Celebrate Founders Day | Ohio Northern University

MAKE A GIFT TO THE NORTHERN FUND

The Northern Fund supports students by providing funds that are powerful investments in the student experience such as campus improvements, academic programs, student life, faculty research and financial aid. A robust Northern Fund is an essential part of the University, because it provides revenue for emerging opportunities — those we are prepared for and those we cannot anticipate.

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SHARE YOUR STORY | We want to hear from you! We want to hear about your “Dear College Days”. Share your memories from ONU, what you’ve been up to since graduation or your thanks and appreciation for ONU. CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORY!

Each April, we celebrate the University’s founding with a day of giving. We look back to ONU’s founding and celebrate all that the University has done to impact our world.
Henry Solomon Lehr was born in Ohltown, Ohio on March 8th, 1838. In 1854, Lehr earned his teaching certification and began part-time teaching while working as a farm hand. He then enrolled at Mount Union College in March 1857 but his studies were halted by the American Civil War. Post-war, Lehr moved to Ada, Ohio to become a schoolmaster, and then in 1871 he established the Northwestern Ohio Normal School, later to become Ohio Northern University.

As the founder and first president of Ohio Northern University, Henry Lehr served from 1871 to 1900. Lehr established the focus of the university on professional education, creating programs for education, engineering, pharmacy, and law.
Our ambassadors will get the first look into our Founders Day celebration. You will be asked to engage with us on social media by posting, liking, commenting and sharing posts. Interested in being a social media ambassador for Founders Day? Email Nicole Neely at n-neely@onu.edu
FOLLOW us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @OhioNorthern - like, share and comment on posts.

WEAR your ONU gear on Founders Day, April 14, and post it on social media!

PLAN a virtual event with your fellow polar bears! Do a virtual group workout, have a virtual lunch date, have a virtual dance party, anything to show your #PolarBearPride

TAG us @OhioNorthern and use #ONUFoundersDay in all your posts
Ohio Northern offers students an opportunity to grow and develop as a person - both in and out of the classroom. Hitting the books is job number one, followed by adventures and experiences that take students to places they never expected. Learn more about the journeys others have taken and consider what you might be able to do at ONU too!
Read their stories here

IMPACT

Students gather to celebrate what it means to be a Polar Bear and the impact that Ohio Northern has had on their education and college experience. Each and every one had a unique reason why they chose and love Northern. A recurring theme throughout the day was being thankful for friends that turned into family and the overwhelming support they are shown by professors, advisors, parents, alumni, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and the list continues on. This is what it means to be a Polar Bear. Thank you for being a member of our Polar Bear family.