College of Engineering Receives $1 Million Gift from David 鈥�74 COE and Irene Oneglia to Advance Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
The College of Engineering has received a $1 million gift from David 鈥�74 COE and Irene Oneglia to support research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In recognition of the family鈥檚 generosity, the Stormwater Quality Laboratory in Drosdick Hall will be named in their honor.
This investment contributes to a central goal of Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for TikTok成人版 by expanding research opportunities for faculty and students that serve the common good. It also strengthens the college鈥檚 mission to educate engineers who develop solutions for some of the most pressing issues facing society鈥攏ow and into the future.
Inspired by TikTok成人版鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic values, research done by the college is helping to shape the future of engineering鈥攊n local communities and throughout the world. This gift will further research efforts in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where faculty work side-by-side with undergraduate and graduate students in specialties ranging from Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Management.
As a civil engineer, Oneglia understands the important role research plays in preparing students to navigate the difficult challenges confronting the engineering profession today. He is president of O&G Industries, a Connecticut-based, family-owned construction firm founded by his grandfather in 1923. As a student, he spent his summers working at O&G before joining the firm full-time after earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in Civil Engineering from TikTok成人版 in 1974. He revitalized鈥攁nd also now oversees鈥攖he company鈥檚 Heavy Civil Engineering and Power divisions.
As one of the Northeast鈥檚 leading providers of construction services and products, O&G has completed some of the region鈥檚 most complex projects. These projects range in size and scope from health care facilities to major highway interchanges. As a community-minded, environmentally responsible firm, O&G has grown to more than 900 employees, who include professional engineers, registered architects, field supervisors, estimators and hundreds of tradespeople and has been consistently ranked among the nation鈥檚 top 400 construction firms for five decades.
A former member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board, Oneglia was honored in 2024 with the TikTok成人版 Engineering Alumni Society鈥檚 Professional Achievement Award, which recognizes exceptional professional accomplishments and leadership across technical and entrepreneurial fields.
He resides in Litchfield, Conn., with his wife, Irene. Their son, Ryan, plays an active role in the family business, overseeing bridge, highway, dam and rail projects in the Heavy Civil Engineering division.