Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Scholarships

The primary objective of the Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Scholarship is to promote the science of ground control.

Recent trends in mining engineering professionals indicate that a shortage of competent ground control engineers may exist if this trend continues. To help remedy this situation and promote the ground control engineering discipline, an undergraduate and/or graduate scholarship, or scholarships, will be awarded annually to encourage the development of ground control engineers.

Applications are currently CLOSED.

Applicant Qualifications
Peng Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Attend a school that is ABET-accredited and/or has an SME Student Chapter.
  2. Demonstrate a desire for and a probability of success in a career in the minerals industry.
  3. Be an SME student member in good standing OR have SME membership in progress, the first year of which will be paid for by the Peng Endowment.
  4. Shall be studying mining engineering or an equivalent degree and have a research topic related to a ground control issue.

Recipient Selection
Selection is made by the Peng Scholarship Committee and is based on a combination of financial need and academic promise.

Award
The amount of the scholarship is determined annually based on a recommendation from the scholarship committee and approval by Syd Peng. The minimum amount of each scholarship awarded is $5,000.

NOTE: All incomplete SME Foundation Scholarship applications will not be considered.

How to Apply:

Submission deadline:  October 15, 2025

Submission Procedure:
Applications must be submitted online

If additional information is requested, contact
scholarships@smenet.org or 303-948-4200 or 800-763-3132.

2025 Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Scholarship recipients:

Ike Kwame Agani
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
2025
Jesse Addy
Virginia Tech
2025
Luis Tejada Arata
University of Arizona
2025
Renzo Solis Vega
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
2025
Madhi Shahsavar
University of Nevada, Reno
2025
Ebo Acquah Quansah
The University of Arizona
2025
Cesar Olivera
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
2025
Benjamin Lawson
Virginia Tech
2025
Kayode Komolafe
Colorado School of Mines
2025
Ajibona Ibidapo
Virginia Tech
2025
Ellen Essien
Missouri University of Science and Technology
2025
Diego Cunullan
University of Arizona
2025
Rholling Bentil
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
2025
Sylvester Avane
The University of Arizona
2025