Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarship Program

Upon graduating, my goal is to address the skills and talent gap within the mining industry by joining a top-class mining company. I aim to leverage the knowledge and skills I have gained through my graduate studies to contribute to the development of technologies that promote efficient and safe extraction of raw materials, with a particular focus on critical minerals. By doing so, I hope to make a meaningful impact and help meet the industry's evolving needs.

The weight of financial worries and the challenges of graduate school can often hinder our ambitions. However, your generous financial support would alleviate these concerns by enabling me to pursue my goals and contributing significantly to the growth of the mining industry without barriers. I am immensely grateful to all donors for this opportunity, and both my family and I deeply appreciate your support in helping us achieve our dreams. Thank you!

My short-term career goals involve contributing to the mining and mineral resources industry's transition towards a low-carbon future. I am passionate about researching underground hydrogen storage and CO2 sequestration technologies, and I believe that my work can make a significant contribution to the industry's net-zero goal . I plan to collaborate with industry stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities facing the industry and drive positive change.

As an individual who believes that knowledge is power and its continuity lies in its ability to be passed on, I aspire to work as a principal investigator in academia, educating and inspiring the next generation of researchers in the field of geomechanics. Specifically, I aim to contribute towards understanding the response of subsurface reservoirs during fluid injection and depletion, with a focus on clean energy technologies in the mining industry. Ultimately, my goal is to bring about a global transformation through research findings and outputs.

I would like to use this opportunity to appreciate the donors for finding me worthy of being one of the recipients of the 2023 Grand Canyon SME scholarship. This scholarship will be instrumental as I move ahead in my research journey. From a general perspective, awards like the Grand Canyon SME scholarship serves as a source of motivation for myself and other students to remain firm in the mining industry, in order to utilize our knowledge and skillsets for the betterment of the industry, particularly as there is a general decline in the industry. I hope that I would eventually become that great individual you see in me. I hope you accept this kind words of appreciation from me.

My research is centered around the advancement of underground mining operations by developing innovative techniques aimed at enhancing efficiency. Specifically, I am focused on optimizing underground production schedules through the utilization of predictive models, particularly machine learning algorithms. By incorporating geotechnical characteristics and blast design data, these models can accurately determine the extent of overbreak in mining operations. In addition to conducting research, my ultimate goal is to gain practical experience within the mining industry. By actively engaging with mining operations, I aim to apply my knowledge and expertise to implement and test the effectiveness of these newly developed techniques. Once I have acquired substantial experience and knowledge, I plan to return to my home country, Ghana, and contribute to the formulation of policies relating to the mining sector. By leveraging my expertise and research findings, I aspire to actively participate in the policy-making process, ensuring that decisions are based on a thorough understanding of the mining industry's intricacies and potential areas for improvement. My objective is to make a significant contribution to Ghana's mining sector, ultimately fostering its growth and development in a manner that benefits both the industry stakeholders and the nation as a whole.

I am incredibly grateful and deeply honored to have been selected as a recipient of the prestigious SME Grand Canyon Scholarship. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Grand Canyon SME section and all the generous scholarship donors for their unwavering support. This scholarship represents far more than just financial assistance; it serves as a remarkable source of motivation and encouragement for me to pursue my educational and career aspirations with renewed determination.

Utilize my environmental degree to help a company succeed in their environmental compliance and ensure sustainable practices are implemented.

Thank you very much Westland Resources for your generous donation! This scholarship will help me succeed in my educational goals!

After graduation, I would like to attend law school. 

I would like to thank all of the donors who gave in order to make this scholarship possible. I appreciate your consideration and am proud I was chosen to be one of your recipients for

Upon completion of my master's degree, I aspire to pursue a Ph.D. that allows me to continue gaining more knowledge and expertise in extractive metallurgy at high-temperature. The Kroll Institute (KIEM) of the Colorado School of Mines will be the perfect place for it, so I hope to continue in Golden for a few more years.

Words cannot express my gratitude for the tremendous support the SME Grand Canyon Section provides to the next generation of mining engineers. The generous funds you have provided me will be well invested in continuing my professional development. Thank you very much for your support and for making me feel part of this beautiful community!

I plan to work on a mine as a geologist after graduating. I'm currently interested in working as an exploration geologist, but that choice isn't set in stone.

Thank you for the generous Grand Canyon SME Scholarship. The additional money is very helpful for paying tuition and much appreciated.

After graduation, I would like to work in the hard rock mining industry. A role in mine operations would align with my interests.

Thank you for your contributions to the Grand Canyon SME Scholarships. The financial burden of higher education can be daunting, however contributions like yours enable students to attend educational institutions and achieve their fullest potential.

After graduation, I hope to earn my PE license while gaining experience in operations. My current aspirations are to work in either copper or gold. I also hope to travel the world to explore and discover the different cultures. I love meeting new people and learning about how they view the world.

I am truly thankful and honored to be a recipient of the Grand Canyon Section SME scholarship. The generosity and contributions of donors towards this scholarship are very appreciated. This scholarship helps me tremendously in continuing my education as a first-generation student. As a donor, you have lifted some of the financial burdens and obstacles that I face in college. The scholarship allows me to focus more on my studies while I am in college and be able to make connections within my community. 

Following graduation, I plan to contribute to the mining industry through my active involvement in the research and development sector using skill sets I have developed during my program at the University of Kentucky.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the incredible opportunity you have provided students. I am truly grateful to be selected as a recipient of this scholarship. The funds provided through this program will assist me in bridging the gap between my expenses and earnings, which will help me to focus on my studies.

My research interest lies in the field of mineral processing and colloidal science. I would like to be in academia after my graduation as a researcher. I want to direct my research focus towards make the mineral processing more sustainable. I plan to accomplish my goal by improving the understanding of the fundamentals involved in various fields including froth flotation and grinding circuits.

Thank you for providing me with this prestigious scholarship. I want to thank the SME Grand Canyon section and all the other generous donors for their support and recognition. I am feeling honored and even more motivated to work even harder to accomplish my goal to make our mining industry more sustainable.

In terms of my career aspirations, I'm hoping to find a job in the mining industry that deals with data analysis or AI. I'm really interested in the intersection of mining engineering and cutting-edge technologies, especially when it comes to tackling complex problems.

I want to express my profound gratitude for the scholarship you awarded me. Your generous support as I pursue my Ph.D. in mining engineering is truly appreciated. This opportunity has eased my financial burden and reaffirmed my dedication to this field. I am honored to have been chosen and will strive to make a positive impact with the knowledge I gain. Thank you for believing in my potential.

I have had an awesome summer so far interning at Freeport-McMoRan’s Bagdad mine and it would be an honor for me to return as a full-time mining engineer after graduation.

Many thanks to the Grand Canyon SME section, and to all those that made this scholarship possible. As a mining student it is great to see the amount of support these organizations are providing for us. It makes the burden of going through school that much easier to bare when you know there are people out there willing to lend a helping hand in such a big way. This scholarship will help me complete my last semester of school without having to dip too much into my pocket and I can spend that money on other important things like rent and other needs. Thank you!