Mining Engineering Program Receives $20,000 Gift from AMFIRE Mining Company
September 2008
The mining engineering program in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University has received a $20,000 donation from the AMFIRE Mining Company to be used for the Alpha Natural Resources/AMFIRE Mining Company scholarship. Two representatives of the AMFIRE Mining Company, Rick Weinzierl, manager of human resources, and Ken Yingling, mining engineer, were on hand at University Park, PA recently to present the check in person.
"A serious shortage of technical personnel, including mining engineers, exists in the mining industry. In partnership with AMFIRE Mining Company and others, the department is realizing growth in mining engineering enrollments," said R. Larry Grayson, professor of energy and mineral engineering and program officer of mining engineering, "which in turn will help meet AMFIRE Mining Company demands."
The Alpha Natural Resources/AMFIRE Mining Company scholarship was established by the AMFIRE Mining Company in the spring of 2006 to attract incoming freshman to Penn State's mining engineering program. The award now provides support to promising undergraduate students pursuing a degree in mining engineering.
"Scholarships are important to attract high-caliber students into mining industry careers, and as the cost of education increases, students who otherwise could not attend Penn State benefit significantly," Grayson said.
The AMFIRE Mining Company, a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources Inc., is a leading Central Appalachian coal producer with significant operations in Northern Appalachia.