When Ohio Northern University launched the “Campaign for Engineering: Building Impact at ONU,” 1972 engineering graduate Charles “Chris” Claypool, and his wife, Barbara, didn’t hesitate to make a lead gift to help get the initiative off the ground. After all, as a member of the team that completed a campaign feasibility study for ONU’s College of Engineering, Chris knew exactly how much support was needed.

Over the past four decades, Claypool has grown Claypool Electric Inc., the Lancaster, Ohio, company that his father founded in 1954, into a firm that employs more than 200 people.

The rise of Claypool Electric mirrors the Claypool’s philanthropic support of Chris’ alma mater. The Claypools have been steady annual givers to Ohio Northern since 1987.

The “Campaign for Engineering: Building Impact at ONU” will help fund a new academic building for the T.J. Smull College of Engineering. The 105,000-square-foot facility will be nearly twice the size of the current 55,000-square-foot building.

ONU is poised for another big day in 2019. On that day students will begin classes in a place that is designed for them to learn in collaboration and community with space for them to grow as students and grow into working professionals.