Missouri S&T Academy of Miner Athletics inducts new members

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On October 14, 2021

Five former student-athletes from Missouri University of Science and Technology and Missouri S&T’s athletics director were inducted into the Academy of Miner Athletics during a ceremony held Friday, Oct. 8, at the Signature Event Center in Rolla.

The academy recognizes alumni who have brought honor to the university’s athletic department through their accomplishments on the playing field, in their careers and through community leadership. Academy members support the department through coordinated gifts of time, experience and money. The Academy of Miner Athletics was founded in October 2011 with its first induction class of 33 individuals.

New members are:

Jim Clossick of Miami, vice president of quality assurance and regulatory affairs for an international medical device firm, earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1985. He ran cross country for four seasons from 1981 through 1984 and was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. He has over 35 years of medical device experience and holds two U.S. patents.  

Jack Pennuto Jr. of Ann Arbor, Michigan, earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in manufacturing processes in 2004 and a master of science degree in mechanical engineering focused on laser applications in 2005, both from Missouri S&T. An All-American swimmer and an NCAA postgraduate scholar, Pennuto was inducted into the athletic hall of fame in 2018 and is a member of the 2001-02 swimming team, inducted into the hall of fame in 2014. 

Tom Reed of Cambridge, Kansas, a retired petroleum geologist, earned a bachelor of science degree in geological engineering from Missouri S&T in 1987. He played football as a fullback in the 1985 and 1986 seasons and was honored in 1986 with CoSIDA’s Academic All-American Award (First team football running back).  

Melissa Ringhausen of Rolla, Missouri S&T director of athletics, earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Ottawa University in 1994 and a master of science degree in education from the University of Kansas in 1996. Ringhausen was a four-year letterman in basketball at Ottawa and helped lead the team to the program’s first national ranking and a school record 23 wins during the 1992-93 season. She is ranked in several career and single-season statistical categories in basketball and received numerous academic honors, graduating magna cum laude from Ottawa University. Before joining S&T, she worked for McKendree University.

Kandi (Wieberg) Spraggs of Pacific, Missouri, a project manager with TranSystems in St. Louis, earned a bachelor of science degree in 2008 and master of science degree in 2010, both in civil engineering from Missouri S&T. She was a four-year starter on the softball team and served as a student-coach for two years. One of the first softball players in team history to earn All-American honors, Spraggs was inducted into the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2013 and into the Missouri S&T Hall of Fame in 2019.

Bill Walker of Rolla, head men’s basketball coach at Missouri S&T, earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from S&T in 1987. He played basketball at Rolla for legendary Miner coach Billy Key. He led the team in scoring his junior season and was team captain his senior year. Before returning to S&T, Walker coached at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Texas A&M, among others.

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On October 14, 2021. Posted in Athletics, News, People

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