Thriving in the Cadences of College

Jacob 'Jake' White, who just completed his first year in the mining engineering program at the University of Utah, began his path in the field early. In his hometown of Syracuse, Utah he enrolled in the High School University Program (HSUP) that the U offers, allowing students to take classes at the U.

“This was a wonderful idea because it allowed me to learn the cadences of college and begin that transition early. Tackling the learning curve of college early is indispensable in my young college career.”

Later at an engineering showcase, White met mining academic advisor Pam Hoffman who introduced him to some mining basics. “It wasn’t until I attended one of the open house events that decided to major in mining.”

Since then, he has found his passion. “I would love to change how mining is perceived in the public,” he says. “I believe the future is unlocked through mining, which requires public support. Not to mention, that mining is getting more sustainable which is a major selling point but seems to get neglected.”

Both a touchstone and an inspiration for that passion has been Aaron Witt, a heavy machinery influencer of sorts who markets a microlearning platform specifically designed for the heavy civil and critical infrastructure construction industries. Perhaps more important to White, though, is that Witt, through his online presence, is determined to change how earth-moving industries are viewed in the public, which “resonates with me because—before I started at the U—I was oblivious to how these industries operated.”

Recipient of the William Browning Scholarship at the U, White is spending the summer interning at Wolverine Fuels’ Skyline coal mine twelve miles outside Price, Utah where he's been working as a laborer on various projects throughout the mine, most recently developing a belt line for the new section of the mine. "Getting hands-on experience is one of (if not the most) valuable things a mining engineer can have," he reports from the field. "That’s what has surprised me the most — every experienced coal miner is something of an engineer in their own right. Especially in a mine as unique as Skyline, where faults and sandstone aquifers are the norm. I’m one lucky fella!“

"Something I think that people don’t understand," concludes Jake White, "is how ahead the mining industry is. Public perception depicts mining as harmful and wasteful, a danger to the environment. In reality, mining has been a leader in sustainability and has set the standard for similar industries.”

by David Pace
Learn more about what it takes to be a mining engineer at the department website here.