November 6, 2025, Press Release from Ohio Northern University:
ADA, Ohio – Ohio Northern University (ONU) and Cenovus Energy Inc. announced a strategic partnership designed to enhance educational resources and career pathways for students in the T.J. Smull College of Engineering.Â
A $400,000 gift from Cenovus will support crucial first-year experiences and hands-on and out-of-the-classroom learning.
The integrated energy company will be the exclusive sponsor of the Cenovus Energy First Year Engineering Showcase where first-year students develop and present design solutions to practical engineering challenges. The showcase helps students begin cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and develop foundational skills like problem solving, building prototypes, working in teams, and creating value for clients.
In recognition of the company’s contribution to the first-year student experience, the University named a key student workspace on the second floor of the James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building, the Cenovus Energy First Year Engineering Workroom. Â
“This commitment from Cenovus will impact every student who walks into our college,” said J-D Yoder, dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering. “By sponsoring the Showcase and establishing the Workroom, Cenovus is engaging with our students from the first day of their educational journey, providing the resources and exposure necessary to develop exceptional, career-ready engineers.”
Cenovus’ investment will also support the high-impact learning that takes place outside of the classroom through ONU’s student organizations and competition teams. Students put the knowledge and skills they have learned in the classroom into practice as leaders, designers, project managers, teammates and competitors. According to Yoder, the funding will supplement existing resources ensuring students have the financial means to execute complex projects and compete with teams from all over the world.
Beyond the financial support, ONU engineering students will benefit from access to Cenovus professionals serving as competition judges, mentors, and advisory group members, and more with the college.
“We couldn’t be more excited about supporting Ohio Northern University’s engineering program and students. This partnership just makes sense: we appreciate ONU’s immersive, creative, hands-on approach to teaching engineering. And we know from experience the university produces high-quality engineers, many of whom are employed with us today,” said Dean Hempfling, Lima Refinery General Manager. “But more than financial support, this partnership helps us engage with students. As we help them find their path, we hope that path leads to work with us.”
Regularly ranked as one of the top undergraduate engineering programs in the country, ONU’s T.J. Smull College of Engineering offers programs in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Education and Mechanical Engineering.
Cenovus Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary, Canada with oil and natural gas production operations in Canada and the Asia Pacific region and upgrading, refining and marketing operations in Canada and the United States. Cenovus owns and operates the Cenovus Lima Refinery in Lima, Ohio, as well as refineries in Toledo, Ohio and Superior, Wisconsin.
