Bart recieves award

The University of Utah presented Bart with the "John E. Willson Distinguished Alumnus Award" on April 22, 2009. This award was established to recognize a graduate of the University of Utah's Mining Engineering Program who has set a high standard by his or her accomplishments in the mining industry.
Bart was presented with this award and also recieved a Gary Prazen statue. He spoke to students in the Mining Engineering program as well as his Professors (many of who are Matt's professors now). Everyone enjoyed listening to him speak as he always does such a great job.
We are so proud of Bart and all of his accomplishments.
The University did a very nice write up on him about his accomplishments as well as his family background in Mining. Bart is a fourth-generation coal miner. His Great grandfather Jonas Hyita came to Carbon County from Finland and worked as a mine laborer. His Grandfather Raino and his father Robert Hyita were both employed at the Horse Canyon Mine. On his mothers side, his Grandfather Albert Kizerian was a coal miner and his Great Grandfather Evan James Griffiths started working in the mines in Wales at the age of 9. He immigrated to America at 12 and began working underground in the "mule barn. Bart's mom says that his family "bleeds coal dust"!
Bart is currently Chief Operating Officer for CONSOL Energy here in Pittsburgh. He has accumulated over 28 years of experience in underground and surface coal mining. He is so amazing at his job and also as a husband, father and grandfather!! I am so lucky to be married to such an awesome man!!!
Matt also recieved several scholarships that night from Joy Manfacturing, WAAIME, RMCMI and the William C. Browning scholarship. He has one more year at the U of U and then he will graduate. Matt is following in the footsteps of the Hyita Family as well as his great-grandfathers Hollis Branch and Nic Belich on my side of the family.........so I guess coal dust runs through his veins as well!