Ashland University honored longtime benefactors Dwight Schar and his wife, Martha Schar, with the dedication of Schar Plaza outside the main entrance of Amstutz Hall on campus on Oct. 2.

Dwight Schar, founder of Brecksville-based NVR, a home construction company, helped transform the university’s residence halls with a $20 million donation, the largest gift in Ashland University’s history, and bringing the total of philanthropic support from the Schars to $60 million, according to a news release.

“Dwight and Martha Schar have helped shape the trajectory of Ashland University through decades of remarkable generosity and a shared vision for the university’s future,” Ashland University President Jon Parrish Peede said in the release. “Their donation highlights their commitment to building quality housing, not only for families but also for students. This historic $20 million gift is the latest chapter in a legacy that has touched every corner of our campus, strengthening our academic and athletic programs, enhancing our facilities, and enriching the student experience. We are profoundly grateful for the Schars’ lasting impact on our institution.”

The recent $20 million donation helped renovate and modernize nine-story Amstutz Hall, four-story Jacobs Hall, and the first floor of Andrews Hall – with all construction taking place during a five-month timeline.

The three residence halls now feature air conditioning, pod-style bathrooms and lobby and room updates which include new flooring, furniture and LED lighting. Amstutz Hall now has a glass façade running the full height of the nine-story building, bringing natural light into open-concept study lounges on every floor. The renovations provide students with more modern, comfortable, and collaborative living and learning environments, the release said.

“Ashland provided me with an outstanding education and experience that shaped me as an adult,” Dwight Schar said in the release. “I want the current and future students to have the same opportunity and the living environment that reflects the exceptional quality of the Ashland faculty, staff, coaches and academic facilities.”

Dwight Schar was raised in Jefferson, Ohio, alongside six siblings by their mother, who didn’t let financial “tough straits” define their aspirations. He attended Ashland University by working the night-shift at a pipe-fitting factory and graduated in 1964. He began a career in teaching, but began selling property and soon founded his own company, NVHomes. NVR is now a Fortune 400 company and is the parent company of Ryan Homes, NVHomes and Heartland Homes.

The projects the Schars have supported have touched every area of campus, from modernized student housing and two academic buildings to campus beautification and gathering spaces, according to the release.