West Virginia University will again pay tribute to the contribution of coal miners in our state with a Miner's Day Program to be held on Monday, December 6^th at 7:00pm in the Mountainlair Gold Ballroom.

The program will feature Mr. Fred Powers, a retired miner/school teacher, who will share personal stories of the coalfields in a theatrical context.  The program, titled "Under These Hills:  A Coal Miner's Story", will take you miles underneath our world into the hidden realm of the coal miner.  For this program, Powers was selected as the recipient of the Coal Heritage Award for Excellence in the Arts presented by the Coal Heritage Highway Authority and National Coal Heritage Area to honor local efforts to preserve and interpret our coal history throughout the National Coal Heritage Area and along the Coal Heritage Trail.

The program will be hosted by Macy Miller, West Virginia University's 2010 Ms. Mountaineer.  Also showcased will be Amanda Hughart, West Virginia University's 2010 Mountaineer Idol, who will entertain the audience with songs honoring each and every miner; past, present, and future.

At the event, The Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum will present a small traveling exhibit that focuses on the history of mine rescue in the United States and features a selection of equipment used to prevent and respond to mining disasters.  Housed in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University, the Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the social, cultural and technological history of the coal, oil and natural gas industries of the state of West Virginia through the collection, preservation, research and exhibition of objects relevant to these industries.  Each year, the Museum presents several temporary exhibitions that examine West Virginia's coal, oil and natural gas industries.  The Museum's next exhibition, HELMET MEN:  Mine Rescuers of Appalachia's Coalfields, will be on display from January 17 until August 14, 2011.  For additional information on the Museum, please contact Danielle M. Petrak, museum coordinator, at 304.293.4609 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The event is planned by the West Virginia University Division of Student Affairs in cooperation with the WVU Mining Engineering Department/SME Student Chapter.  For questions, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the Mountainlair Administrative Offices at 304-293-2702