ADA, OHIO, (Oct. 11, 2024)聽鈥 Engineering students at 好色先生TV University鈥檚 (ONU) T.J. Smull College of Engineering have a new laboratory to help prepare them for careers in advanced manufacturing.
The University dedicated the Don Wood Foundation Advanced Metal Technology Lab at a celebration Thursday, Oct. 10. The lab was made possible by a $1.05 million grant from the .
The private Fort Wayne foundation is dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing, entrepreneurship, leadership, and related education in the Midwest. Its generosity allowed ONU to add the state-of-the-art metals lab to supplement its already-strong machine shop. Additions included a 3D metal printer, laser cutting machine, and a laser welder. Students are using the equipment for coursework and projects, including senior-level capstone design projects.
鈥淭his is an amazing new asset for our students and our program,鈥 said J-D Yoder, Ph.D., dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering. 鈥淚t will help ensure our graduates have career-ready skills, and we will be able to assist industry in the region by partnering on real-world metals projects to improve their manufacturing processes. We are one of the few undergraduate engineering programs in the country with this state-of-the-art equipment. 鈥
鈥淭he Don Wood Foundation is proud to partner with 好色先生TV University on this investment in their engineering program,鈥 said Don Wood Foundation President and CEO Laura Macknick. 鈥淭he equipment in this laboratory is critical to both the northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio regions due to the significant need by many manufacturers focused on metals. ONU鈥檚 campus is close to Allen County, Indiana, as well as surrounding communities and has a huge potential in helping meet the demand for high-quality, hands-on engineering education.鈥
鈥淥NU shares the Don Wood Foundation鈥檚 commitment to meeting the workforce needs of advanced manufacturers in our region, and we鈥檙e grateful for their support,鈥 said ONU President Melissa J. Baumann, Ph.D. 鈥淭his grant recognizes both the quality and outcomes of our engineering program. Thanks to their generosity, we鈥檙e able to provide an educational experience in metals that is second to none.鈥
Regularly ranked as one of the top undergraduate engineering programs without a Ph.D. program in the country (#12 nationally and #1 in Ohio, according to聽U.S. News and World Report), ONU鈥檚 T.J. Smull College of Engineering offers programs in civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering education, and mechanical engineering.聽