Originally published March 16, 2016
The “Mining Minds” pickaxe sculpture at UTEP’s University Avenue roundabout will be illuminated in blue and orange Friday evening, March 18, 2016, and Saturday evening, March 19, in honor of two special occasions at The University of Texas at El Paso.
The March 18 special lighting will recognize TCM Day, the University’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. Now, students, faculty and staff from all disciplines are invited to participate in the seven parts of TCM Day 2016, including the Team Mining Challenge.
The March 19 special lighting will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UTEP men’s basketball NCAA championship victory on March 19, 1966. On that historic day, the Texas Western (now UTEP) Miners started all African-American players for the first time in NCAA championship history. The story was told in the 2006 motion picture “Glory Road.”
“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.