Dr. Courtney Young Selected as SME Distinguished Member

Dr. Courtney Young, Department Head and the Lewis S. Prater Professor of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering at Montana Tech, has been named a Distinguished Member of SME, Class of 2017.

According to David Kanagy, Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) Executive Director, “SME presents its Distinguished Member Award to a select few who have made long term and notable contributions to the technology and professional activities encompassed by the Society and the industry. Through an extensive nomination and selection process, Dr. Young was designated as one who met the qualifications.”

Dr. Young is a graduate of three premier mineral/coal processing and extractive metallurgy institutions having obtained his BS in Mineral Processing Engineering from Montana Tech in 1984, his MS in Mining and Minerals Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1987, and his PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Utah in 1994. Dr. Young teaches a variety of mineral-related courses including introductory mineral processing, design of unit operations, and hydrometallurgy at the undergraduate level as well as materials handling, flotation, coal and uranium processing, precious metal processing and fire assay at the graduate level. The latter two courses are student favorites because they allow direct interaction with industry. The precious metals class has approximately 10 guest lecturers from Newmont Mining Company whereas the fire assay class involves 5 from several companies but is also offered as a 5-day, hands-on short course for the world to attend. Students enjoy all of his classes because he often incorporates the latest research efforts in them, not just his own, keeping them up-to-date as best as possible. His activities with SME are extensive and include chairing sessions, organizing symposia, publishing papers and proceedings, and serving on committees, particularly as Chair, with the latest being critical to SME operations: Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division (MPD) Executive Board, MPD Nominations Committee, Mining Educational Sustainability Committee, and various award committees.

Dr. Young will be presented with the award at SME’s 2017 Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 in Denver, Colorado.