Colorado School of Mines celebrates Fall 2024 Undergraduate Commencement

Colorado School of Mines celebrated its Fall 2024 Undergraduate Commencement on Dec. 13, conferring a total of 290 bachelor’s degrees during the ceremony at Lockridge Arena.

The ceremony’s distinguished speaker was Denise Burgess. Burgess is president and CEO of Burgess Services, a Denver-based, second-generation construction firm. She became the first African American board chair of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce in 2017 on the chamber’s 150^th anniversary, has been listed in the Top 25 Most Powerful Women by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and in Network Journal’s Top 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business in the U.S., and was a Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame inductee in 2018.

Watch the ceremonies and download the official Commencement program at commencement.mines.edu.

FALL 2024 OUTSTANDING GRADUATING SENIORS

As part of the undergraduate ceremony, Mines honored its Fall 2024 Outstanding Graduating Seniors. Chosen by faculty and staff and each representing a different academic major, the nine students were recognized for their high scholastic achievement and on-campus engagement.

Ryan Mapes, Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Mapes, of Thornton, Colorado, said his favorite Mines memory was conquering his fear of heights dangling above the rock wall in the Student Recreation Center. Mapes’ future plans include applying for PhD programs to contribute to reinforcement learning research.

Kayly Sefcik, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Sefcik, of Arvada, Colorado, said her favorite Mines memory was her experience as an undergraduate researcher and the opportunity to experience synthesizing catalysts and running reactions to build her laboratory skill set. Sefcik’s future plans are to attend graduate school.

Kianna Raffaeli, Chemistry

Raffaeli, of San Jose, California, said her favorite Mines memory was qualitative organic analysis, one of the hardest labs as a chemistry major, and bonding with others and always finding a way to make each other laugh. Raffaeli’s future plans are to pursue a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering at Mines.

Jeysa Wright, Civil Engineering

Wright, of Littleton, Colorado, said her favorite Mines memory was deciding to switch her major after two years of working toward a different degree. Wright’s future plans are to work to change and improve infrastructure in underserved communities.

Amber Coryell, Environmental Engineering

Coryell, of Lakewood, Colorado, said her favorite Mines memory was hiking during field session on a closed road and finding a small stream in a serene part of the mountains in Colorado. Coryell’s future plans are to pursue a master’s degree at Mines.

Tyler Wright, Computer Science

Wright, of Parker, Colorado, said his favorite Mines memory was traveling with the Association for Computing Machinery to compete in HackNC. Wright’s future plans are to work as a software engineer at Tyler Technologies.

Elijah Price, Electrical Engineering

Price, of Fort Collins, Colorado, said his favorite Mines memory was playing with the Mines Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as the concertmaster for the past three years. Price’s future plans are to work full time.

Tyler Burt, Mechanical Engineering

Burt, of Golden, Colorado, said his favorite Mines memory was watching fireworks with friends at E-Days in 2022. Burt’s future plans are working as a research and development engineer at Keysight Technologies in Colorado Springs and completing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Mines in the Thermal and Fluid and Energy Systems track.

Amit Sela, Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering

Sela, of Broomfield, Colorado, said her favorite Mines memory was pulling at all-nighter at Oredigger Camp this year to watch the meteor shower and do a sunrise hike with other peer mentors and close friends. Sela’s future plans are to pursue a PhD in bioengineering, focusing on research that advances human healthcare.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE AWARDS

The Dan Fox Outstanding Student Service Award is presented by the Division of Student Life to the students who, during their tenure at Mines, above their academic role, vigorously participated in activities for the greater benefit of their peers and community to promote excellence and well-being: Trinity Bohaty

The President’s Senior Scholar Athlete Award is presented to one graduating female and one graduating male athlete, each with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, who have lettered in a sport during their senior year and have has demonstrated leadership qualities of an exemplary student-athlete: Reese McDermott (soccer) and Maximilian McLeod (football)

ADDITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS 

Chemical and Biological Engineering

• Outstanding Thesis Award: Jillian Collins

Computer Science 

• Faculty Choice Award: Hilmir Arnarsson, Ian Marchbank, Ethan Sims, William Vangbo, Diya Vinod

Economics and Business

• Broussard Award in Engineering and Technology Management: Michael Haas

Engineering, Design & Society

• Distinction in Impact in EDS: Colleen McCulloch

Mechanical Engineering  

• Emeritus Faculty Exemplary Undergraduate Award: Sierra Kosel
• John Steele Commemorative Service Award: Davian Sandoval
• Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Student Athlete: Alexander Shaw
• Outstanding Dissertation: Emily Pittman

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

• Alan Kissock Award: Andrew Lesuer, Gregorio Zavala-Carney
• Clark B. Carpenter Award: Evan Perri

MILITARY COMMISIONS 

The following students will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army:  

• Mac Peacock

The following students will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force:  

• Trinity Bohaty
• Brady Eitel