Skip to main content

'Mining Minds' Special Lighting to Honor TCM Day Tradition

Last Updated on March 13, 2019 at 12:00 AM

Originally published March 13, 2019

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

The "Mining Minds" pickaxe sculpture at UTEP's University Avenue roundabout will be illuminated in blue and orange Friday evening, March 15, 2019, in honor of TCM Day, The University of Texas at El Paso's longest-running tradition.

The Mining Minds pickaxe sculpture at UTEP's University Avenue roundabout will be illuminated in blue and orange Friday evening, March 15, 2019, in honor of TCM Day, The University of Texas at El Paso's longest-running tradition.
The "Mining Minds" pickaxe sculpture at UTEP's University Avenue roundabout will be illuminated in blue and orange Friday evening, March 15, 2019, in honor of TCM Day, The University of Texas at El Paso's longest-running tradition.

Celebrated each March around St. Patrick’s Day, TCM Day activities date back to 1920 when UTEP was known as the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy, or TCM. It started as an annual rite of passage to initiate new engineers and geologists into the Order of St. Patrick, the patron saint of engineers.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in various TCM Day events Friday, March 15. Activities are scheduled throughout the day to challenge and engage attendees from across the campus.

The daylong series of events includes the Team Mining Challenge and the whitewashing of the “M” on the mountain north of Sun Bowl Stadium.

For a full list of the day’s TCM festivities, visit the TCM Day website.

“Mining Minds” is an iconic piece of public art installed in 2010 to enhance the UTEP campus. At night, orange lights illuminate the steel structure while light from LEDs emanate from the perforated “ones” and “zeroes” at each end of the pick.

On special occasions, including historic dates, major annual milestones and to celebrate special accomplishments, the pick is illuminated in blue and orange. Learn more about the statue and its artist at miningminds.utep.edu.