Penn State Mining Society

Four EME students were recently awarded scholarships at the 2020 SME ANNUAL CONFERENCE and EXPO. Congratulations to Joelson Alves, Valdneide Silva, Jose Quiala, and Emmy Muhoza. Joelson Alves received the M&E Division Scholarship Valdneide Silva received the Gerald V. Henderson Memorial Scholarship Jose Quiala receiving the Coal & Energy Division Scholarship ... Emmy Muhoza received the M&E Division Scholarship See more

#Sean Sharp (Class of 2019), #Raquel Duque (In the left, class of 2019), and #Katie Hutton (In the right, class of 2018) got together at the Bridgeport Quarry, Lehigh Hanson's largest quarry in North America. Hanson is a part of Heidelberg Cement Group, the world's number one aggregate producer. #Raquel just started working as a rotational development candidate and #Sean interned with Lehigh for the summer. #Katie just finished the rotational development program and started a new role as Project Coordinator for the North Texas operations of Lehigh Hanson. The #MiningSociety at Penn State is proud of you. #WeAre

Joe Sbaffoni started working in the mines in 1970 and graduated from Penn State University in 1973, with an Associate Degree in Mining Technology. Joe held a range of management positions in Pennsylvania mines, rising to mine superintendent. In 1982, Joe was certified as a Pennsylvania Bituminous Mine Inspector and in 1984 was appointed to that position. In 1988, Joe was promoted to Bituminous Chief and in 2003 was appointed Director, Pennsylvania Bureau of Mine Safety. In 20...15, Joe retired with thirty (30) years of Commonwealth service and over forty-five (45) years in the mining industry. Joe is extremely proud of his participation in updating mine safety and health programs, enacting Mine Families First Legislation in 2007 & Bituminous Mine Safety legislation in 2008 andthe rescue of nine (9) miners at the QuecreekMine in 2002. Joe presently operates JAS Consulting, LLC, offering services to the mining industry. On July 24, 2002, the Quecreekmine inadvertently cut into the adjacent Harrison #2 mine releasing millions of gallons of water trapping nine miners working underground. Rescue efforts were immediately started by the mining company, PA DEP and MSHA. Yesterday, Joe's presentation discussed the decisions and actions that led to the successful rescue of the miners. It was a massive effort that took place over four days that demonstrated sound engineering, surveying. drilling, pumping and a never quit attitude by all involved. The Mining Society thank you Joe. #WeAre #MiningEngineers

Join us tomorrow 10/29 in 157 Hosler from 6-7:30 p.m. for a special presentation by Joseph "Joe" Sbaffoni, former director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mine Safety, about the QueCreek mine rescue.