Missouri University of Science and Technology presented two Awards of Professional Distinction during spring commencement ceremonies held Saturday, May 13. The awards recognize the outstanding Missouri S&T graduates for professional achievement.

The following S&T alumni received the Award of Professional Distinction:

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  Richard Bausell

  Richard Bausell of Chesterfield, Missouri, retired vice president of URS Corp.’s Pipeline and Power Business Line, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1970. Bausell’s career spans over 40 years of experience in a number of areas including the military, the chemical industry, the oil and gas industry, and the pipeline and power industries. During his career he held technical staff, manager, director and executive-level positions in support of industry. Before his retirement in 2011, Bausell was vice president of URS Corp.’s Pipeline and Power Business Line, where he worked with numerous pipeline and power clients on a domestic and international basis. His global management and technical team was responsible for client leadership, service deliverability, contract management, quality assurance, and overall client relations for URS’ worldwide operations in over 40 countries. In 2012, Bausell was inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Chemical Engineers, an advisory group to the chemical and biochemical engineering department. Academy membership honors chemical engineers for contributions to their profession, leadership and involvement with Missouri S&T. Bausell currently serves on the academy’s board of directors. He also serves as chair of the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Advisory Council. In this role, he worked with the chemical and biochemical engineering department chair and the president of the department’s Student Advisory Council to develop and implement a Student Mentoring Program, which brings alumni in industry back to campus to provide guidance on career priorities, including interviewing skills, resume building and communications capabilities. Over 100 students have participated in the mentoring program since its inception in 2015. Bausell is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

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  Delores James Hinkle

  Delores James Hinkle of Houston, retired director of corporate reserves for Marathon Oil, earned a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering from Missouri S&T in 1975. She also holds an MBA from the University of Alaska-Anchorage. A 1971 graduate of Clinton (Mo.) Senior High School, Hinkle was the feature twirler for the Marching Miner Band, a Society of Petroleum Engineers officer, a member of Pi Epsilon Tau, a committee chair for the Student Union Board and president of the Women’s Residence Hall Association, serving as a residence assistant for two years. She was granted a four-year Union Oil academic scholarship. During her 38-year career in the oil industry, she worked in various production and reservoir positions for Sun, ARCO and Marathon in Alaska, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Texas. She retired in 2013. A member of the Missouri S&T Academy of Mines and Metallurgy, Hinkle is vice president of the Miner Alumni Association. She was active in the Society of Petroleum Engineers, serving on numerous committees for a variety of technical symposiums and workshops, chaired the Oil and Gas Reserves Committee, participated in the development of SPE’s Petroleum Resource Management System, served as the bureau vice chair of the UNECE Ad Hoc Group of Experts, and was a technical editor for the Oil and Gas Journal. She received the Gulf Coast Section Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award in 2014 and the Society’s Distinguished Member Award in 2015. Hinkle has served on the board of the San Jacinto Council of Girl Scouts for eight years, currently as vice chair. Nominated for president and chair-elect for the upcoming term, Hinkle is a member of the Executive and Finance committees and former chair of the Properties Committee that oversaw renovation and redevelopment of one of the council’s camps. Hinkle and her husband, Dan, a 1973 engineering management graduate of Missouri S&T, are members of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh.