Missouri University of Science and Technology honored eight distinguished graduates as its 2026 Alumni of Influence during a special ceremony at the Hasselmann Alumni House, as reported by news.mst.edu.
Eight Alumni Receive University Honors
- Eight engineering and business alumni received the university’s highest recognition on Saturday, Nov. 7.
- The quadrennial honors program, established in 2011, has recognized a total of 50 graduates across four classes.
Honoring Leadership at Hasselmann Alumni House
The university inducted the eight selected graduates during an evening event on the S&T campus. This group represents the fourth cohort recognized since the institution launched the Alumni of Influence program fifteen years ago.
Since the tradition began in 2011, the university has honored 50 distinguished alumni who have made a positive impact on the university, their industries and their communities, according to news.mst.edu. The ceremonies occur every five subsequent years.
Energy and Industrial Leadership Honored
John Gibson, a 1974 engineering management graduate, built a career leading energy firms including ONEOK and OneGas Inc. Dennis Jaggi, a 1970 mechanical engineering graduate, co-founded Flatrock Energy Advisors and partnered with EnCap Investments to manage capital funds exceeding $9.5 billion.
Robert Keiser graduated with an electrical engineering degree in 1965 and later served as chair and CEO of Oryx Energy. Joseph Rupp, a 1972 metallurgical engineering graduate, directed a corporate pivot at Olin Corporation that established the company as a major chlor-alkali producer before his retirement in 2017.
Inductees Shaped Global Supply Chains and Heavy Machinery Manufacturing
Other inductees shaped global supply chains and heavy machinery manufacturing. Jeff Sheets, a 1980 chemical engineering graduate, retired as chief financial officer of ConocoPhillips. Susan Simmons spent three decades at Anheuser-Busch, advancing to senior resident engineer before retiring in 2016.
Stephen Suellentrop earned petroleum engineering degrees in 1974 and 1975, later securing financing for the Camisea Liquid Natural Gas Project in Peru. Steven Wunning graduated in 1973 with a degree in metallurgical engineering and advanced to group president at Caterpillar, managing global operations supporting up to 50,000 employees.
| Honoree | Degree Field | Graduation Year | Key Leadership Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Gibson | Engineering Management | 1974 | Chair, President and CEO, ONEOK |
| Dennis Jaggi | Mechanical Engineering | 1970 | Managing Partner, Flatrock Energy Advisors |
| Robert Keiser | Electrical Engineering | 1965 | Chair and CEO, Oryx Energy |
| Joseph Rupp | Metallurgical Engineering | 1972 | Executive Chair, Olin Corporation |
| Jeff Sheets | Chemical Engineering | 1980 | CFO, ConocoPhillips |
| Susan Simmons | Chemical Engineering | 1984 | Senior Resident Engineer, Anheuser-Busch |
| Stephen Suellentrop | Petroleum Engineering | 1974 | President, Hunt Oil Co. |
| Steven Wunning | Metallurgical Engineering | 1973 | Group President, Caterpillar |
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
