UK’s Honaker wins SEC Faculty Achievement Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 21, 2025) — Rick Honaker, Ph.D., professor of mining engineering in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, has been named winner of the 2025 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Faculty Achievement Award for the University of Kentucky.

“I’m deeply honored to receive the 2025 SEC Faculty Achievement Award. I’ve been truly blessed to work alongside so many exceptional individuals throughout my career, and this recognition is largely a reflection of their contributions to our shared successes,” Honaker said. “These achievements could not have been realized without the support of my department, college and institution. I’m deeply grateful for the collaboration and inspiration I’ve received along the way.”

Honaker is renowned for his research, which focuses on creating and improving new technologies to help recover, concentrate and purify important materials, including those needed for renewable energy production.

Americans use rare earth elements (REEs) every day — without knowing it. In fact, they are crucial to society. Honaker knows all about these fascinating elements and the modern electronics they make possible.

Due to their unique chemical properties, REEs are essential components of technologies spanning a range of applications, such as communication systems, transportation, health care and national defense. 

“On a periodic table, they are identified as the lanthanide series, which is the horizontal row of elements at the bottom of the periodic table, plus scandium and yttrium. All of those elements are extremely important for everyday applications,” Honaker said. “For example, europium is a color-producing phosphor used in video screens, including computer monitors and plasma TVs. Neodymium is a powerful component in magnets used in smartphones, televisions, lasers, rechargeable batteries and hard drives.”

Demand for REEs has been steadily increasing, and Honaker is focused on discovering more economically viable solutions for the U.S. to address this growing need.

Throughout his career, Honaker has secured more than $40 million in research funding — resulting in more than 80 funded projects. He has nearly 250 publications, including 153 peer-reviewed articles, and holds seven U.S. patents.

Most recently, Honaker received $5 million from the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a system to transform coal into high-value materials.

“The ability to extract critical minerals and elements from coal is a game-changer,” Honaker explained in a previous release. “It allows us to tap into a domestic resource — turning what was once overlooked into a valuable supply of materials essential for clean energy, technology and national security. This innovation is a sustainable and resilient path forward.”

Honaker’s contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Robert H. Richards Award from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) in 2015, the AIME Frank F. Aplan Award in 2008, and induction as a Distinguished Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) in 2010. He was also included on the Stanford University list of the “World’s Top 2% Scientists.”

Beyond his roles as an educator and researcher, Honaker actively contributes to the mining engineering community. He currently serves on the executive board for the Coal Preparation Society of America and previously served a three-year term on the board of directors for the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Additionally, Honaker serves on the board of delegates for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), after serving a five-year term as a commissioner on the Engineering Accreditation Commission.

Honaker’s extensive experience and dedication continue to have a lasting impact on the field of mining engineering.

“The moments I’ve felt the greatest pride in my career have been when reconnecting with former students who have gone on to achieve success in their own paths and express appreciation for the time we shared — whether in the classroom, the lab or beyond,” he said. “Their words remind me of the lasting impact of our work as educators. I look forward to continuing to teach and mentor future generations of engineers and to enriching their educational experiences at UK through impactful research that addresses the critical challenges facing our society.”

Honaker will become UK’s campus nominee for the SEC Professor of the Year Award, which will be announced in April. He will join five other UK Pigman College of Engineering professors to receive the recognition.