LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Cenovus Energy’s Lima Refinery is investing in the next generation of the region’s workforce through a donation to the Apollo Career Center’s Apollo Educational Foundation.
The refinery donated $15,000 to support Apollo students as they develop the technical skills needed to enter the workforce in their chosen professions. The funding will help support career training opportunities and student participation in programs like SkillsUSA.
More than a dozen Apollo students who competed in the SkillsUSA regional competition in February qualified to advance to the state competition. Educators say hands-on competitions like these play an important role in strengthening the real-world skills students learn in the classroom.
The refinery donated $15,000 to support Apollo students as they develop the technical skills needed to enter the workforce in their chosen professions.
Junior carpentry student Keith Hohenbrink says participating in competitions helps give students a strong start in their careers.
“It gives me a step forward in life, being able to get a head start of everybody and going straight into the workforce and using my skills to help my life,” said Hohenbrink.
Dean Hempfling, general manager of the Cenovus Lima Refinery, says investing in local students is also an investment in the community’s future workforce.
“It’s important to us, because we want to keep our money in the community. These are the future craftsmen and tradesmen here in Lima and Allen County, and hopefully they’re going to be the future craftsmen and tradesmen working for us at the refinery,” Hempfling said.
Apollo Superintendent Keith Horner says SkillsUSA competitions allow students to test their abilities against other skilled students across multiple levels.
“They do a lot of competitions on both the local, regional and state and national level, so you can move on through all those levels. And it’s really all kids who are practicing their trade that they’re learning here at the career centers. And they get the best of the best as they continue on through that pathway of competing,” Horner said.
With the contribution, Cenovus becomes the 18th regional company to partner with Apollo in supporting the development of a skilled workforce in west-central Ohio.
