Ohio Northern University celebrated the donors who power its mission during the annual H.S. Lehr Society dinner on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026.
In addition to recognizing Life Lehr members and Life Lehr Associate members, the University bestowed its 2026 Outstanding Corporate Partner Award to the Kern Family Foundation and 2026 Outstanding Philanthropist Award to Judy (Jacobs) Mifsud, BS ’70, Hon.D. ’13 and Oscar Mifsud, BSBA ’70, Hon.D. ’13.
Founded in 1974, the Lehr Society is a special group of donors who share a common interest in sustaining ONU and its students. Annual Lehr Society members make gifts of $1,000 or more each fiscal year; Life Lehr members are households that have contributed $100,000 or more during their lifetimes; and Life Lehr Associate members are households that have contributed $250,000 or more during their lifetimes.
Ten new Life Lehr member households in attendance received special recognition:
- Lorrie Zacharias Burns, BSPh ’80 and John A. Burns;
- Phillip D. Caris, BSBA ’82 and Cheryl Caris;
- Susan L. Carson, BA ’75;
- Jean Daniel, BA ’70;
- Suzanne R. Eastman-Wuest, BSPh ’74, Hon.D. ‘09 and J. Richard Wuest;
- John W. Emerson, BSME ’69 and Toby L. Emerson, BA ’69;
- Karen M. Fitzpatrick, BSPh ’79;
- Lola Franks, BSBA ’69;
- Brian D. Hofman;
- Brent D. McKenna, BSEE ’94 and Tara A. McKenna, BSPh ’97.
Two new Life Lehr Associate member households were also honored:
- Daniel E. Dumbauld, BSBA ’67 and Rebecca S. Cook Dumbauld;
- Philip G. Wagner, BSME ’69 and Debra S. Wagner.
Outstanding Corporate Partner: Kern Family Foundation
For more than two decades, the Foundation has been a visionary partner in ONU’s quest to educate engineers with an entrepreneurial mindset, awarding the T.J. Smull College of Engineering more than $2.5 million in programmatic grants. These grants have led to strategic curriculum development, immersive experiences, innovation challenges, and faculty support.
Through their longstanding support of ONU and the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), the Kern Family Foundation has enabled ONU to create learning experiences that challenge engineering students to understand the needs of others and create personal, economic, and social value.
Outstanding Philanthropists: Judy and Oscar Mifsud
For more than five decades, the Mifsuds have lived a philosophy of blessing others, demonstrated through their generous philanthropy and enduring commitment to their alma mater.
Both are ONU graduates: Judy with a degree in elementary education and Oscar with a degree in business administration.
Oscar built a distinguished career as an aerospace executive and entrepreneur. His service to ONU has been extraordinary. He served on the Board of Trustees for 21 years, leading numerous board committees, task forces, and as Vice Chair and Chair of the Board. He also chaired “The Campaign for Ohio Northern University’s Tomorrow” which successfully raised $110 million dollars. In recognition of his impact, ONU honored him with the Distinguished Alumni Award, the H.S. Lehr Outstanding Service Award and an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration.
Judy devoted more than 20 years to educating Ohio children, continuing her advocacy by founding PJs from Grandma, a nonprofit that provided new pajamas for children in need. At ONU, she played an instrumental role in establishing the “Pay it Forward” program, a precursor to numerous programs and projects cultivating a culture of giving. ONU awarded Judy the Distinguished Alumni Award and an Honorary Doctor of Education.
Together, Oscar and Judy have transformed student success at ONU through scholarships, endowments, and facilities. Their legacy is perhaps most visibly reflected in Heterick Memorial Library, a space that played a special role in their own journey as students. In 2016, they made possible the Oscar J. and Judy D. Mifsud Collaborative Learning Center on the first floor, a vibrant hub for student activity, learning, and collaboration. Most recently, their visionary support helped create the Mifsud Center for Student Success on the second floor, which opened in 2025.