Investing in Mines
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
 -Benjamin Franklin
Philanthropy is Center Stage at the Mines Century Society Dinner

Colorado School of Mines honored the generosity of some of its most dedicated alumni and friends at the Mines Century Society Dinner on October 4. Members of the Mines Century Society, President’s Council and Heritage Society gathered for music and merriment in Lockridge Arena, where President Scoggins paid special recognition to 2007 – 2008 members of the Guggenheim Society of the President’s Council, as well as the new and rising members of the Mines Century Society who are listed below.

Individuals whose lifetime giving to the school exceeds $100,000 are honored as members of the Mines Century Society at Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond levels.

Platinum Level $3,000,000 to $4,999,999
Franklin J. and H. Darlene Stermole *

Silver Level $500,000 to $999,999
LaVerna K. Anderson **
Carolyn V. Mann **

Copper Level $100,000 to $499,999
Helen Elizabeth Swank Cook
Margaret L. Campbell and Edward H. Johnson
Ben E. Mares
William F. and Marilyn W. Oline
Neal E. and Margaret R. Schmale
Bill and Karen Scoggins
Robert G. Smith, Jr.
Andrew and Sherry Swiger
Delbert F. and Alice M. Tolen

* Previously a Gold MCS member
** Previously a Copper MCS member


$1 Million Gift Will Support International Students from Developing Countries

A new scholarship fund will enable more students from developing countries to earn their degrees at Mines. With a $1 million contribution, Larry J. Buchanan ’73, PhD ’79 and Thomas S. Kaplan, established the Buchanan-Kaplan Scholarship Fund to provide need-based scholarship awards to non-U.S. students who are citizens of underdeveloped or developing countries. Awards will provide support to cover students’ tuition, fees, books, living expenses and travel costs.

“My business partner and I established this scholarship fund at Colorado School of Mines in order to express our gratitude to the geologists and engineers whose love of science and environment has enhanced the standard of living of countless people throughout the world,” Buchanan said. “It is our hope that with this gift, we will open doors for talented young people from around the globe to fulfill their dreams of attending Mines, earning their degrees and continuing the school’s long history of service to our global society.”

Buchanan earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in geology and geological engineering at Mines and is now president of Electrum, LLC, a gold exploration company. Founded by Kaplan, Electrum is now one of the largest privately held gold exploration companies in the world. Kaplan holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in history from the University of Oxford. He began his career as an advisor to hedge funds in the field of strategic forecasting, and, in 1993, founded Apex Silver Mines. In 1996, Apex Silver geologists discovered the world’s largest open-pit silver deposit at Apex’s San Cristobal project site in southern Bolivia, a discovery for which Buchanan received the 2006 Thayer Lindsley International Discovery Award. Both Buchanan and Kaplan have extensive international business experience, with particular expertise in the developing markets of Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.


Hess Corporation pledges $1 million to Mines; Larry Buchanan ’73, PhD ’79 and Thomas Kaplan set up scholarship with $1 million gift; Other recent gifts

Colorado School of Mines recently received eight large gifts:

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation contributed $200,000 toward their $1,000,000 pledge to the Marquez Hall building project and the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering.

Bequest distributions of $319,467 received from the estate of Laverna K. Anderson will provide unrestricted support for the school through The Mines Fund.

Larry J. Buchanan ’73, PhD ’79 and Thomas S. Kaplan established the Buchanan-Kaplan Scholarship Fund with a gift of $1 million to provide scholarship support for non-U.S. Mines students who are citizens of underdeveloped and developing countries.

Devon Energy Corporation contributed $100,000 of their $500,000 pledge to the Marquez Hall building project.

EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. contributed $400,000 toward their $2,000,000 pledge to the Marquez Hall building project.

Gerald ‘68 and Tina Grandey continued their support for programs at Mines with a $200,000 gift in honor of Gerry’s 40th reunion.

Hess Corporation committed $1 million to the Marquez Hall building project.

A total of $650,000 in bequest distributions was received from the estate of Carolyn V. Mann, widow of John F. Mann ’43 and longtime friend and supporter of geology at Colorado School of Mines.

Other recent gifts of $25,000 and more from individuals, corporations and foundations:

Aqua-Aerobics Systems, Inc. contributed $25,000 to support the Advanced Water Technology Center (AQWATEC).

BHP Billiton contributed $50,000 in support of physics research at Mines.

Jerome T. ’64 and Rebecca Broussard made a $50,000 contribution in continued support of the Broussard Family Engineering and Technology Management Scholarship Fund.

Margaret Campbell and her husband, Edward Johnson, contributed $50,000 to the Harry D. Campbell Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of Margaret’s father Harry D. Campbell ‘42 on his recent birthday.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation contributed $25,000 to the Chesapeake Energy Scholarship Fund.

ExxonMobil contributed gifts totaling $35,000 in support of the Oil Shale Symposium and several academic departments at Mines.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold contributed $30,000 toward student scholarships.

John ‘52 and Erika Lockridge made a $50,000 gift in continued support of geology and geological engineering at Mines.

Schlumberger gave a Faculty for the Future Award of $37,923 to a graduate student in the Materials Science Program.

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company contributed $25,000 toward their endowed scholarship fund for petroleum engineering students, $10,000 to the Petroleum Engineering Department, and $1,000 to the Career Center.

The United States Steel Foundation contributed $25,000 toward scholarships for students in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

Please visit http://giving.mines.edu for more news about giving to Mines and to view the 2008 Annual Report to Donors.