On Saturday, Sept. 14, the board of directors of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum honored the Nevada Mining Association’s (NVMA) Education Committee with the 2013 Prazen Living Legend of Mining Award.  During the Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, the NVMA’s Education Committee was recognized for its on-going commitment and flourishing efforts to educate the public on the importance of the minerals industry.

For more than 100 years, the association’s vast magnitude of education programs has strived to generate awareness and respect of the mining and minerals industry. Through these programs, the education committee has provided the general public with a greater understanding of the industry’s role in our everyday lives.

Through events such as the Teacher’s Workshops held in northern and southern Nevada each year, the committee has created opportunities to put a face on the industry and interact one-on-one with the state’s educators. Seminars are designed to focus on areas of the economics of mining, geology, energy, extraction and reclamation to help teachers develop unique lesson plans that can easily be incorporated into the classroom. During the three-day workshops, guest speakers as well as field trips to active mines and geologic sites are hosted to provide a more in-depth look into the mining industry. In addition, teachers can use these workshops to earn University of Nevada State Teacher Credits, which can be used towards their recertification of teaching credentials.

The statue itself has been contributed by the renowned artist and sculptor, Mr. Gary Prazen, to show his appreciation of the mining and minerals industry.