College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

 

Oklahoma State University’s Industrial Training and Assessment Center has been named Center of the Year by the U.S. Department of Energy, a prestigious recognition that highlights OSU’s leadership in advancing energy efficiency, workforce development and community impact.

 

Since its founding in 1982, OSU’s ITAC has embodied the university’s land-grant mission by serving industries and communities across Oklahoma and the Great Plains. The center has conducted more than 1,130 energy assessments for small- and medium-sized manufacturers, commercial building owners, agricultural producers and water and wastewater treatment facilities. These efforts have identified over $138 million in potential energy savings — delivering measurable economic, environmental and societal benefits. OSU’s ITAC is the first in the national ITAC network to surpass 1,100 assessments, setting a benchmark of excellence.

 

Equally impactful is the center’s commitment to workforce development. To date, ITAC has trained 266 students in energy systems, waste reduction and productivity improvement, providing them with hands-on experience in real-world industrial environments. Many alumni now serve as leaders in energy, sustainability and manufacturing sectors nationwide, amplifying OSU’s contribution to a skilled workforce that drives innovation and competitiveness.

 

“The students, faculty, and staff at the OSU ITAC entirely deserve the honor of being selected as Center of the Year,” said John Smegal, ITAC program manager at the U.S. Department of Energy. “Dr. Vora (Hitesh), in particular, is a relentless advocate, both for his engineering students and the small and medium-sized manufacturers of Oklahoma and surrounding area.”

 

“This award reflects the extraordinary impact of our team’s work — transforming industries, empowering students, and strengthening communities across Oklahoma and beyond,” said Dr. Hitesh Vora, ITAC Director. “It affirms that OSU’s land-grant mission is alive in every assessment we conduct, every student we train, and every solution we deliver to manufacturers, farmers, and community partners.”

 

Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, ITACs provide no-cost technical assessments nationwide. OSU’s ITAC, which also operates a satellite center at Wichita State University, plays a unique role by extending expertise to underserved rural areas and sectors often overlooked by traditional consulting services.

 

Dr. Vora emphasized that OSU ITAC’s achievements are the result of strong stakeholder engagement and partnerships: “This recognition would not be possible without the unwavering support of the U.S. Department of Energy (John Smegal – ITAC Prog Manager), the ITAC Field Manager (Dr. Mike Muller) at Rutgers University, and our satellite ITAC center at Wichita State University (Dr. Bayram Yildirim and Dr. Deepak Gupta) and ITAC commercial building assessment pilot program partner at Northern Oklahoma College (Dr. Frankie Wood-Black), along with our dedicated partners and stakeholders.

From federal agencies and National Laboratories (ORNL, NREL, PNNL, LBNL, etc.) to the Onsite TAP program, Manufacturing USA Network, and NIST MEPs such as the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, our collaborators are critical of advancing this mission. We also acknowledge the strong engagement of state, tribal, and local entities including Hamm Institute for American Energy, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, ODEQ, OCAST, Choctaw Nation, Muscogee (Creek) Nation; utilities and energy service providers such as PSO, OG&E, CREC, and co-ops; educational partners including NOC and CareerTech; non-profit professional societies such as AEE, AEE-OK, SPEER, and MEEA; and our many valued industry and ESCO partners. This is truly a collective success.”

 

Dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, Dr. Hanchen Huang, also praised the recognition. “Great people make an institution great,” Huang said. “Dr. Vora and his team represent a shining example of great people that make ITAC a great center in the nation.”

 

“At OSU ITAC, we see every challenge as an opportunity to serve,” Vora added. “Whether it’s a rural manufacturer, a family-owned farm, or a small-town wastewater facility, our goal is the same — provide practical, research-driven solutions that cut costs, conserve resources, and create a stronger, more sustainable future for Oklahomans and the nation.”

 

Among the 36 ITACs across the country, OSU’s recognition as the top-performing center reflects its distinctive model: combining public impact research, community engagement and student-centered training to deliver solutions that lower costs, conserve resources and foster sustainable growth.

 

“To be named the top center among 37 across the country is more than an honor — it is a responsibility,” Vora said. “OSU ITAC is setting the standard for what public impact research and workforce development can achieve. Our success belongs to our students, our industry partners, and the communities we serve, and it inspires us to aim even higher.”

 

OSU’s ITAC remains committed to expanding its impact in energy efficiency, smart manufacturing and workforce readiness — ensuring that industries and communities across Oklahoma and beyond continue to benefit from the university’s research, expertise and service.