RAPID CITY, SD (Nov. 21, 2025) – South Dakota Mines has welcomed a new class of standout students into the President’s Leadership Academy, a year-long program designed to sharp the next generation of leaders. Founded by former Mines President Jim Rankin, Ph.D., P.E., and supported by alumni Lorin and Mary Brass and the Brass Family Foundation, the academy equips students with the skills, insights and perspectives that define an effective leader.
“Dr. Rankin was deeply proud of this program and its students, and I am proud to continue his legacy,” said Mines President Brian Tande, Ph.D. “These students have demonstrated their leadership on campus and in the community, and this academy will further strengthen their skills as they prepare for STEM careers.”
The program is anchored by a speaker series throughout the year, as well as exclusive dinner conversations between the speakers and students. The academy also includes engagement with government officials in a visit to the state capitol during the legislative session, networking with industry leaders and workshops focused on further developing leadership skills.
This year’s speakers include Kari Byron, author, entrepreneur, presenter and producer of the television series Mythbusters, cofounder of EXPLR, and educational streaming platform, and director of the National STEM Festival; General Maryanne Miller, a retired United States Air Force general and pilot; and Caleb Ziolkowski, Ph.D., chief mountain officer at Crazy Horse Memorial.
In November, student leaders heard from a panel of Mines alumni and entrepreneurs, which included Jason Love (CE 97, MS CE 98), president and CEO of RESPEC, a global engineering and consulting firm; Todd Gagne (Ceol 97), president and co-founder of Wildfire Labs, a startup studio that empowers entrepreneurs to turn ideas into successful businesses; and Rob Mudge (MetE 76, MS MetE 78, president and owner of RPM & Associates, a manufacturing company for heavy industries.
To be considered for the President’s Leadership Academy, student applicants had to submit a cover letter, current resume and recommendation letter from a South Dakota Mines faculty or staff member.
The 2025-2026 President’s Leadership Academy class includes:
- Kenneth Asiedu, mining engineering and management graduate student from Takoradi, Ghana. Asiedu is the chief executive officer of Green Energy Technologies Limited, founder and president of the Young Stars Mathematics Club and president of the Mechanical Engineering Association at Takoradi Technical University.
- Connor Comer, senior civil engineering major from Spearfish, S.D. Aside from his academic pursuits, Comer is involved with the Triangle fraternity, National Society of Leadership and Success, homecoming committee, Chi Epsilon Honors Society and Order of Omega Honors Society.
- Kira Danielson, junior industrial engineering major from Martin, S.D. Danielson is involved with the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and the Society of Health Systems and recently completed an internship at Becton Dickinson.
- Chase Eitemiller, sophomore electrical engineering major from Mitchell, S.D. Eitemiller holds leadership roles in the Trapshooting Club and Triangle fraternity.
- Olivia Ellstrom, sophomore biology major from Edgemont, S.D. Ellstrom is vice president of Circle K and plans to pursue a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree after graduation.
- Keira Gillespie, senior electrical engineering major from Wellington, Colo. Gillespie serves as the president of Delight Ministries and is a Women in Science and Engineering mentor and a teaching assistant.
- Ian Grinager, sophomore mechanical engineering major from Rapid City, S.D. Ian held leadership roles in high school and currently spearheads group projects at Mines.
- Olivia Grinager, junior industrial engineering major from Rapid City, S.D. Olivia expanded her leadership skills during her time studying abroad in Budapest, Hungary. She also works with teens with disabilities at RISE Camp and serves on the Servant Leadership Team of Campus Ventures.
- Amanda Klabunde, senior biomedical engineering major from Fort Collins, Colo. Klabunde is a resident advisor for Peterson Hall and holds leadership positions in a variety of student organizations including Alpha Delta Pi, Society of Women Engineers and Delight Ministries.
- David Robbins, mechanical engineering graduate student from Rapid City, S.D. Robbins served as the Mines Spring 2025 commencement speaker and is the current vice president of the Moonrockers Lunabotics team.
- Nathan Sattler, junior chemical engineering major from Eden Prairie, Minn. Sattler is active in various campus clubs and served as the freshman class representative on Mines student senate as well as in Pierre for the legislature’s Higher Education Day.
- Karlee Schenk, senior mechanical engineering major Spearfish, S.D. Schenk serves in leadership roles in a variety of student organizations including Society of Women Engineers, Alpha Delta Pi sorority and Delight Ministries.
- Clive Uy, senior mechanical engineering major from Bellingham, Wash. Throughout his years at Mines, Clive served as vice president for the Student Association Senate and Serving Others Unconditional Love (SOUL) and was the subsystem lead on the Baja Society of Automotive Engineers team.
- Linus Uy, junior civil engineering major from Bellingham, Wash. Linus serves as the chairman of the junior board of directors for Faith Frontier Ministries, where he led the board in developing a constitution and launching “Tumbleweed Times”, a children’s quarterly newsletter.
- Anthony Wright, senior environmental sustainability major from Rapid City, S.D. Wright’s leadership spans across academics, community and industry. He is a member of the Student Senate Finance Committee and has been involved with various other student organizations. Last year, he placed third in the Engineers Make Great Entrepreneurs CEO Competition.
