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Metallurgical & Materials Engineering
Invest in the growth of the Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Department at Montana Tech!

As Montana Tech marks 125 years of educating problem-solvers and builders, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering (MME) is carrying that legacy forward, igniting curiosity, opening doors, and welcoming the next generation of Orediggers.

Building the Pipeline: The MME Summer Program

In just three years, the MME Summer Program has become a transformative week for high school juniors and seniors—and an incredibly effective recruiting tool for Montana Tech.

Proven results: Over 80% of rising seniors from the inaugural 2023 cohort enrolled at Montana Tech in Fall 2024, with five choosing MME as their major.

National reach: Each year we welcome 30 participants from across the U.S., including Montana, California, Colorado, and Illinois.

Hands-on learning: Students dive into lectures and lab exercises, tour the Orphan Girl underground mine, visit local industries, and cap the week with a fan-favorite knife blade forging competition that even drew local media attention.

Access for all: The program is offered free of charge, thanks to generous donors and the time and expertise of our faculty, students, and community volunteers.

The 2025 program cost nearly $30,000, supported by WAAIME, the Harmel A. “Bull” Dawson and Jane Sauerbier Dawson Endowment, and by gifts made during last year’s DayOne including a powerful match from Mark Johnson ’81. 

Looking ahead, the 2026 program (June 14–19) will continue this momentum and expand access to hands-on engineering experiences for motivated high school students.

DayOne is about fueling opportunity—today. Your gift to the Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Outreach and Recruitment Fund sustains the MME Summer Program and other high-impact outreach that introduces young people to materials, metals, and the world of engineering.

DayOne Matching Opportunity

This DayOne, through a matching commitment alumni Mark Johnson ’81 will match your gift 1:1 to the MME Outreach and Recruitment Fund—up to $12,500. 

That means every dollar you give is immediately doubled to support recruitment, access, and hands-on learning.


Join Us and Share the Momentum

Your generosity helps Montana Tech honor 125 years of “learn by doing” while investing in the next century of Oredigger innovation. Thank you for your support and please help us spread the word! Share this project on social media, by email and tell your friends!

 


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Johnson Metallurgical and Materials Outreach and Recruitment Match
Thanks to a matching commitment from Mark Johnson, all gifts to the Metallurgical and Materials Outreach and Recruitment Fund will be matched 1:1 up to $12,500.
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Student Donor Match
Montana Tech student donor gifts will be matched 1:1 for each dollar given from a match pool of $5,000 thanks to a generous gift from Jack and Leah McCarthy. That means your gift of $50 actually has the impact of $100. To take advantage of this matching opportunity make sure to select STUDENT from the How are you affiliated with Montana Tech question on the giving form. Answers will be monitored for validity. Matching opportunity is available from noon September 9th, 2026 to noon September 11th, 2026 or sooner if the $5,000 match has been met.
$5,000
Faculty Staff Participation Match Challenge
$5,000 will be unlocked at the time 50 Montana Tech faculty/staff members have participated in DayOne 2026. Upon completion of the entire DayOne Giving event $100 will be applied to the project or projects to which the original gift was made for each of those donors.
50 Donor Goal
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Leaderboard
Departmental Challenge Leaderboard
Montana Tech Departments are competing head-to-head for a chance to earn extra money towards their department by bringing in the most donors to their project. The top ten finishers split the pot valued at up to $20,000.
Department (20)
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First Time Donor Match
First-time donor gifts will be matched 1:1 for each dollar given from a match pool of $5,000. That means your gift of $50 actually has the impact of $100. To take advantage of this matching opportunity if it is your first time giving to Montana Tech make sure to answer yes to being a first-time donor on the giving form. Answers will be monitored for validity. Matching opportunity will be available from noon September 9th, 2026 through noon September 11th, 2026 or sooner if the $5,000 match has been met.
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Jacob Simpson Memorial Math Annual Scholarship Match
During DayOne, thanks to Jack '73 and Leah McCarthy, each gift to the Jacob Simpson Memorial Math Annual Scholarship will be matched 1:1 up to $1,000.
$3,000
Anderson Board Legacy Participation Challenge
We are aiming for 800! During DayOne thanks to a generous match to the Montana Tech Foundation Board Legacy Fund by Foundation legacy board member and alum Sundra Anderson, every time we pass a 100 donor total all the way up to 700 we will add $3,000 to the overall DayOne total and if we hit 800 it will unlock an additional $4,000 for a total of $25,000.
100 Gift Goal
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Leaderboard
Montana Tech Industrial Advisory Board Challenge
The academic program that receives gifts from the greatest number of donors will earn an additional $2,000, thanks to a generous matching gift from Nick '92 and Kari '94 Olds. IAB members: When making your own gift, please make sure to mark IAB member as a Montana Tech affiliation.
Montana Tech Industrial Advisory Board Challenge (17)
Participating Groups
Biological Sciences Business Chemistry & Geochemistry Civil Engineering/Construction Management Computer Science Digger Athletics Electrical Engineering Environmental Engineering Geological Engineering Highlands College Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences Mathematical Sciences Mechanical Engineering Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Mining Engineering Nursing Petroleum Engineering Safety, Health & Industrial Hygiene CLSPS Dean Fund Lance College of Mines and Engineering Dean Fund Kasperick Emergency and Dean of Students Funds Undergraduate Research Student Clubs Montana Tech Food Pantry Staff Senate Institute for Educational Opportunities Ripple (formerly CFWEP) Scholarships Tech Vision Endowed Scholarship Butte Endowed Scholarship Alumni Chapter Scholarships Class Gifts Founders' Fund Montana Tech Board Legacy Fund Other
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Metallurgy & Materials Engineering Donor Map
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Or you can contact us at spanisko@mtech.edu.