Student Profiles: Class of 2009

Timothy Strong, BSc in Applied Geology

The world-class reputation of the Camborne School of Mines has attracted excellent students in the past, and Timothy Strong, 21, is no exception. A passion for international travel and the mining industry led him to a BSc in Applied Geology, for which he has obtained a 2:1 (Hons).

Timothy grew up in Launceston, attending Launceston College before moving on to the University of Exeter’s Tremough Campus. His decision to stay in Cornwall was not a difficult one. Speaking of his home county, he said: “Cornwall offers everything you need (apart from being so far from Heathrow!) It has sun, sea, sand and most of all the outdoor lifestyle that I crave.”

Timothy enjoyed the huge range of field trips offered by the University and trips to Wales and Scotland were, for him, “great life experiences with lots learnt.” The main highlights, however, were a summer vacation project in Australia and meeting life long friends.

Timothy has already embarked on a career in exploration geology and is now working with a copper company in western Pakistan. He believes that the experience and knowledge that he gained at the University of Exeter enabled him “to walk straight into a job even in these tough economic times.”

Stephen Holley-Kendall, BSc Engineering Geology and Geotechnics

Having lived in Cornwall all his life, Stephen Holley-Kendall decided to continue his education in his home county. Stephen grew up in Truro and St Blazey and attended Fowey Community College and Truro School Sixth Form. With a passion for being and working outdoors, Stephen was led to taking an Engineering Geology and Geotechnics degree with the University of Exeter’s Camborne School of Mines (CSM).

Although graduating this summer with a 2:1 degree, studying was not always Stephen’s first choice. “I had planned to be a pilot in the Royal Navy but after narrowly missing the required points on the aptitude tests I then choose to undertake a degree course."

Speaking of his time at the University Stephen said: “The CSM staff offered fantastic on-going support. Having world-class field sites nearby meant that we have one of the highest amounts of practical work in a Geology degree.”

Having received his degree results on his 21st birthday, Stephan is already looking ahead and planning to stay with the university to do an MSc in Applied Geotechnics with CSM. In the future, he plans to move out to Western Australia in search of jobs in the gold industry.

Whilst studying, Stephen played rugby for the CSM team, including taking part in the second oldest university match in the world – the Bottle Match. Stephen played in the 107th match between CSM and the Royal School of Mines in London. 

Eileen Rowe, BSc Mining Engineering

Keen to study Mining Engineering, there was just one place in Britain that was a possibility for Eileen Rowe. The University of Exeter’s Tremough Campus was the only place to offer such a course. Fortunately for Eileen, the county where she had been educated was the perfect place to be to study. She is now graduating with a 2:2 in Mining Engineering.

Now 21, Eileen grew up in Devon but was a student at Launceston College for a decade, taking her through secondary school and her A-levels.

Eileen not only had a great deal of interest in Mining Engineering, but also saw that the course came with other benefits. She says: “It offered me the chance to travel the world, and there is a known shortage of mining engineers which would mean that there would be a job for me when I finished University.”

Eileen spent three months at a mine in Australia as part of her course and will move out there to work in October. However, it is Cornwall that has confirmed her love of mining. She says: “I love Cornwall because you are able to explore the coast line and the mining heritage of the area. Being in Cornwall has shown me what being a mining engineer can achieve.”