Each year the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) recognizes outstanding achievement at the student chapter level by honoring the four top contestants in its Outstanding Student Chapter Contest.
The winning chapter receives a $500 cash award, a certificate of recognition and a ticket to the awards banquet at the SME annual meeting. The winning chapter also receives a travel allowance of up to $500 to offset travel expenses related to the meeting. The three runner-up chapters receive certificates of recognition. All entrants are recognized in Mining Engineering.
- 2024 – University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- 2023 – Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca Student Chapter
- 2022
Student Chapter Annual Report Winner
Sohag University
Faculty Advisor – Professor Abdelbaset Abudeif
SC President – Maha Fouad Mahmoud
Nassar City, Sohag, Egypt
1st Runner Up
Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca
Faculty Advisor– Professor Danny Valderrama
SC President – Marco Esau Portal Valdivia
Lima, Peru
2nd Runner Up
Universidad Nacional De Colombia
Faculty Sponsor – Dr. Oscar J. Restrepo Baena
SC President – Tommy Vallejo Lopez
Medellin, Colombia
3rd Runner Up
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Faculty Sponsor Randall Barnes
SC President – Madison Haydn-Myer
Minneapolis, MN
- 2021 - National Autonomous University of Mexico
- 2020 – Univ of KY-SME Norwood Student Chapter
- 2018
Student Chapter Annual Report Winner
Colorado School of Mines Student Chapter of SME
Colorado School of Mines Faculty Advisor – Dr. Jürgen F. Brune
SC President – Marie Hetherington
Golden, Colorado
1st Runner Up
University of Arizona Student Chapter of SME
University of Arizona Faculty Sponsor – Dr. John M. Kemeny
SC President – James Verbois
Tucson, Arizona
2nd Runner Up
University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky Faculty Advisor – Dr. Jack Groppo
SC President – Bryce Maikranz
Lexington, Kentucky
3rd Runner Up
Universidad Nacional De Colombia
Universidad Nacional De Colombia Faculty Advisor – Dr. Oscar J. Restrepo
SC President – Nestor A. Santa
Medellin, Colombia
- 2017 – University of Arizona
- 2016 – Indian Institute of Technology
- 2015 – University of West Virgina
- 2014 – University of Arizona
- 2013 – University of Kentucky
- 2012 – University of Kentucky
- 2011 – Not given
- 2010 – Virginia Tech
- 2009 – New Mexico Institute of Science & Technology
- 2008 – University of Kentucky
- 2007 – West Virginia Student Chapter
- 2006 – The Pennsylvania St Univ Student Chapter
- 2005 – Colorado School of Mines Student Chapter of SME
- 2004 – Not given
- 2003 – Burkhart Mining Society Student Chapter of SME
- 2002 – University of Missouri-Rolla Student Chapter - SME
- 2001 – University of Arizona
- 2000 – Burkhart Mining Society Student Chapter of SME
- 1999 – Burkhart Mining Society Student Chapter of SME
- 1998 – Colorado School of Mines Student Chapter of SME
- 1997 – Burkhart Mining Society Student Chapter of SME
- 1996 – University of Missouri-Rolla Student Chapter - SME
- 1995 – Colorado School of Mines Student Chapter of SME
- 1994 – John Mackay Club, University of Nevada-Reno
- 1993 – Norwood Student Chapter of AIME, Univ of Kentucky
- 1992 – Norwood Student Chapter of AIME, Univ of Kentucky
- 1991 – Colorado School of Mines Student Chapter of AIME
- 1990 – Anderson-Carlisle Technical Society, Montana Tech
- 1989 – Univ of Missouri-Rolla Student Chapter of AIME
- 1988 – Norwood Student Chapter of AIME, Univ of Kentucky
- 1987 – West Virginia University Student Chapter of AIME
- 1986 – University Park Student Chapter of AIME, Penn State University
- 1985 – The University of Arizona Student Chapter
- 1984 – The University of Alabama Student Chapter
- 1983 – University of Arizona
- 1982 – University of Arizona
- 1981 – Michigan Technological University
- 1980 – Colorado School of Mines
- 1979 – University of Alabama
- 1978 – Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
- 1977 – Ward Beetham Student Chapter, Univ of WI-Platteville
- 1976 – University of Alabama
- 1975 – Not given
- 1974 – Not given
- 1973 – Not given
- 1972 – Ward Beetham Student Chapter, Univ of WI-Platteville
- 1971 – The University of Arizona Student Chapter
- 1970 – Michigan Technological Institute
- 1969 – Colorado School of Mines
- 1968 – University of Arizona
- 1967 – New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
For more information, please contact SME at awards@smenet.org.