Eleven graduates of Missouri University of Science and Technology were inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Mines and Metallurgy on April 20.

The academy is an advisory group that was founded in 1954. The group includes graduates and others who have made outstanding contributions to their professions.

The 2017 inductees are as follows:

Dane L. Cantwell of The Woodlands, Texas, CEO of KA Energy Partners LLC, earned a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering from Missouri S&T in 1985. He began his career as a production foreman with ARCO Oil and Gas Co., then moved to operations engineer and senior O/A engineer before transitioning to staff reservoir engineer with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. Over the next 17 years, he moved his way up through various positions to become the Deepwater general manager in 2007. Cantwell is a licensed professional engineer and a Master Peace Officer, serving over 25 years in Missouri, Alaska and Texas. He currently serves over 50 hours a month as a captain with the Montgomery County Texas Sheriff’s Department.

Robert Duenckel of Duncan, Oklahoma, earned a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering from Missouri S&T in 1974. He began his career as a reservoir engineer with Marathon Oil Co. and held various positions, eventually becoming the southern region manager. Transitioning to Carbo Ceramics Inc., Duenckel served as director of technical development from 2001-15. He has co-authored 15 technical papers covering hydraulic fracture optimization, proppant, proppant technologies, and proppant detection. He is also the co-inventor on 10 issued U.S. patents, with four more pending.

Matt Hinson of Claremore, Oklahoma, earned a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering from Missouri S&T in 2001. He began his career as a drilling engineer with ExxonMobil in Houston and Equatorial Guinea, Africa. In 2008 he moved to Newfield and held various positions, including drilling engineer, reservoir engineer, asset team lead and asset manager. In 2015, he was named vice president of WPX Energy in Tulsa. Hinson played Division II football at Missouri S&T for four years. He was honored in July 2016 by the Oil & Gas Investor Magazine as a rising star, as one of “Thirty under Forty” energy leaders in the oil and gas industry.

Braden Lusk of Rolla, Missouri, earned bachelor of science and Ph.D. degrees in mining engineering with an emphasis in explosives engineering from Missouri S&T in 2000 and 2006, respectively. Between degrees, Lusk worked with Cargill Salt in various positions including mine engineer and mine supervisor. He completed his dissertation titled “An Analysis and Policy Implications of Comfort Levels of Diverse Constituents with Reported Units for Blast Vibrations and Limits: Closing the Communication Gap.” Lusk worked for the University of Kentucky for 10 years ending as professor of mining engineering. He is now professor and chair of mining and nuclear engineering at Missouri S&T and the chief academic officer for mining, nuclear and explosives engineering.

Gary Pennell of Dyersburg, Tennessee, earned a bachelor of science degree in metallurgical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1996. He received an award of professional distinction in metallurgical engineering from Missouri S&T in 2011. Pennell began his career as a plant metallurgist with Nucor-Yamato Steel, a joint venture of Nucor Corp., from 1997-2001. Since 2001, he has served as chief metallurgist. He led a group responsible for the development and implementation of an ISO 9002 quality system and Nucor-Yamato Steel. Pennell supports Missouri S&T through research projects, offering employment opportunities to graduates and co-op students and giving departmental seminars lectures. Through his efforts, Nucor Steel has helped increase recruitment for materials science and engineering undergraduates. He received the Missouri S&T MSE Outstanding Met. Alumni Award in 2010.

Hans Karl Schmoldt of Grand Junction, Colorado, earned bachelor of science degrees in geology and geological engineering from Missouri S&T in 1972 and 1978, respectively. He received an Award of Professional Distinction in metallurgical engineering from Missouri S&T in in 1991. He began his career installing corrosion protection systems, starting his own business, Anode Systems Co. Anode Systems held its first UST seminar in 1987 and gave the first class on corrosion prevention on underground propane tanks in 1993. Since 1987, Anode Systems has conducted 84 classes or seminars in 22 states to tank owners on CP design, testing, repairs and maintenance of CP systems. In 2010, Schmoldt was the first to offer the gas production industry in Western Colorado, a tank corrosion protection program.

Genevieve Bodnar Sutton of Bunker, Missouri, earned bachelor of science degrees in metallurgical engineering and mining engineering from Missouri S&T in 1998 and 2001, respectively. She began her career with Lafarge North America in the Engineer-in-Training Program. In 2004, she became environmental manager with Fred Weber. She was a geologic systems specialist Peabody Energy and for the last five years she has served as senior environmental engineer and environmental compliance supervisor of the metals division for Doe Run. Sutton has received multiple awards for her service and environmental excellence. She regularly participates in community engagement activities to promote mining and in 2015, she was invited to participate on the Missouri S&T Mining Engineering Advisory Board.

Greg Sutton of Bunker, Missouri, earned a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering from Missouri S&T in 1988 and is working on his MBA at Missouri S&T. He began his career as a planning engineer and supervisor with the Homestake Mining Co.’s Lead Gold Mine. He has held many positions of increasing responsibility with Doe Run, where he now serves as project manager with cementation. A five-time recipient of the “Sentinels of Safety” award, Sutton implemented new mine planning processes that helped recover millions of tons of high-quality ore from areas that were previously untapped. Greg is an active member of both the International Society of Explosive Engineers and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.

Ron Tyson of Oklahoma City earned a bachelor of science degree in geological engineering from Missouri S&T in 1991. He began his career as a drilling and project engineer with Helmerich & Payne International Drilling. He then served as an engineering manager for Bayard Drilling Technologies before moving to Cactus Drilling Company, LLC as vice president of operations. He is currently president of Cactus Drilling. He plans to become a mentor to Missouri S&T students to guide them as they begin to enter the industry as recent graduates.

Patrick Wagner of Cypress, Texas, earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in petroleum engineering from Missouri S&T in 1986 and 1988, respectively. He began his career as a project engineer with Exxon in 1988. He joined The Scotia Group in 1990 as a reservoir engineer and worked his way to senior vice president. He held various positions at Ocean Energy before joining Marathon Oil Corp., where he currently serves as vice president of corporate development and strategy. He has over 28 years of experience with four large independent oil and gas companies, a mid-sized consulting firm, an investment bank and a major oil company. He is a licensed professional engineer in Texas.

Steve Wunning of Peoria, Illinois, earned a bachelor of science degree in metallurgical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1973. He also holds an executive MBA from the University of Illinois. In 2004, he received an Award of Professional Distinction in metallurgical engineering from Missouri S&T. Wunning began his career at Caterpillar in 1973 and held various position in areas of quality, manufacturing, product support and logistics, including leading and growing the external logistics start-up business. He was named corporate vice president in 1998 and group president in 2004. Now retired from Caterpillar, he is a member of the boards of directors of Black & Veatch Holding Co., Kennametal Inc., Neovia Logistics Services LLC, The Sherwin Williams Co. and Summit Materials Inc. He is a member of the Missouri S&T Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross.

Two current faculty members received awards during the academy induction ceremony:

• Dr. Paul Worsey, professor of mining engineering at Missouri S&T, received the Senior Faculty Award.
• Dr. Mingzhen Wei, assistant professor of geology and geophysics, received the Junior Faculty Award.

In addition, seven students received scholarship awards from the academy:

• Marshall S. Foster a senior in geology and geophysics from Bethany, Missouri
• Mary Katherine Milam, a senior in petroleum engineering from Lees Summit, Missouri
• Abigail Diane Pfaff, a senior in mining engineering from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
• Bryant Alan Kanies, a senior in nuclear engineering from Harrisonville, Missouri
• Joseph W. Goedecke, a senior in metallurgical engineering from Raymore, Missouri
• Elizabeth Ann Robinson, a senior in ceramic engineering from Las Vegas
• Ryan Jacob Feldmann, a senior in geological engineering from Rolla, Missouri