Pioneers hurried from their Thursday afternoon meetings and sports practices to join a growing line of students, faculty, and staff that stretched from the Kremer Amphitheatre to the entrance of the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center.
While a special Homecoming cookout with entertainment and games promised an evening of fun, the campus community's attention was on the man who would soon be exiting the DBRC — unaware of the excitement that his latest philanthropic challenge has generated for MC.
As Joe Chlapaty H’10 stepped outside the DBRC, cheers and applause erupted from the hundreds of Pioneers gathered to show their gratitude to Joe and Linda Chlapaty, who recently announced a $500,000 Chlapaty Challenge. Parents of a 1997 alumnus, the couple announced they will match every new, renewed, or increased gift to The Marietta Fund, dollar-for-dollar, until December 31, 2024. This is a unique chance for supporters to double their impact on Marietta College students.
“When my son came here in the fall of 1993, I didn’t know anything about Marietta College,” Chlapaty shared. “Those ended up being some of the best years of my life, being able to follow my son’s journey. This town needs this school. This country needs this school and education like it. The future is bright at Marietta.”
President Margaret L. Drugovich was not surprised by the number of students who came out to show their appreciation.
“I’m so proud of our students. It makes me so happy to know that they can see someone like Joe Chlapaty as the generous person that he is,” Drugovich said. “Everything that comes from him comes from his heart. He believes in this place so much. He understands the place that Marietta College deserves to have in higher education. He is such a great example for the rest of us.”
Among the crowd was student-athlete Jaelon Quiero-Gordon ’25 (Westerville, Ohio), whose eyes lit up with pride as he joined his football teammates to honor the man whose generosity has profoundly impacted their experiences. During his sophomore year, Chlapaty arranged for the Pioneers to play a game in Iowa against his alma mater, the University of Dubuque.
“Having my whole team here today to cheer on Mr. Chlapaty is a very special moment for me. He’s the reason why I was able to take my first flight. He’s the reason why I’ve had such
a special experience at Marietta College. He’s really been able to put some dreams into the heads of so many students and make them believe that their dreams are possible. The way he’s shown us how much he cares about every student; he’s made us feel important. That’s a special gift to have.”
Sarah Watson ’25 (Coolville, Ohio), an English major and the Director of Traditions for the Pioneer Activities Council, was happy to be able to shake Joe Chlapaty’s hand during the campus pep rally.
“Marietta College is so much better because of him,” she said. “It's quite a joy to have him be willing to visit our campus and be generous with his donations and his leadership. I hope one day I can give back the way he has because I want to be able to make a difference like this in the lives of students.”
Bethany McFarland Leslie ’12 Vice President for Advancement, emphasizes that now is the best time to move forward with gifts in support of the College’s annual fund, The Marietta Fund.
“Our students thrive when they have the resources they need to succeed, and the Chlapaty Challenge is a powerful way for our community to make a direct impact,” Leslie said. “With Joe Chlapaty’s incredible generosity, every dollar donated is doubled, allowing us to provide even greater support for our students’ educational journeys and futures.”