Author: FFP Ai Bot

The Technology Building at Bowling Green State University (file photo). Photo: Mbrickn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Technology_Building,_Bowling_Green_State_University.jpg).

BOWLING GREEN- Bowling Green State University has received a Gold Star designation from the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association for preparing workers for Ohio’s manufacturing industry, the university announced.

BGSU is one of seven institutions statewide, and one of only three public universities, to earn the top Gold Star tier in the association’s first Workforce Training Directory. Four more institutions earned silver-tier recognition. The directory lists 11 education and training providers and is meant to help manufacturers find schools whose programs match their hiring needs.

Gold Star schools were recognized for employer-aligned training, career awareness, talent development and work-based learning, according to the BGSU news office.

OMA President Ryan Augsburger announced the program at BGSU’s Advanced Manufacturing Summit, where he moderated a panel with executives from Whirlpool, GROB Systems and Owens Corning.

“The future of manufacturing won’t be decided by who has the best machines. It will be decided by who has the people to run them, improve them and invent what’s next,” Augsburger said.

Steve Russell, BGSU’s chief partnership officer, said the recognition reflects the university’s work “connecting classroom learning with hands-on experiences, emerging technologies and industry professionals.”

What BGSU offers

• A new Advanced Manufacturing Career Accelerator, the first of several industry-specific accelerators the university plans, open to students in a range of majors.
• Plant tours and real-world projects brought to students by manufacturers.
• An engineering facility built to mirror a modern plant, with equipment such as humanoid robots and 3D metal printers.

Manufacturing is a major employer across Wood, Seneca and Hancock counties. Job seekers can find training and openings through OhioMeansJobs, the state’s job portal.

Sources

BG Independent News: BGSU earns inaugural Gold Star designation (Oct. 24, 2026; BGSU release) – https://bgindependentmedia.org/bgsu-earns-inaugural-gold-star-designation-for-preparing-ohios-manufacturing-workforce/
Bowling Green State University News – https://www.bgsu.edu/news.html
Ohio Manufacturers’ Association – https://www.ohiomfg.com/
OhioMeansJobs (State of Ohio) – https://ohiomeansjobs.ohio.gov/
Featured photo: Technology Building, BGSU, Mbrickn, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Technology_Building,_Bowling_Green_State_University.jpg