FA L L
2016
T.J. SMULL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
SMU LL TALK
BUILDING IMPACT: A New Home for ONU Engineering
Smull Talk is produced by the Ohio Northern University Office of Communications and Marketing and published by the T.J. Smull College of Engineering at Ohio Northern University. Editors/Writers: Josh Alkire Sheila Baumgartner Laurie Wurth Pressel Design: Lauren (Bailey) Honaker, BFA ’10 Nancy Burnett Photography: Trevor Jones Ohio Northern University T.J. Smull College of Engineering 525 S. Main St., Ada, OH 45810 Phone: 419-772-2371 The mission of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering is to engage students through personal relationships and high-impact educational experiences to maximize their success. The college offers nationally recognized accredited programs in six majors including civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering education, and mechanical engineering.
IMPACT. It’s all about impact. For the past few editions of the Smull Talk magazine, we have explored the ways in which our students, faculty and alumni impact their communities here at Ohio Northern University as well as in the state, in the nation and across the globe. Well, now it’s time to talk about the impact that a new facility for the T.J. Smull College of Engineering will have on the future of engineering and computer science education at ONU. I am very pleased to announce that, with your help, a brand new building for the college can impact our future! Over the years, we have looked at ways in which we can better support our students during a time when the college has fully embraced a new era in engineering and computer science education in which high-impact practices and experiential learning define an ONU education. Today, our students have the opportunity to compete against the best of the best in national and international design competitions, engineer new solutions as a first-year student to help alleviate poverty in third-world countries, take an idea from paper to prototype in our senior capstone design sequence, and support nonprofit community partners through our EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) program. Our faculty teach and mentor our students using cutting-edge pedagogical techniques that engage students in the educational process. Our students work in teams and collaborate on assignments and projects as they seek to achieve success together. However, the Biggs Engineering Building and the adjoining Science Annex were never built for this new era in engineering and computer science education. After careful consideration and planning by many individuals, including the college’s faculty and staff, the College of Engineering Advisory Board, and the ONU Board of Trustees, we were authorized to explore the possibility of constructing a brand-new facility for the College of Engineering and to start to build the financial resources that would allow us to achieve this dream. We stand ready to make this dream a reality not just for today, but for decades to come. So, we are launching the public phase of the Campaign for Engineering: Building Impact at ONU and hope to raise sufficient funds to construct a new home for the College of Engineering. We already have had a tremendous response to our campaign and have raised more than 75 percent of our fundraising goal of $15 million. The entire University is behind our effort, and a number of individuals have come forward to become philanthropic investors in the future of the college. We need your help to make this a reality. I am hopeful that you will join me and thoughtfully consider making an investment as well. In this special edition of Smull Talk, you will learn more about the design of the new building and those who have invested their resources towards this project. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the College of Engineering. Please join me as we seek to build the impact of an ONU education together!
onu.edu/engineering
Eric Baumgartner, Ph.D. Dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering
S M U L L TA L K
CONTENTS /4
/20
SHAPED BY HISTORY
/10
MORE THAN JUST AN INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIP
INSPIRED BY SPACE
Defining moments in the College of Engineering’s 135-year history
A closer look at the ONU-Kokosing partnership
/8
/22
THE DOZEN DESIGNERS
Four ONU engineering students share what most excites them about the new engineering building
CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP
/15
GETTING IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR
Students receive once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help shape the future of ONU engineering
How early donors helped launch the Campaign for Engineering: Building Impact at ONU
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Get to know the leaders behind the campaign
SHAPED
BY HISTORY
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The T.J. Smull College of Engineering’s rich history has been shaped by many outstanding individuals and significant events over the past 135 years. At the same time, the college has consistently looked forward, striving for improvement, not content to rest upon its laurels. Here are some defining moments that stand out because they speak to the truths and values that have shaped the college while pushing it ahead toward tomorrow.
MEETING SOCIETY'S NEED
ENGINEERING BECOMES THE UNIVERSITY’S
FIRST PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM The College of Engineering has produced more than
6,900
GRADUATES from 1881 to 2016.
RIGOROUS ACADEMICS
Society needs highly qualified engineers, and we can produce tomorrow’s problem-solvers and trail-blazers. This straightforward mission has guided the College of Engineering from its beginning. Early administrators established an engineering professional program in 1881, just a decade after Henry Solomon Lehr founded the University. Over the course of 135 years, the world has changed, but the need for competent engineers and the college’s quest to educate them have remained constant.
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ACCREDITATION
ACHIEVED
Academic rigor has long been a hallmark of an ONU engineering education. Students receive a solid foundation in the fundamentals of math, science and physics and learn a comprehensive approach to problem-solving. In 1954, the College of Engineering received confirmation of its academic excellence when t h e En g i n e e rs’ Co u n c i l fo r Professional Development fully accredited the college on its first try.
In 2011,
the College of Engi-
neering launched the Bachelor of Science in engineering education program, designed to produce teachers who will steer young people toward careers in engineering. The engineering education was the first program in the nation with this name and unique academic offering to receive accreditation by ABET Inc. ONU has been consistently ranked as a top-50 undergraduate engineering program by U.S. News & World Report.
SERVICE
COMPETING TO WIN
WORLD WAR II
STUDENTS ENTER THE CONCRETE CANOE COMPETITION
STRAINS RESOURCES
TODAY, ONU ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS COMPETE IN THE FOLLOWING COMPETITIONS: Baja SAE Collegiate Design Series to design and build an off-road vehicle. (First competed in 1998) ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge to design and build a sustainable mode of transportation. (First competed in 2010)
During WWII many ONU engineers served in the U.S. armed forces
IEEE Micromouse to design, construct and program an autonomous robotic mouse that can find the center of a maze. (First competed in 2002)
In 1972, six ONU civil engineering stud ents built an 11-foot-l ong, 308-pound canoe out of concrete. They entered their creation in a fledgling concrete canoe competition sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers, a competition that would later become known as “America’s Cup for Civil Engineering.” This marked the beginning of an era of project-based competitions in which ONU engineering students pit their ingenuity against their peers at institutions across the United States and the world.
TACKLING ENGINEERING CHALLENGES
COLLEGE RECEIVES ITS FIRST GRANT The College of Engineering received its first grant for undergraduate research in 1988 when the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) awarded ONU $89,000 to research a material mix and construction process to reduce the cost of replacing small-span bridges and culverts. This first grant opened the door to undergraduate research opportunities for students, and it cast the College of Engineering as a regional expert. With a focus on teaching and learning, the College of Engineering is deeply engaged in finding solutions to the engineering challenges of our times.
In 2005, the College of Engineering received its first grant from the Kern Family Foundation to equip today’s engineering students with an entrepreneurial mindset. The initial grant spawned numerous initiatives that impact each and every engineering student on campus as well as ONU students from other majors. In 2015, the college received a $1.2 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation to continue to instill an entrepreneurial mindset in its engineering undergraduates.
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SAE Aero Design to design and fabricate a radio-controlled aircraft that can take off and land while carrying a maximum load. (First competed in 1995) ASCE Steel Bridge Competition to design, fabricate and construct a steel bridge based on given site conditions, spans, members sizes, weight limitations and design loads representative of real bridges. (First competed in 1988) Robotic Football to design and build robotic football players to compete in a football game against players designed by engineering students from the University of Notre Dame. In 2016, the event expanded to include four university teams. (First competed in 2012)
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World War II tested the perseverance of the College of Engineering. Enrollment dropped to just 15 students by 1944. Engineering professors accepted a drastic pay cut, and alumni generously contributed to a loyalty fund to keep things afloat. Many ONU engineers valiantly served in the U.S. armed forces; a few died in the line of duty. Engineering professors trained more than 100 pilots and more than 5,400 civilians in Northwest Ohio to meet the need for technical and scientific workers. At the end of the war, the College In 2012, the college launched of Engineering the EPICS (Engineering Projects emerged in Community Service) program, stronger than which engages ONU engineering ever due to the and computer science students sacrifice and in projects that benefit people service of many and organizations both locally and globally. outstanding individuals.
NO BOUNDARIES
WELL-ROUNDED ENGINEERS
EVA MAGLOTT BECOMES THE FIRST FEMALE PROFESSOR
In 1908, Anna A. Cassat, CE 1908, became the first female to earn a civil engineering degree at ONU, and in 1941, Eileen Rogers, BSME ’41, became the first female to earn a mechanical engineering degree
In 1996,
the college started Camp
GEMS (girls in engineering, math and science), a summer program designed to interest middle-school girls in the fields of engineering, math and science. Every summer, the College of Engineering seeks to inspire around 70 young girls from around the U.S., and as a result, many end up majoring in a STEM field.
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During a period in history when there were few female professors, and fewer still in the sciences, ONU had Eva Maglott teaching math and astronomy to ONU engineering students starting in 1884. Eva possessed a sharp intellect and earned degrees from several universities before marrying Frederick Maglott, one of ONU’s four original owners. She taught at ONU for many years while managing a family and the many social obligations required of women in those times. Her role as an esteemed professor cemented in those early days the college’s view that engineering isn’t the domain of men or a privileged class; it is a field without boundaries.
T.J. SMULL NAMED DEAN
He set the standard for being a well-rounded student and engineer. Thomas Jefferson Smull, CE 1904, ME 1906, Hon. D. ’47, the college’s legendary namesake, excelled as a scholar, athlete, educator and administrator. He served as dean of the college for several years and then in various administrative capacities at ONU from 1905 until 1942. He was a transformative figure, not just at ONU, but in the field of engineering and in the state of Ohio. He became known as the “Father of Athletics” for championing ONU’s intercollegiate athletic programs and heading the Ohio Athletic Conference in its early days. He oversaw local and regional engineering projects and served as chair and chief examiner of Ohio’s Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. He earned the respect of generations of engineering students who admired his integrity and of ONU engineering and computer science students are student-athletes congeniality. today, and many more engage in other He died in 1962, extracurricular activities, including and the Univermusic ensembles sity named the and theatre productions, College of EngiFRATERNITIES, SORORITIES, neering in his student clubs honor a decade and organizations. later.
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
Lawrence “Larry” Archer, BSCE ’47, ACIT ’82, H of F ’88, is the college’s longest-serving dean, spending 34 years in this position, from 1952 to 1985. He graduated from ONU after serving as a combat pilot during World War II. The University appointed him dean when he was just 28 years old. During his tenure, he made many significant contributions to engineering education and the engineering field. A major figure in the college’s history, he shaped it into a highly respected academic institution. But his legacy rests on the relationships he forged with students. He showed students how much he cared by setting high standards and helping them reach them. He personally reviewed each and every application for admission and graduation. He knew every student by name. He was a master teacher in the tradition of ONU professors past and present who are committed to student success.
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30%
OTHER MASTER TEACHERS WHO’VE SERVED ONU ENGINEERING STUDENTS FOR
25 YEARS OR MORE:
John Needy (1916-44) Alexander Webb (1925-52) James Klingenberger (1949-93) Bruce Burton (1958-99) Silas Carmean (1960-2000) Howard Whisler (1964-89) Donald Milks (1965-2001) John Stahl (1966-93) Bruce Johansen (1967-99) Kanti Shah (1970-2000) Leo Maier (1975-2001) Jonathan Smalley (1978-present) David Retterer (1979-present) Michael Rider (1979-present) Robert Ward (1989-2015)
REAL-WORLD LEARNING
OLD MANUFACTURING PLANT TRANSFORMED INTO LEARNING LAB
Ohio Northern University Engineering Laboratories
In the early 1930s, ONU purchased the McCurdy Manufacturing Plant in Ada to use as a new engineering laboratory. Alumni stepped forward to outfit the plant with the latest technology. Hailing the move as a “significant step,” college administrators made an investment in hands-on learning, making it an integral part of the engineering curriculum. The college’s commitment to preparing students for the real world of engineering with hands-on projects continues today.
In 1987, the college launched its Cooperative Education Program, which enables students to blend classroom learning with a paid co-op position that provides practical experience. Today, co-op students spend between 12 and 18 months working onsite at regional and national companies. The co-op program has a 100 percent placement rate.
CUTTING-EDGE FACILITIES
Biggs Building opens
In 2016,
ONU is preparing to build a new 21st-cen-
tury engineering building that will accommodate the needs of today’s engineering and computer science students. The building will have open spaces and natural light, flexible and functional space for learning and collaboration, expanded room for design projects, and the latest technology in laboratories and classrooms.
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When the Robert W. Biggs Building was built in the early 1970s, it became the College of Engineering’s first permanent home on campus. Specifically designed and built for engineering students, the building was described as economical and functional. Its construction signaled a commitment on behalf of the University and ONU engineering alumni to provide engineering students with a top-notch facility to meet the needs of the times.
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THE DOZEN DESIGNERS In the future, thousands of ONU students will pass through the doors of a new state-of-the-art facility for the T.J. Smull College of Engineering. This building will become their home for four years. A special place where they will develop into world-class engineers and computer scientists in the Ohio Northern tradition. In 2015, 12 ONU seniors became the new facility’s first students. They didn’t learn in the building; they learned from the building. For their senior capstone project, the students completed structural, geotechnical, site-development and environmental-engineering plans for the new building based on the architectural drawings. By turning the new building into a learning experience, the College of Engineering gave these students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
DOZEN DESIGNERS The civil engineering class of 2015 consisted of 11 students. Because the seniors shared similar engineering interests, they decided to work together on one large project for their capstone. They added an engineering education major to their group and dubbed themselves the “Dozen Designers.” Professors approached the team with the option of tackling a capstone related to the new building. “The idea was for the team to simulate a civil engineering firm and act as a subcontractor for
BHDP Architecture, the real-world architectural firm for the building,” says Dr. Robert Ward, retired professor of civil engineering in the College of Engineering. The seniors jumped at the opportunity. “It was definitely something different than what civil classes had done in the past,” says Alex Altman, BSCE ’15, who served as the project leader and currently works at Marathon Petroleum in Findlay, Ohio.
S M U L L TA L K
Alexander Altman, left, speaks with Paul Orban of BHDP Architecture.
Paul Orban, a principal owner and lead in the higher-education market for BHDP Architecture in Columbus, Ohio, acted as the capstone team’s client. He initially met with the Dozen Designers to present the parameters of the project. He then touched base with the students periodically to answer technical questions and monitor their progress. LARGE SCOPE, LARGE OUTPUT The Dozen Designers created three company divisions: environmental, structural and site development. They selected an
“I viewed this as a tremendous opportunity to give back,” says Orban. “Working with students on a real-life project is an excellent way to prepare them for the workforce.”
made me excited to get out there and begin my career.”
overall project manager and a project leader for each division. An ONU engineering professor acted as a technical expert for each subgroup. The scope of the capstone project involved many areas of civil engineering. Students developed a structural framing system for the new engineering building. They analyzed existing structural systems on campus; determined loading conditions and values; and designed beams, girders, columns, floor slabs and slabs on grade. The team also analyzed and recommended a
The project required advanced technical knowledge and a level of communication and coordination that can be difficult for college students to achieve. “It required interaction with a real client, coordination between subgroups, and dealing with real life obstacles and problems,” explains Dr. Jonathan Smalley, professor of civil engineering. As a result, the students learned firsthand what it’s like to be an engineer in the real world. “The project taught me leadership and humility,” says Jeffrey Ogden, BSCE ’15, who now works for BNSF Railway. “But it
Because the Dozen Designers are not licensed engineers, BHDP could not use the technical studies and designs they produced. But their work still had merit, says Orban, because it informed the civil engineering firm hired to work on the building project. The Dozen Designers also provided innovative ideas from a student perspective, like a rain garden and building touchscreen display. “I was amazed by what these students were able to figure out and how they grew throughout the course of the project,” says Orban. “I was impressed by the team’s ability to generate a great amount of work in a short period of time. The students always asked thoughtful questions, and they each had outstanding presentation skills.” All 12 engineering students graduated from ONU in May 2015
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THE WORK CONTINUES In 2016, four ONU civil engineering majors continued the work of the original Dozen Designers for their senior capstone project, under the tutelage of Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Mohti, associate professor of civil engineering. The foursome’s work on the building’s structural design involved three components. First, the students optimized the 2015 capstone team’s steel design by designing a connection system that the previous year’s seniors didn’t have time to complete. They also found ways to reduce costs with smaller beam and column sizing and a different type of decking system. Second, the team created an alternate concrete structural design for the building. Finally, they performed a comprehensive cost analysis to determine which option – steel or concrete – was most cost-effective. “One day, I’ll walk through the new building, and I’ll know that I had a hand in its creation,” says Victoria Smith, BSCE ’16, an engineer associate at AEP in Gahanna, Ohio.
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foundation system. This included an examination of geotechnical constraints for a basement level, soil profiles, and design of foundational elements based on expected performance for bearing capacity and settlement. A third element of the project was the creation of a site plan and layout that included a parking lot and access-road design, a storm-water management system, utility design based on hydrology and hydraulic studies, and an erosion and sedimentation control plan. Finally, the team developed LEED certification recommendations and came up with “green” ideas for the new building.
FINAL PROPOSAL The Dozen Designers started the project in early September and presented their final proposal in the middle of April. Throughout this time, they also juggled their academic classes, extracurricular activities, internships and more. The final project turned out better than anyone expected, says Ward. “I felt trepidation at the start of the project,” he admits. “But I became a believer by the end. The students stayed on schedule and coordinated their work, and much of what they produced was good enough for use.”
with a newfound skillset and a tremendous sense of accomplishment. “I enjoyed the meaning behind this project and the fact that I can return to campus one day as an alumnus and see the finished work,” says Nathan Brune, BSCE ’15, an engineer-in-training/ design technician at Engineering Resources Inc. in Fort Wayne, Ind.
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INSPIRED BY
SPACE
Students remain at the heart of our mission in the T.J. Smull College of Engineering. We designed the new engineering building with their needs, interests and futures in mind. We envisioned a space centered on relationships, collaboration, innovation and academic rigor. An inspired space for learning, creating and growing. Four ONU engineering students — all members of ION (Innovators of Ohio Northern) — share the elements of the new building that excite them the most.
[ ATRIUM ]
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NATURAL LIGHT
“The building will be
Large windows throughout the new building will allow natural light to stream into classrooms and workspaces. A modern interior of glass and steel will provide a comfortable and inspirational space in which to explore the engineering disciplines.
modern and beautiful. The plans call for open spaces and a lot of windows to let in natural light. The natural light will create a healthy learning environment, as studies show that natural light enhances mental performance and decreases discomfort. This open and natural-lit environment also promotes sustainable building design. Overall, the new design does not look confining but instead looks comfortable — like a place where you will want to spend a lot of time.” –Alex McMullen, BSME ’16, quality engineer at Zimmer Biomet in Warsaw, Ind.
The new building will have more formal and informal collaboration spaces for homework, group projects or just hanging out – keeping our students together, in and out of class.
S M U L L TA L K
The new facility will feature research labs that can exist on their own – or be combined into bigger spaces for bigger projects. Faculty offices will be grouped together and positioned adjacent to classrooms and labs so our professors remain accessible.
[ COLLABORATION SPACE ]
FLEXIBLE AND OPEN SPACES
open area that will be experienced as soon as a person enters the new building. With the walkways that surround the entrance area, it creates a community space that encourages frequent interactions. You will see many familiar faces because your vision will not be restricted to a single hallway. The open spaces throughout the building will encourage students to be community-based and not divide themselves off by class. Flexible spaces and furnishings mean that multiple people can utilize the same space in different ways. It means the building will be functional and represent the true needs of an engineering community.” –Adam Berry, senior mechanical engineering major from Brunswick,
[LOBBY ENTRANCE ] [ SECOND FLOOR LANDING ]
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Ohio
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Multifunctional spaces and furniture will allow rooms to be fully utilized for more than one purpose. The flexibility designed into the building will encourage collaboration and break down barriers between majors and class years. Open spaces will create a feeling of possibility, promote interaction and build an even stronger community.
“I love the two-story
To prepare industryready graduates, the new building will have more large-scale project and design space for capstones, competitive design projects and other direct industry engagement.
[ PROJECT SPACE ]
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INCREASED WORKSPACE Increased space — nearly double the size of the current building — will mean more room for hands-on learning. Students working on class projects and competition teams will have the space they need to design and build. The new building will support 600 students in the future.
MODERN LABS AND TECHNOLOGY Modern laboratories, outfitted with the latest equipment and located adjacent to faculty offices, will enable students and professors to collaborate on research. Mobile technology and video conferencing will make it easier to connect with engineers and institutions across the globe. “Through my
“Students need space to learn, and
experiences at ONU,
professors need
I’ve learned how
space to teach. The
important space is in STEM education. I
layout for the new building includes larger classrooms
am excited that the plan for the new
and larger workspaces where
building includes lots of high-tech
students will have the equipment
lab areas. This should lead to greater
and space necessary to apply the
creativity and collaboration. It will
theories they are learning in class.
allow ONU to produce a new type of
The new building will transform
engineer.”
student learning from static to dynamic. It will give students and professors greater space and freedom to think, create and test the
[ CLASSROOM ]
OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE SETS US UP FOR OPTIMAL GROWTH WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR CORE VALUES OF
–Nathan Craft, senior civil engineering major from West
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, ENGAGEMENT,
Alexandria, Ohio
OPPORTUNITY, AND THE DEVELOPMENT
problems of today.”
AND SUCCESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
–Alexandra Seda, senior electrical engineering major from Columbiana, Ala.
S M U L L TA L K
GETTING IN
ON THE GROUND FLOOR Early donors help launch the Campaign for Engineering
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A 19-foot-tall glass sculpture, breathtaking in stature and symbolism will grace the atrium of Ohio Northern University’s new engineering building.
Kennedy knows all about the power of a simple idea. It’s the legacy bequeathed to him by his great-grandfather, Henry Solomon Lehr. A brilliant man from a humble background, Lehr founded a small teachers college in 1871 in the wooded lands of Northwest Ohio that evolved into one of the nation’s top private institutions of higher education: Ohio Northern University. Like his great-grandfather, Kennedy has spent his life turning his ideas into reality. He’s an entrepreneur who has built three successful companies; an inventor who has developed the industry standard for a disaster-alert system; an artist who has created beautiful works of glass; and a philanthropist who has helped many projects, including ONU’s engineering building, come to fruition. Kennedy grew up in Massachusetts, but he learned about his family’s connection with ONU at an early age. Every summer during his childhood, he visited his grandmother Sarah Kennedy, the daughter of Henry Solomon Lehr, and aunt Mary Kennedy, the granddaughter
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Rising from a bed of crushed glass, “Tower of Inspiration” will reflect light and energy upon visitors with 380 hexagonal glass cylinders supported by an invisible steel frame. Although it appears light and airy, the sculpture weighs 9,000 pounds — the weight of three mid-sized cars. Artist James Lehr Kennedy says the sculpture symbolizes “that instant in time when an idea crystallizes in the mind and becomes reality.”
of Lehr, who lived in Ada. He enjoyed watching the growth of campus through the years and felt honored in 1998 when ONU invited him to serve on the Board of Trustees, a position he’s held for 18 years. Kennedy received his undergraduate degree in economics from the College of Wooster and a master’s degree in economics and MBA from Ohio State University. Right out of undergraduate school, he landed a key position at the Ohio Power Siting Board. He later worked at the Ohio Department of Energy and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio during the oil and natural gas crisis of the 1970s. He spent 20 years holding executive positions, formulating energy policy, directing regulatory affairs, testifying before lawmakers and devising energy forecasts. In the evening, he found time to teach macroeconomics at Ohio State University for 12 years.
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Then, one day in August 1989, Kennedy was having dinner with a friend and utility executive who was complaining about how electric companies couldn’t handle all the calls during widespread power outages. On a napkin, Kennedy sketched out an idea that became Twenty First Century Communications, his first entrepreneurial endeavor and a multimillion-dollar company. Kennedy created the technology that enables electric companies to handle large call volumes, track power outages reported by customers and call back customers with pertinent information. He then created the alert system that gives utilities, emergency-management agencies, schools and other organizations the ability to call or text-message people within a certain geographic radius in the event of a disaster. His system has saved countless lives, alerting people about the need to evacuate during wild fires, floods, hurricanes and active-shooter situations. In recent years, Kennedy has launched two new companies. Next Futures LLC develops, markets and patents a wide range of consumer-based products, including Kennedy’s recent invention of a smartphone application that reads utility meters. Crystal Remembrances, based in Dublin, Ohio, emerged from Kennedy’s artistry and passion for glass-blowing. The company produces handcrafted crystal vessels to hold the cremated remains of loved ones. These elegant pieces of art provide one-of-a-kind memorials and are sold at funeral homes across the U.S. Kennedy became fascinated with glass-blowing and the artist community associated with it while taking art classes at Ohio State University. “Glass-blowing is creative and demanding,” he says. “When you have eight pounds of molten glass on the end of a metal pole, you can’t stop until it’s done. Then, when it’s done, you’re never
completely happy with the result. You see someone else’s work, and it inspires you to try again.” Kennedy and a team of artists created “Tower of Inspiration” – a project that took two years – for the lobby of Twenty First Century Communications. When Kennedy sold the company, he carefully dismantled the sculpture and crated and labeled the pieces. ONU’s new engineering building will be a fitting home for the sculpture, says Kennedy, and he is looking forward to reconstructing it. The College of Engineering will name the building’s atrium in Kennedy’s honor. In addition to the sculpture, he made a generous financial contribution to the building project. Kennedy believes that constructing a new engineering building is in keeping with his great-grandfather’s original vision for the University. “Throughout its history, ONU has always been a school that addressed itself to the needs of the times,” he says. “There is a great demand for qualified engineers today, and the expansion of space with a new building will enable ONU to meet that need.” James Lehr Kennedy Even though he’s not an ONU graduate and doesn’t possess an engineering degree, Kennedy feels blessed to be able to support the institution started by his great-grandfather so many decades ago.
“As an ONU trustee, I’ve seen the continuum. There are many people who’ve supported the University through the years, helping it to flourish and become what it is today. It’s an ongoing legacy that’s greater than any one person,” he says.
S M U L L TA L K
Carl Clay, BSME ’60, took a stroll across ONU’s campus one day that turned into a decade-long journey — one that will culminate with the construction of a state-of-the-art engineering building. “I’ve been accused of being the guy who started it all,” he says, with a laugh. He was attending a meeting of ONU’s Board of Trustees when he decided to tour campus. Clay, who served as an active trustee from 1986 to 2006 and is currently a life member, walked into the Biggs Engineering Building and felt underwhelmed. “I had been in this building many times before, but this time the stark and dated appearance of the entrance lobby and the small size of the dean’s office suite seemed woefully inadequate. I wondered what kind of a first impression this building would make on prospective students and their families.”
Clay is 100 percent behind the new engineering building. “I firmly believe it’s the right thing to do at the right time,” he says. “It will greatly enhance the educational experience of our engineering students and entice more students to enroll at ONU.” Clay grew up in the small town of Quincy, Ohio. He attended ONU for one year after high school, before dropping out for a two-year stint in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He returned to ONU with his new bride of three weeks. With the G.I. Bill and his wife’s teacher salary, he completed his mechanical engineering degree. “It wasn’t easy going back to school as an older student. We didn’t have a lot to live on, but we had a lot to live for,” he says. “ONU was the kind of place where professors went out of their way to provide help and positive support. And it is still that same place today.” After graduation, Clay embarked on a stellar 33-year career at Marathon Petroleum Corporation. He rose through the engineering ranks to become the director of transportation and logistics. He retired in 1994, moved to Texas and worked as an industry consultant until 2010 when he retired for good.
To Clay, living a meaningful life means honoring the past and preparing for the future. For that reason, he’s supported his alma mater by recruiting ONU engineers, serving on the College of Engineering Advisory Board and the ONU Board of Trustees, and contributing financially. “Givers in the past paved the way for me to get an exceptional engineering education, and now it’s my turn to be a giver,” he says. “I know most engineering alumni also have strong feelings for their alma mater and recognize the importance of their ONU education in their professional careers. Now it is their responsibility to step up, become a giver and support the construction of the new engineering building. There is little doubt in my mind that the engineering alumni will rise to the occasion.”
Lee Stockton, BSCE ’61, reconnected with the T.J. Smull College of Engineering a few years ago, and what he saw amazed him.
“The students were working on advanced projects that I would not have expected them to work on until a few years into their careers,” he says. Stockton attended ONU and received his civil engineering degree in 1961. He spent 43 years working for Price Brothers (now Hanson Pipe and Precast) in Dayton, Ohio, a company that manufactures concrete products for bridges, pipelines, culverts, sanitary sewers, and floor and roof systems. He was active on American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and ASTM committees dealing with the design and installation of concrete pipe. Stockton retired in 2004 as the senior vice president of the corporation. During his engineering career, he specialized in quality control, product design, research and development, product promotion, sales, field service, and international marketing. He traveled across the U.S. and the world, including China, North Africa, South America, and South Korea. “I devoted a tremendous amount of time to my work,” he says. “I was committed to doing a good job.”
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Convinced that something needed to be done, he and his wife, Jane, offered to provide financial support for a remodeling project. A team of administrators and alumni looked at the options, and after many years and much work, it became apparent to everyone on the team that a new building was the proper recommendation.
Clay credits his corporate success to hard work, perseverance and, above all, the first-class people who surrounded him. His ONU education prepared him for whatever challenges came his way, he says. “I’ve never felt that any engineer was better prepared than me, and I interfaced with engineers from many engineering schools over the years.”
member of his family to attend college, studying mechanical engineering at ONU. He made it his life’s goal to follow the example of his father and grandfather and own a business by age 30 and retire by age 50. When Kucklick was 30, he and a partner purchased a small tool-anddie shop near South Bend, Ind., that had seven employees. Over the next 21 years, Kucklick and his partner grew the business into Hess Industries Inc., with 500 worldwide employees and $75 million in annual sales. With a reputation for quality products and excellent service, Hess Industries primarily served the automotive industry with manufactured proprietary metalworking machinery, production lines, tools and processes.
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Stockton has always contributed financially to ONU, and, upon retirement, he decided to share his time and expertise by serving on committees and judging the College of Engineering's senior capstone projects. Spending time on campus, he soon recognized the need for a new engineering building. “I went to ONU at a time when computers and even handheld calculators didn’t exist,” he says. “Things have changed considerably. Students spend a tremendous amount of time working on projects, and they need the space. You can’t build a concrete canoe in a closet.” Stockton and his wife, Shirley, made a generous donation to the building project, and he hopes other alumni will follow suit. “I am sold on the need for more space and the need for a facility that will continue to attract top-notch engineering students and professors to ONU,” he says.
Frederick “Fritz” Kucklick, BSME ’69, became a successful engineer, entrepreneur and consultant with hard work and exceptional soft skills. The former he learned from family, the latter at Ohio Northern. “Every engineer can do the numbers, but not everyone can communicate effectively,” he says. “I walked away from ONU with excellent language skills, and that has been the greatest asset in my career.” Growing up in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Kucklick was a “well-rounded nerd,” he says. He restored old cars, played piano and trumpet, studied French, and operated a ham radio. He became the first
Staying true to his plan, Kucklick sold his interests in Hess Industries Inc. in 1998 when he was 51. He wasn’t ready for a life of leisure, however, just a change of pace. He launched IMT Consulting and became an engineering and management consultant, litigation consultant and expert witness for manufacturing technology industry clients. He works with some of the nation’s top law firms on legal cases in the manufacturing industry. He carefully investigates cases, prepares extensive reports, and testifies in depositions and trials. Attorneys rely on his insider knowledge of engineering and operations and his excellent written and oral communication skills. “I’ve sorted out some messes of high magnitude,” he says. “In manufacturing, even a seemingly insignificant oversight can prove catastrophic.” While it’s demanding work, Kucklick enjoys every minute. He’s grateful to ONU for equipping him with the skillset for success. “ONU gave me a solid foundation and steered me in the right direction,” he says. “My ONU education has been a huge factor in my success my entire life.” To show his gratitude, Kucklick serves on the ONU Board of Trustees and the College of Engineering Advisory Board. He and his wife, Chris (Murdock) Kucklick, BA ’70, have made a significant donation to the new engineering building. Through the years, Kucklick has watched the evolution of ONU’s engineering program and the growth in student projects and hands-on learning. He believes the time is right for a new building. “Engineers require a lot of tools, and they need space to build, test and test. We’ve run out of space,” he says. “I’ve no doubt a new engineering building will benefit the College of Engineering and the entire University.”
S M U L L TA L K
ONU proved to be a transformative experience for Brenda Reichelderfer, BSEE ’80. She came to campus as an introverted farm girl with a gift for mathematics, the first in her family to attend college. After graduation, she evolved into a top management and engineering executive for a $10 billion multinational conglomerate. “In my own way and in my own time, ONU allowed me to blossom,” she says. “I’ve no doubt I would not be the same person if I had gone to any other school.” Reichelderfer played the French horn and three sports at ONU. As the only female in her electrical engineering class, she started ONU’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. “At ONU I encountered this wonderful mix of people who challenged you, but also made it clear they were rooting for you,” she says.
At ITT, she developed a reputation as an innovative leader who represented the voice of the consumer. She ran operations in 17 different
After retiring in 2009, Reichelderfer became the managing director of TriVista Business Group, a global management consultant firm, helping clients achieve rapid and sustainable growth through innovation and best practices. Throughout her 36-year career, Reichelderfer has never lost sight of her roots. She credits ONU for giving her the knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve everything that she has. To show her appreciation, she has served on the College of Engineering Advisory Board and the ONU Board of Trustees, and she helped create Camp GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science), a summer program on campus designed to get middle school girls excited about the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. She also has made a generous donation to help with the construction costs of the new engineering building. Reichelderfer believes a new engineering building is critically needed if ONU wants to continue attracting high-quality engineering students. She is excited about the building’s larger size and interactive spaces that will lead to more innovation, collaboration and teamwork.
“What’s not to love about this new building?” she asks. “It’s beautiful and student-centered. It will expand opportunities and give students a glimpse of the sheer delight that can happen when you work with a team to create something that didn’t exist before.”
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Reichelderfer built her career at ITT Corporation, a leading manufacturer of highly engineered, customized solutions for the energy, transportation and industrial markets. She started at the bottom as a test engineer and rose to become a senior vice president and director of engineering and chief technology officer for the corporation. “My ability to pull people together to solve challenges just kept leading me to the next greatest challenge,” she says.
countries, oversaw technology and manufacturing plants and divisions, and led the charge to roll out Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Best Practices in New Product Development and other commercial best practices to the corporation’s more than 40,000 employees.
MORE THAN JUST
AN INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIP
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Leaders at Kokosing — the Midwest’s largest self-performing contractor — believe ONU has the right formula for educating engineers. On the strength of that belief, the company has made a significant investment in the T.J. Smull College of Engineering’s new building and its students.
Kokosing Inc., Westerville, OH
ONU HAS THE RIGHT FORMULA FOR EDUCATING ENGINEERS.
“ONU turns out well-rounded engineers who have skills and a thought-process that can’t be learned from books,” says Lori (Burgett) Gillett, BSCE ’96, business development manager for Kokosing Industrial. “That’s one of the reasons why we love our relationship with the University.” The Burgett family owns and operates Kokosing. The family’s ties to ONU stretch back four generations. Gillett is one of many Burgett family members who, since 1920, have been proud to call ONU their alma mater. Since Kokosing was founded in
1951, the Burgetts also have hired a significant number of ONU graduates who’ve forged successful careers at their company. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Kokosing has the capacity to handle small to large and complex construction projects throughout the Midwest. Primary business lines include industrial, power, natural gas, transportation, buildings, pipelines, water/ wastewater and marine works. The Kokosing holding company has seven affiliated business units employing 3,500 associates with more than $1 billion in annual revenue. The company is ranked the 34th-largest domestic heavy contractor in the United States by Engineering News Record. One of the company’s biggest challenges, however, is finding qualified engineers. Last summer, Kokosing’s leaders established a formal partnership with the College of Engineering with the
goal of getting more engineering students interested in working in the construction industry. “We are looking to ONU to be an employment pipeline,” says Gillett. The partnership gives ONU engineering students access to experiences and opportunities that will enhance their educations. Kokosing employees who graduated from ONU are overseeing the different components of the partnership. Components include arranging field trips to Kokosing job sites, supplying guest speakers for engineering classes, mentoring an ONU team for the Ohio Contractors Association’s Estimating Competition,
"WE ARE LOOKING TO ONU TO
A key component of the partnership is Kokosing’s commitment to providing ONU engineering students at all class levels with internship and co-op opportunities. The company views it as an investment that will pay off when the internships and co-ops transition into full-time employment, says Gillett. “We are a hands-on company. At Kokosing, we are builders. We actually self-perform construction with our associates. Our internships and co-op programs are purposefully set up to give students that handson construction experience from the onset. This initial hands-on experience becomes a solid foundation for future growth within our company once an employee joins our team full time,” she explains.
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BE AN EMPLOYMENT PIPELINE."
and developing Senior Capstone projects and mentoring the student teams working on them.
“The company’s financial contribution to the new engineering building is a natural extension of the partnership,” adds Gillett. As an alumna, she believes a new facility is vital for future growth and will give the College of Engineering “a new tool in the toolbox” when recruiting students. “The College of Engineering is on an exciting trajectory and we at Kokosing can’t wait to see where it leads.”
CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP DR. BRUCE BURTON Honorary Campaign Chair
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Dr. Bruce Burton, former dean of the College of Engineering, devoted his career to ONU, spending 40 years in the College of Engineering holding positions as a faculty member and chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering as well as dean for nine years. He always has possessed a passion for bringing international students to campus. In retirement, he has worked part-time in international admissions at ONU, recruiting hundreds of international students from many countries and helping them adjust to life on campus. He also brought the Sakae Institute of Study Abroad to ONU’s campus, which each summer prepares around 25 Japanese and Chinese students for studies in the U.S.
"Over the years, ONU has never stopped evolving - but the foundation of our education has never changed: our focus on people and the communities they impact. This campaign will help us continue to evolve and grow while preserving everything our students and alumni cherish about the education we provide."
KEVIN FREESE Campaign Chair
Kevin Freese, BSME ’84, is the chair and CEO of both Affordable Living Spaces Ltd. and Groovy Candies in Cleveland, Ohio. Affordable Living Spaces Ltd. revitalizes, re-purposes and renews distressed and abandoned real estate throughout Cuyahoga County, while Groovy Candies serves as the ultimate online candy superstore. He earned his Master of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Tennessee Space Institute. From 1984 to 1996, he served in the United States Air Force, earning the rank of captain. Freese joined the ONU College of Engineering Advisory Board in 2003 and served as its chair from 2012 to 2016. "I know that our revolutionary new engineering building will become a benchmark for other programs to copy. I am entirely convinced of the need and the impact of this new facility on our future success. I ask you to join me in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change and shape the education of thousands of future ONU engineering and computer science students."
BOB PETERSON
Honorary Campaign Chair Bob Peterson, BSME ’83, is an Academy Award-winning animator, screenwriter and voice actor at Pixar Animation Studios in California. A mechanical engineer by training, he joined Pixar in 1994 as animator and layout artist on the groundbreaking film Toy Story. He also was the screenwriter and co-director of Up, which received an Academy Award for Animated Feature Film and was nominated for Writing (Original Screenplay). He also has served as a story artist on A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2, story supervisor on Monsters, Inc., and screenwriter for Finding Nemo. In addition, Peterson has voiced several of Pixar’s memorable animated characters, including the tuneful teacher Mr. Ray in Finding Nemo and Dug the dog in Up. Peterson became the first alumnus to be awarded the ONU College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2010.
"ONU Engineering in unique. That's what drew me to Northern in the first place - the uniqueness of a topnotch engineering program that encourages personal growth outside of the engineering core, set in a smallschool environment. This model needs to be guarded and nurtured for the next generation of students. It's a model that fostered my growth, having the soft skills of cartooning and art combining with the hard science of engineering - leading to a career in computer graphics. I will always be grateful to ONU."
DAN WALKER Campaign Chair
Dan Walker, BSCE ’71, is president of Kokosing Industrial in Westerville, Ohio. Kokosing Industrial is a self-performing contractor that focuses on projects in oil and gas, power, industrial, marine, water and wastewater, commercial, and heavy civil. Walker has worked at Kokosing for 40 years. He received his MBA from Xavier University. He has been a strong supporter of ONU for many years, providing insight and assistance on matters related to facility planning and construction. He currently serves as the vice chair of the ONU Board of Trustees. "The educational experience that Ohio Northern provides for its students has a significant impact on their paths to successful lives. ONU has reached a critical juncture in its ability to sustain this outstanding program. It is rare to find an opportunity to make a real difference in something this important. For all of us, that opportunity is now, and it’s why I am committed to the successful completion of the Campaign for Engineering: Building Impact at ONU "
The kind of engineer communities need — and companies want. One who can design products — and better ways to do business. One who can complete projects — and lead teams. One with the insight to see solutions — and the passion and grit to make them real.
HELP ONU EDUCATE
THE MODEL ENGINEER. ONU engineers bring more to their work because they have an education that does more for them. Now, it’s time to bring our model to scale — and build the impact we make on every student, every day.
AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. onu.edu/buildingimpact BOARD PARTIC IPATION
2016-17 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING ADVISORY BOARD BOARD CHAIR Deborah (Green) Houdeshell, P.E. BSCE ’87 Senior Business Project Manager MS Consultants Inc. Akron, Ohio BOARD VICE CHAIR *Michael Chow, P.E., LEED AP BSEE ’92, ACIT ’12 Owner/Principal Metro CD Engineering LLC Dublin, Ohio
Dr. Donald Campbell BSME ’59, ACIT ’95, Hon. D. ’98, ACIT ’11 Director (Retired) NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio Kevin Freese BSME ’84, ACIT ’15 President and CEO Affordable Living Spaces Ltd. Cleveland, Ohio
Jeff Garlock BS ’85 Associate Chief Engineer Honda of America Manufacturing Inc. Marysville, Ohio Lori (Burgett) Gillett BSCE ’96 Business Development Manager Kokosing Construction Company Westerville, Ohio Bruce Hollinger BSCE ’75 President/Co-Founder WiSys LLC Flowery Branch, Ga. *Frederick “Fritz” Kucklick BSME ’69, ACIT ’09 Engineering, Mgmt & Lit. Consultant IMT Consulting Inc. Cassopolis, Mich. Dr. E.F. Charles LaBerge Professor of the Practice of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, Md.
*Susan (Di Nezza) Lettrich, P.E. BSEE ’85 Manager, Data Analysis – Human Capital Progressive Insurance Mayfield Heights, Ohio Victor Marone, P.E. Senior Partner Chesapeake Management Associates Annapolis, Md.
100 PERCENT
Neil Naiman, P.E. BSEE ’74 Manager, Downstream Planning and Strategy (Retired) Marathon Petroleum Company LLC Findlay, Ohio Timothy Quellhorst, BSME ’81, ACIT ’16 Senior Vice President Crown Equipment New Bremen, Ohio
Lt. Col. Brett Mason BSEE ’86 Vice President, Intelligence Community, AC4S Mission Essential Personnel LLC Fairfax, Va.
Michael Rencheck, P.E. BSEE ’83, ACIT ’08 President/CEO Bruce Power Tiverton, Ontario
Scott McClintock, P.E. BSCE ’86 Project Manager Kass Corporation/2AW Limited Pataskala, Ohio
Rob Ryan, P.E. BSME ’81 Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Consultant Shell Oil Corporation (Retired) Houston, Texas *Campaign Steering Committee Member
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To learn more about supporting the Campaign for Engineering: Building Impact at ONU, contact University Advancement at 419-772-2036 or s-spencer@onu.edu.
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. Postage
SMULL
TALK
PAID
Berne, IN 46711 Permit No. 43
Ohio Northern University College of Engineering 525 South Main Street Ada, OH 45810
UPCOMING ALUMNI AND FRIENDS EVENTS There is so much good news coming out of Ohio Northern University, we couldn’t keep it all to ourselves! So join your fellow Polar Bears for an alumni and friends event and learn “What’s New at ONU.” The events will be hosted by President Dan DiBiasio and Chris Burns-DiBiasio and will feature a special presentation from Eric Baumgartner, dean of the College of Engineering.
NOV. 6, 2016 Lima/Findlay/Ada ONU’s McIntosh Center
MARCH 5, 2017 Winter Park/Orlando, Fla. Alfond Inn
FEB. 19. 2017 Dayton, Ohio Dayton Country Club
MARCH 11, 2017 Atlanta, Ga. St. Ives Country Club, John’s Creek, Ga.
MARCH 4, 2017 Venice, Fla. The Venice Yacht Club
APRIL 23, 2017 Cleveland, Ohio The Ritz Carlton
APRIL 28, 2017 Columbus, Ohio The Athletic Club of Columbus For more information or to register for these events, please visit the ONU Alumni Connect website at alumni.onu.edu Online registration for events will open approximately eight weeks prior to each event.
QUESTIONS? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@onu.edu or 419-772-2727.