Don Wood Foundation provides $1.05 million grant

Engineering students at Ohio Northern University’s (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 Don Wood Foundation.

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.

“This is an amazing new asset for our students and our program,” said J-D Yoder, Ph.D., dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering. “It 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. “

“The Don Wood Foundation is proud to partner with Ohio Northern University on this investment in their engineering program,” said Don Wood Foundation President and CEO Laura Macknick. “The 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’s 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.”

“ONU shares the Don Wood Foundation’s commitment to meeting the workforce needs of advanced manufacturers in our region, and we’re grateful for their support,” said ONU President Melissa J. Baumann, Ph.D. “This grant recognizes both the quality and outcomes of our engineering program. Thanks to their generosity, we’re able to provide an educational experience in metals that is second to none.”