SME BBQ April 12, 2014 

We are pleased to announce that the Annual Barbecue for Scholarships hosted by the Florida Section of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), a member society of AIME, will be held Saturday, April 12th, 2014 at Tigertown, Hangar No. 2 in Lakeland. The social hour will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Mining industry representatives/employees, industry support representatives/employees, members of the local community, and their families are invited to attend this annual event.

The Annual Barbecue is the only fund raising activity for our Student Relations Program. We are asking for your continued support of our student program. During 2013, the Florida Section  of SME provided seven $1,000 Academic Scholarships to deserving high school seniors who plan to study technical related curriculums at Florida’s Universities; three  “Mining Ambassadors of the Year” awards to teachers who supported our industry within the classrooms with both the teachers and schools receiving $500 each.  Our SME Section also awarded three $750 mini-grants to teachers who developed mining based class curriculum.  In addition, we purchased all science fair supplies which students use for their projects in DeSoto and Hardee Counties.  Our Florida SME membership heavily supports science fairs in DeSoto, Polk and Hardee Counties with providing judges and 1^st thru 3^rd place awards.  At the collegiate level, we fund a variety of activities for the University of Florida SME Student Chapter including providing transportation for student members to attend and participate in local and national events.  This year, we created the Annual David Gossett Memorial Scholarship in memory of the late David Gossett.  This year’s recipient is Jonathan Fryman who is a senior at the University of Kentucky majoring in mining and will return to Florida upon graduation in the spring to work in the Florida phosphate industry.  The Chapter participates in various events handing out literature and talking with the public about the benefits of mining in Florida. 

The Florida Section of SME has enjoyed community and industry support of this once-a-year fund raising activity for many years, and the members of our Section are deeply grateful to all of the contributors who have made the Annual Barbecue so successful year after year.

We are asking for your donation of $250 to the Annual Barbecue and the Student Relations Program. Please make checks payable to Florida Section SME. Each contributor will receive two tickets to the barbecue and will be recognized as a contributor. Additional tickets may be purchased at a cost of $25. Ticket includes appetizers, BBQ dinner, and beverages (open bar).

Register Now!