Maptek Honours Mining Education Pioneer with University Donation

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) has received a USD280,000 donation from Maptek, a leading software and services provider to the mining industry. Maptek and the SDSM&T have created the Ziggy Hladysz Maptek Endowment in honour of the recently retired Dr Zbigniew (Ziggy) Hladysz, long-time professor and mentor to mining and engineering students.

The endowment, which will be managed by the SDSM&T Foundation, will be used for Mining Engineering Department scholarships and to maintain the Maptek Advanced Mine Design Center.

The lab, which was unveiled in 2008, serves about 200 mining, engineering and geology students. It is home to 25 computers equipped with Maptek Vulcan geological modelling and mine planning software. Maptek has more than 6,000 Vulcan licenses active at mine sites across the world.

The lab is unique as it is the only lab in the US solely dedicated to Vulcan training, commented Shashi Kanth, Mining Program department head. The support that Maptek gives to this programme directly translates into high-quality students who graduate with knowledge of the industry in terms of the latest technology, making them highly sought after and more marketable, he added.

Maptek has had a long relationship with the university. Dr. Hladysz has truly been a pioneer in implementing the practical use of technology in the mining engineering curriculum, said Jon Larson, general manager of Maptek North America. He believes this is a great way for Maptek to show their support to the industry.

Larson, a SDSM&T alumnus, was one of Ziggy’s students during his 39 year professorship at the university.