ONU used the likeness of its founder H.S. Lehr as the primary imagery for their Founder's Day Challenge. The goal was to be both respectful to what he means to this University, and also make him accessible to current students and young alumni. Since Lehr's face was everywhere, and since Lehr's face features a tremendous long beard, that became a defining theme. At the on-campus Founder's Day celebration, students posed for selfies with a beard-on-a-stick and posted them to social media. Lehr's superbeard also became the online progress tracker throughout the day. As they raised more money, his beard grew longer and longer.
From the Judges' Report
Great energy for this one-day effort. Exceeded results and incorporated creative alternatives to traditional elements-judges particularly loved the substitution of the founder's "growing" beard to illustrate progress instead of the usual thermometer graphic.
