Two Missouri S&T teams tested their skills against professionals during a mine safety competition. The Missouri S&T gold team finished sixth in the field test portion.

Missouri University of Science and Technology recently hosted a competition designed to simulate a mine emergency. University teams competed alongside teams from industry, including Doe Run, Vulcan Materials Co. and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).

Other collegiate teams competing were the Colorado School of Mines and Penn State University. In all, 21 teams competed.

The competition consisted of a written skills test; two hands-on simulated mine disasters (one on the surface and one underground); a first aid portion with a written test, hands-on CPR and a first-responder scenario; and a team technician portion with a written test and technical troubleshooting of breathing apparatuses and gas instruments.

The Missouri S&T gold team finished sixth in the field test and 17th each in first aid and team technician. Missouri S&T’s black team finished 14th in field, 12th in first aid and 11th in team technician.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) judged the competition.

Missouri S&T Gold Team members are as follows:

•    Holden Henry, a senior in mining engineering from Ellington, Missouri

•    Katie Sewester, a graduate student in explosives engineering from Viola, Kansas

•    Andrew Hanneke, a senior in mining engineering from O’Fallon, Missouri

•    Ross Hoover, a senior in mining engineering from St. Charles, Missouri

•    Hayden Pearson, a junior in mining engineering from Eliot, Maine

•    Jimmy Nash, a senior in mining engineering from Bunker, Missouri

•    Holden McComb , a sophomore in mining engineering from Littleton, Colorado

•    Tanner Eliuk, a sophomore in mining engineering from Fulton, Missouri

Missouri S&T Black Team members are as follows:

•    Katherine Burke , a junior in mining engineering from Honolulu

•    Will Hoover, a junior in engineering from St. Charles, Missouri

•    Kevin Cahill, a senior in mining engineering from St. Louis

•    Aubry Brown, a senior in mining engineering from Greenwood, Missouri

•    Josh Miller, a senior in mining engineering from Liberal, Kansas

•    Elizabeth Shuman, a junior in mining engineering from St. Louis

•    Ethan Kerr, a sophomore in mining engineering from Union, Missouri

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