Burkhart Mining Society

The Burkhart Mining Society is Virginia Tech’s student chapter of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME). Named after the first department head, Otto Cornelius Burkhart, the student organization is one of the oldest on the Virgnia Tech campus. 

It is the mission of this society to fulfill the Virginia Tech motto, “Ut Prosim” or “That I may serve.”  Through attendance of regional and national mining conferences, visits to various mining operations and equipment manufacturers, and participation in local service events, our society strives to create well-rounded mining engineers ready for the working world.

Service

In addition to serving as the university's student chapter of SME, Burkhart helps support additional mining-related student chapters and clubs:

• Women in Mining (WIM)
• International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE)
• National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA)
• VA Tech International Intercollegiate Mining Competition Team

Success

Thanks to support from alumni and corporate sponsors, the 2008-2009 Academic Year was a successful one for the Burkhart Mining Society. Highlights of our 2008-2009 Annual Student Chapter Report include:

• Virginia Tech's second-year first place win in the SME/NSSGA Student Design Competition
• Field trip to the Rockdale Quarry
• Third place win for the co-ed Intercollegiate Mining Competition Team
• The 2009 SME Meeting and Exhibit in Denver, CO, in which our society covered all expenses for sending thirty students.

Read the full report

Sponsoring Burkhart

The Burkhart Mining Society relies heavily on the support of alumni, industry sponsors and friends. If you would like to help sponsor some of the many Burkhart activities and events, contact the Society President, Sarah Smith, for more information.