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~~Y~~~ ~~~~~~fain Offers Special Scholarships for San Luis As the San Luis Project moves toward becoming a producing prop- ene, Battle Mountain Gold has established a scholarship proeram for qualified graduating seniors at Cen- tennial Hieh School in San Luis. The program was developed jointly by Pete Ortega, assistant counselor at Centennial, and Ken Row, director of personnel for Battle Mountain Gold in Houston. Qualified dependent children of employees of the San Luis Project who apply for the awards will have priority in winning the scholarships. according to Otega. Two scholarships will be available to qualified graduating seniors each year, according to Ortega, who has been responsible for college placement at Centennial for the past 13 years. The $1,500 awards are renew- able three times, meaning a successful student has the potential to eam a total of 36,000 toward a college education. Scholarships may be renewed if students maintain full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic perform- ance. However. i(there are no appli- cants in that category, scholarships may be awarded to other qualified applicants among the graduating seniors at Centennial High School, Ortega said. The scholarships are admini- stered by the College Scholarship Foundation of America. an independ- ent organization. Eligible applicants are evaluated on class rank, test scores, grades, participation in activi- ties, and personal and family circum- stances. Battle Mountain began awarding scholarships to Centennial High School seniors last year on a tempo- rary basis, largely at Ortega's urging. Two 3500 scholarships were awarded to seniors who graduated in the class of 1989. The winners in 1989 were Emma Valdez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Valdez of San Luis, and Christopher Rodriguez, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Montoya of Chama. Emma is attending the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, and Christopher is attending Adams State College in Alamosa. 1,500 Want San Luis Project Jobs As of the end of March, a total of about 1,500 people have filed employment pre-applications for jobs at Battle Mountain Gold. The job pre- application process is being handled by Rocky Mountain SERJJobs for Progress and the Colorado Job Serv- ice. Between 450 and 500 of the pre-applications are from residents of Costilla County, according to Jerry Sanchez, Rocky Mountain SER area manager. Of the remaining 1.000 or so pre-applicants. most are from other pans of the San Luis Valley and many are from other pans of Colorado. The San Luis Project also has attracted some job pre-applicants from Nevada. New Mexico, and Texas. The number of local pre- applicants means that it is "looking good" for Battle Mountain meeting its commitment to hiring 75 persons from Costilla County out of an estimated total employment of 90, according to Sanchez. "These people have met the pre- application requirements and are ready In be referred when Battle Mountain be_irn hirinc.'~ Sand:ez sold. ,Jobs Peopi2 Do alt"~ San Luis Project A mining operation like the San Luis Project offers job opportuni- ties in a number of skilled areas. Battle. Mountain Gold alreadc has hired etluipment operators and diesel equif~ment maintenance personnel. Beyond that, the San Luis Project will require other skills to fill out the wor< force of 90 persons which we e.tpect the San Luis project to have ono: we are fully developed and fully staffed. Here tee several of the job areas which will be needed: mill operators of all levels, analytical technicians, laboratory technicians. maintenance personnel for vehicles. maintenance personnel for process machinery, end supervisory personnel in a variety ~f areas. Although some jobs at the mine may require technical skills not available locally, there is an excellent potential for local residents to work in all phases of our opem[ion..4lmost all jobs will involve on-site training. That means that motivation and aptitude ma~~ be just as important a qualificatior as specific experience For some prospective San Luis Project emp oyees. "We are especially looking for people who will pay attention to detail and to safety and who are willine to accept challenges," said Gary Dodson, general superintendent. Dodson also emphasized that jobs at the Sort Luis Project will offer competitive wages and excellent benefits. ~f .. :' a411tE MCUMPYJ coo corvot~v Published by Battle t4ountain Gold Company P.O. Box 310. San Lws. CO NI IS? (719167?336'_ Gan Dodson Grnual Superintendent. San Lws Proles