Jimmie Taylor (left) and David Stine (center) are pictured with Steve Brill (right), MSHA mine safety and health specialist.

An undergraduate student from Missouri University of Science and Technology was certified as a mine safety instructor by the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). He is one of the first undergraduate students in the U.S. to hold a trainer certification.

David Stine, a senior in mining engineering from Carbondale, Ill., completed 160 hours of training and internships for his certification. He first became interested in earning a certification after joining the S&T Mine Rescue Team three years ago. A graduate student teammate was certified and recommended the program to Stine because of his interest in the work.

“Internships are what got me started on the track to trainer certification,” explains Stine. “I’m a very visual-based learner, so taking all of these classes on mine safety was great.”

Stine plans to work in the mining industry specializing in production. He has a job ready and waiting after his graduation this spring.

“His accomplishment is huge,” says Jimmie Taylor Sr., supervisor of the Experimental Mine Facility at S&T. “There is no telling where his training will take him, but I strongly suspect he is headed to management in no time.”