many from these groups have provided donations to support the new student chapter, the mining engineering program, student fundraising events, field trips, and upcoming SME student activities.

This energetic group of students is led by Dr. Anthony Iannacchione, PE (Director of the Pitt Mining Engineering Certificate Program and SME Henry Krumb Lecturer) as student chapter faculty advisor and Gary Takenaka (SME-member and General Manager of Applied Improvements at CONSOL Energy, Inc.) as the industry advisor. They are eager to learn more, gain hands-on mining experience, and enjoy what SME has to offer students. Please join me in welcoming the University of Pittsburgh student chapter to SME and an exiting mining career. For more information about the University of Pittsburgh student chapter, please visit their website at http://pittsme.webs.com/.