Colorado School of Mines celebrates Spring 2025 Undergraduate Commencement

Colorado School of Mines celebrated its Spring 2025 Undergraduate Commencement on May 9, conferring a total of 1,118 bachelor’s degrees during three ceremonies at Lockridge Arena.

Giving the keynote address at the ceremonies was Mines alumni Doug Lawler ‘88 at the 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ceremonies and Jackie Haney ’01 at the 5 p.m. ceremony. Lawler is president and CEO at Continental Resources Inc. Haney is co-founder and CEO of private equity firm UnionRock Partners.

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

SPRING 2025 OUTSTANDING GRADUATING SENIORS

As part of the undergraduate ceremonies, Mines honored its Spring 2025 Outstanding Graduating Seniors. Chosen by faculty and staff and each representing a different academic major, the 20 students were recognized for their high scholastic achievement and on-campus engagement.

Cash Cherry, Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Cherry, of Manhattan Beach, California, plans to complete a master’s degree in Computational and Applied Mathematics at Mines before pursuing a PhD in mathematics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Favorite Mines memory: Trips to climb 14ers with the Adventure Leadership Community 

Erin Cooper, Biochemistry

Cooper, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, will pursue a master’s degree in biostatistics at the Colorado School of Public Health.

Favorite Mines memory: Going out to get food with everyone on the dorm floor as a first-year student

Alicia Rodriguez Juarez, Business Engineering and Management Science

Rodriguez Juarez, of Denver, Colorado, has accepted a position as a finance analyst at Lockheed Martin Space and also plans to pursue a master’s degree in data science through the online program at Mines.

Favorite Mines memory: Serving as the professional development chair for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

Aryn Loew, Ceramic Engineering

Loew, of Longmont, Colorado, plans to pursue a PhD in material science at the University of Oxford (UK).

Favorite Mines memory: Sitting at the table upstairs in Hill Hall and studying with whatever assortment of classmates were around and professors stopping by to say hello

Basil Nakhleh, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Nakhleh, of Trenton, Georgia, has accepted a position as a process engineer at CRB.

Favorite Mines memory: E-Days cardboard boat races

Jonathan Fezell, Civil Engineering

Fezell, of Katy, Texas, will work toward attending medical school in Fall 2026.

Favorite Mines memory: When he was a teaching assistant and a student thanked him for his help in physics 

Umberto Gherardi, Computer Science

Gherardi, of Fort Collins, Colorado, will join Can/Am Technologies as a software engineer.

Favorite Mines memory: An impromptu chess tournament after a late-night study session in Berthoud Hall

Landon Roberts, Design Engineering

Roberts, of Durango, Colorado, will start full-time at GE Hitachi in a two-year Nuclear Field Engineering Leadership Program.

Favorite Mines memory: Carrying a 15-foot steel pipe around campus for Capstone Design and getting funny comments

Tess Lozensky, Economics

Lozensky, of Bailey, Colorado, will join The Bridge: North Highlands as an associate acceleration consultant.

Favorite Mines memory: The 150^th Anniversary Homecoming Weekend and participating in events with the Mines Dance Team

Kenny Hora, Electrical Engineering

Hora, of Westminster, Colorado, will complete an internship at AMD in Fort Collins over the summer and then return to Mines in the fall for graduate school.

Favorite Mines memory: Meeting Teacher Professor Chris Coulston during his first year and kickstarting involvement in the Electrical Engineering Department

Joshua Hilgartner, Environmental Engineering

Hilgartner, of Parker, Colorado, will work as a water resources engineering, with the goal of working in the public sector.

Favorite Mines memory: Road tripping to 14 different National Parks with a group of friends 

Elizabeth Helen Snyder, Geology

Snyder, of Chandler, Arizona, will be staying in Golden to work at BGC Engineering as a junior engineer.

Favorite Mines memory: Geological Engineering Field 

Cole Barton, Mechanical Engineering

Barton, of Parker, Colorado, will work in controls engineering for Applied Control. 

Favorite Mines memory: Building a cardboard boat for E-Days

Rachel Zimmerman, Mechanical Engineering

Zimmerman, of Windsor, Colorado, will join Holland & Hart in Boulder as a patent engineer.

Favorite Mines memory: Building and racing a cardboard boat at 2024 E-Days with friends 

Grace Strongman, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

Strongman, of Prairie Village, Kansas, will work towards a master’s degree in metallurgical and material engineering at Mines and continue her athletic career.

Favorite Mines memory: Representing Mines as part of the cross country and track teams 

Hunter Manatt, Mining Engineering

Manatt, of De Witt, Iowa, will join the Rogers Group, based in northwestern Arkansas, and take part in a two-year management development training program.

Favorite Mines memory: Taking a ski trip to Steamboat Springs with friends every President’s Day weekend

Marco Tang, Petroleum Engineering

Tang, of Port Orchard, Washington, will pursue a master’s degree in engineering & technology management at Mines.

Favorite Mines memory: Camping out during field session during junior year 

Margaux Basart, Engineering Physics

Basart, of West Des Moines, Iowa, will stay at Mines to work on a master’s degree in quantum engineering and continue her athletic career.

Favorite Mines memory: Running on the cross country and track teams, traveling the country and competing in national competitions

Peyton Bruno, Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering

Bruno, of Broomfield, Colorado, plans to continue work as a MOHS surgery medical assistant until attending medical school in 2026.

Favorite Mines memory: Sitting with friends and cheering on Blaster running the field after the football team scored a touchdown 

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:  Esteban Gubbins Campbell and Anna Smith

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 demonstrated leadership qualities of an exemplary student-athlete: Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge (cross country and track and field)

The William D. Waltman 1899 Award is presented to the graduating seniors who have consistently demonstrated the utmost integrity, scholarship and citizenship in and outside of the classroom throughout their collegiate career: Kenny Hora and Aryn Loew

The Colorado Engineering Council Silver Medal Awards are presented for excellence in scholarship, high integrity and general engineering ability: Nina Botvin (finalist), Finn Whatmore (finalist) and Cailyn Smith (winner)

DEPARTMENT UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS AND HONORS

Applied Mathematics and Statistics

The Professor Everett Award, provided by Frank Ausanka ’42, in honor of James R. Everett, is presented to a graduating senior in mathematics who demonstrates scholarship, leadership, community service and the potential for the innovative application of mathematics to mineral engineering: Natalie Rouse 

Chemical and Biological Engineering

The Selim Memorial Scholarship is presented by the faculty of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering to a graduating student who promises great success in graduate school: Emma Khournzhy and Kagan Killough

The Harrison L. Hays, 1931, Award is presented in chemical and petroleum refining for demonstrating scholarship, personality and integrity of character and the general potentialities of a successful industrial career: Grace Doud and Omar Mansurov

The Pearson Potential Award is given to students in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering who have shown emerging leadership and engineering potential: Madilyn Holm

Computer Science

Faculty Choice Award: Cameron Kelly and John Brennan

Design Engineering

Distinction in Impact Award: Kayla Long

Distinction in Scholarly Achievement Award: Michael Leoni

Geology and Geological Engineering

The Neal J. Harr Memorial Outstanding Student Award, provided by the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, is presented for scholastic excellence in the study of geology with the aim of encouraging future endeavors in the earth sciences: Isaac Pope

Hutchinson Award: Luke Hanson

Geophysics

Phillip R. Romig Award: Maile Corso

The Cecil H. Green Gold Medal is given to the graduating senior in geophysical engineering who, in the opinion of the Department of Geophysics, has the highest attainment in the combination of scholastic achievement, personality and integrity: Anna Nichols

The George R. Pickett Memorial Award is presented on the basis of demonstrated interest and accomplishments in the study of borehole geophysics:  Chloe Locke

George T. Merideth Award for Early Leadership in Geophysical Engineering: Alexis Herr

Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Maryanna Bell Kafadar Humanities Award: Maddie VanVooren

Mechanical Engineering

The Emeritus Faculty Exemplary Undergraduate Award is presented to an exceptional student as chosen by emeritus faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering: Tess Johnson

The John Steele Commemorative Service Award is given to one graduating senior that has displayed outstanding service to the Department of Mechanical Engineering: Aaron Fanganello

Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Student Athlete: Cassidy Chvatal

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

The Alan Kissock Award acknowledges creativity in metallurgy: Alexandra Campbell, Jack Dorsey, Alexandra Faith Ezell, Aidan Rosprim and Nathan Woodward

The Clark B. Carpenter Award is presented to the graduating seniors in mining or metallurgy who, in the opinion of the senior students in mining and metallurgy and the professors in charge of the respective departments, are the most deserving of this award: Colton Brown

The Mary & Charles Cavanaugh Award, presented in metallurgy, is determined by scholarship, professional activity and participation in school activities: Hannah Roberts

Henry Kaanta 1915 Award: Zoe Strait

Mining Engineering

The C.N. Bell 1906 Award is awarded in mining for completing a course in mining and showing the most progress in schoolwork during the entire period for which the course is given: Esteban Gubbins Campbell

The Clark B. Carpenter Award is presented to the graduating seniors in mining or metallurgy who, in the opinion of the senior students in mining and metallurgy and the professors in charge of the respective departments, are the most deserving of this award:  Yui Hin Shi

The D.W. Brunton Award is awarded for meritorious work in mining: Jack Cremona

The H.G. Washburn Award is presented in mining for good scholastic record and active participation in athletics: Jennifer Jarnagin

The Old Timer’s Club Award is presented to the graduating senior who has shown high academic standing in coal mining engineering and potential for the coal industry: Aaron Del Angel

E-Days Ore Cart Pull Award: Jennifer Kinch

Mining Engineering Meritorious Service Award: Jun Chen

Physics

The Physics Faculty Distinguished Graduate Award is presented by the faculty of the department to graduating seniors with exceptionally high academic achievement in physics: Dillon Clyatt, Katelin Mann and Veronica Masztalerz

The Ryan Sayers Memorial Award recognizes outstanding academic achievements of a graduating student in engineering physics and/or applied mathematics and statistics, who has performed significant research: Mand Baiza

Quantitative Biosciences & Engineering

E-DAYS ENGINEER AWARD

The following students received this honor from either an academic department or group on campus:

• Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge (Applied Mathematics & Statistics)
• Ny’asia Crosley (Board of Student Organizations)
• Kristina Domashevich (Chemical & Biological Engineering)
• Elsa Scherzinger (Chemistry)
• Sarah Gifford (Civil & Environmental Engineering)
• George Najera (Club Sports Council)
• Gregory Bell (Computer Science)
• Alicia Rodriguez Juarez (Economics & Business)
• Hannah Ninke (Electrical Engineering)
• Madeline Fox (Environmental Engineering)
• Anna Smith (Geology & Geological Engineering)
• Luka Mazza (Geophysics)
• Christian Denton (Interfraternity Council)
• Sebastian Stenfert Kroese (Mechanical Engineering)
• Hannah Roberts (Metallurgical & Materials Engineering)
• Andrea Armstrong (Mines Activity Council)
• Jennifer Kinch (Mining Engineering)
• Zaid Safian (Multicultural Student Organization)
• Jack Engler (Petroleum Engineering)
• Audrey Faricy (Physics)
• Tobin Houchin (Quantitative Biosciences & Engineering)

MILITARY COMISSIONS

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

• Tyler Bird
• Jacob Colbert
• David Densmore
• Emma Dunaway
• Patrick Orlowsky

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

• Rachel Castro
• Richard Jung