Virginia Tech aces SME’s membership challenge

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. (SME), which supports emerging leaders through professional development programs offered by its student chapters, released the results of its 2013 student membership challenge.

The SME student chapter of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) received the grand prize for the highest number, 114–50 new and 64 renewed members.

The SME Student Chapter Fall Membership Challenge is an annual membership contest between SME student chapters. It is designed to challenge student members to recruit newcomers to join the student chapter and become SME members.

Twenty-four student chapters participated in the 2013 contest, which resulted in 414 new student members and 375 renewals. Through their membership, a student’s opportunities to be involved with industry professionals and the potential for training and skills development are unmatched, SME says.

“As the mining industry’s premier professional society, SME is committed to providing superior opportunities to our young leaders through their membership in a local student chapter,” says David L. Kanagy, SME’s executive director. “Student chapters of SME offer the first opportunity for a young person to engage in the world of mining outside of the classroom.”

The schools with the highest percentage of growth in membership–South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, University of Arizona and West Virginia University—received cash prizes.

The schools that recruited 25 or more students during the challenge–Missouri University of Science and Technology, South Dakota School of Mines & Technolgy, University of Arizona, University of Kentucky, University of Nevada, Reno and Virginia Tech—were awarded a cash bonus.