Academic Departments

News

Department of Mechanical Engineering Receives Donald N. Zwiep Innovation in Education Award

Zwiep Award

South Dakota Mines' Department of Mechanical Engineering received the Donald N. Zwiep Innovation in Education Award from ASME for their project-based program, producing graduates sought after by industry leaders. The department was recognized for leading changes in higher order learning and investment in initiatives. Mines also offers a minor in aerospace engineering for a competitive edge in the industry.

Mechanical Engineering Students Receive the Nucor Mentor Scholars Award

Nucor Steel has long been one of South Dakota Mines’ greatest supporters. One of the most impactful programs they have initiated is the Nucor Student Mentors program. Each year, students in the mechanical and metallurgical engineering programs are selected as Nucor mentors. These students train and assist their fellow students in safety, manufacturing practices, and design for manufacturability. These students must possess outstanding ability in leadership and project management and have an interest in training. In addition to the direct funding support of the mentors, Nucor provides curriculum input in a program of continuous improvement, improving the quality of our graduates and helping the departments to maintain pace with industry changes.

Nucor has been very active with Departments of Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Nucor’s support of South Dakota Mines’ hands-on education also includes raw materials donations to all interested departments. This academic year’s Nucor mentors include undergraduate students Max Schuh (ME 24) and Tegun Thomson (ME 25) and graduate student Austin Gutknecht (ME 21, MSME22). Additionally, the Nucor recruitment team includes Dustin Berg (ME 19), a graduate of the Nucor mentor program who was instrumental in forming the current state of the program.

Nucor 2022

Pictured left to right: Nucor employees Paige Chmela (CEE 18), Alexus Livingston (CEE 22), Gina Elmore (CEE 18), Nucor mentors Max Schuh (ME 24), Tegun Thomson (ME 25), Austin Gutknecht (ME21 MSME 22), Nucor employee Austin Hammer (BM&T 21) and Nucor employee and mentor program graduate Dustin Berg (ME 19)

Dr. Ash Receives ASME Dedicated Service Award

Associate Professor Dr. Jason Ash received an ASME Dedicated Service Award for outstanding voluntary service to the Society. Read more about the award here.

ME PhD Alum Receives Marie Curie Fellowship of the European Union

Eirik Valseth, who received his PhD from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota Mines in 2019, has been awarded the Marie Curie Fellowship of the European Union, a highly prestigious fellowship in Europe. Read more here.

Additional News

ME Alum Involved in NASCAR Team Success

Rapid City's Chris Flack (right) stands with Austin Cindric, winner of this year's Daytona 500. Chris (ME 08) helps build race engines for Ford teams competing in NASCAR's Cup Series, and he has multiple championship rings for his role in helping teams win the Great American Race. Read the full Rapid City Journal article here: https://bit.ly/3ujAV7r

Kiewit Corporation Continues to Support the ME Department

Kiewit Corporation provides active support in curriculum development, equipment upgrades, and industrial feedback. Read more about their contributions to the ME department here.

Nucor Mentor Scholars Named for Academic Year 2021-22

Nucor Steel has been a continuous benefactor of the mechanical engineering department for years in monetary and material donations. One of the more notable areas of support is the Nucor Mentor program, which allows student mentors to provide guidance in department labs. Read more about the program and our mentors here.

Thompson Named Winner of Prestigious RMAC Summit Award

Margaret Thompson has been selected as the Women's Summit Award winner at the 2021 RMAC Championships. A current mechanical engineering senior, Margaret is also enrolled in the ME accelerated master's program. Recipients of the RMAC Summit Awards are of sophomore or higher standing with high GPAs. An outstanding student academically and athletically, Margaret was honored on Saturday, October 23rd, at the conclusion of the 2021 RMAC Championships in Golden, CO. For more information, click here.

School of Mines Named One of "Best Maker Schools in Higher Education

Newsweek has listed the South Dakota School of Mines as one of the "Best Maker Schools in Higher Education." Read the story here.

Maker spaces and hands-on hubs are significant attractions for engineering schools, and decreasing costs of making equipment has been called a "democratization of tools," by E.R. Stensaas Chair and assistant professor Dr. Micah Lande in the February issue of Prism magazine.

Archived Newsletters

Read the most current ME department newsletter and the list of new research awards and publications and graduated students.