2009 Philanthropy Awards

Dedicated donors received the first-ever young alumni, faculty/staff and outstanding philanthropy awards at the Mines Century Society Dinner October 10.


Sara A. Atkins

The Young Philanthropist Award

The Young Philanthropist Award Recognizes outstanding volunteer and philanthropic involvement of an alumnus within 10 years after graduating from Colorado School of Mines.

Sara Atkins has been an active member of the alumni association and a generous and enthusiastic supporter of the university. A 2000 engineering alumna, Sara is a quality engineer at Alcon in Houston, Texas. Since 2001, Sara has been a loyal supporter of The Mines Fund and she has been a member of the President's Council since 2005. 

In addition to her financial contributions to the university, Sara serves as a tireless advocate for Mines. She has served for more than three years as an alumni coordinator for the Houston section, working to launch several successful alumni events. She also served as an ambassador for incoming Mines students in the Houston area. The success and growth that the Houston alumni section has experienced in recent years is due, in large part, to the time and dedication Sara has invested.



Dr. David K. Matlock
The Faculty and Staff Philanthropy Award

The Faculty and Staff Philanthropy Award recognizes outstanding volunteer and philanthropic commitment on behalf of a Colorado School of Mines faculty or staff member.

Colorado School of Mines has been privileged to have Dr. Matlock as a vital member of the university's faculty since 1972. He holds the prestigious position of ARMCO Foundation Fogarty Professor of Metallurgical Engineering, serves as director of the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center, and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He and his wife, Diane, have been members of the President's Council for the past 14 years. David helped to launch the fundraising campaign for the Family of Mines Scholarship, and from 2006 to 2007 served as chair of the Campus Campaign.

In addition to his personal investment in the university, David actively collaborates with the Colorado School of Mines Foundation to attract corporate philanthropic support. He has cultivated longstanding partnerships between Mines and leading companies that produce and use steel, including United States Steel, ArcelorMittal, Caterpillar, John Deere and GM. Through his leadership and advocacy, Mines' Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center has earned an international reputation as a leader in ferrous metallurgy education and research.


Hugh and Michelle Harvey
The Tourmaline Award

The Tourmaline Award* honors exceptional philanthropic commitment to Colorado School of Mines.

Last spring, Hugh and Michelle Harvey contributed the largest endowment gift ever to Colorado School of Mines - $10 million to establish a scholars program designed to attract promising students of the highest caliber to the university. Their transformative gift places them among the two most generous benefactors to Mines in its 136-year history. As co-founder of Intrepid Potash, Hugh Harvey applied the innovative thinking he learned as an engineer to pioneer new mining techniques. He earned his bachelor's in mining engineering in 1974 and master's in petroleum engineering in 1980, both from Mines. Hugh has long been a champion of his alma mater as an active member of the alumni association and as a development volunteer for both the President's Council and Reunion Class Gift initiatives. Michelle Harvey is president of the Harvey Family Foundation, and in addition to ardently supporting Mines, is a dedicated volunteer and supporter of the Jeffco/Gilpin Court Appointed Special Advocates Program.

The Harvey Scholars Program recognizes and rewards student merit in academic performance, character, leadership and service and is designed to foster continued excellence in academic and life pursuits. Harvey Scholars receive scholarships covering full tuition and fees, plus enrichment grants for academic and professional activities and supplemental funding for a semester of international study. The inaugural scholarship awards were made this fall.

*About the Tourmaline Award: The tourmaline crystal forms a unique, three-sided prism or spherical triangle, the shape of the Colorado School of Mines legacy logo. Firm and long-lasting, tourmaline has long been held as a symbol of loyalty and friendship. The award includes a cross section of tourmaline on a platform of CoorsTek ceramic material, mounted on a sculpted base. A pewter medal in the shape of the Colorado School of Mines legacy logo sits atop the cross section of tourmaline. Three overlapping glass discs representing Mines' focus areas of earth, energy and environment form the award's canopy. The Tourmaline Award hearkens to Mines' history and expertise in minerals and materials, and symbolizes the school's deep appreciation for its most dedicated philanthropic supporters.

October 2009

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