Stories of Philanthropy
SIU and SNP: Planting the seeds of success
SIU’s University Farms are a living laboratory that connect human and machine to cultivate land and immerse students in a unique experiential learning environment.
Students in SIU’s College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences spend hours working the hundreds of acres, and many of those hours are spent working with tractors, combines, sprayers, etc. provided through a lease agreement with Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners John Deere dealership.
“This is truly a gamechanger,” Chancellor Lane said. “This is where these students need to be. These fields are their classroom.”
Saluki Ball raises funds that bridge the gap for students
The second annual Saluki Ball was a spectacular example of the generous nature of the Saluki spirit.
Attended by 520 SIU alumni and friends, the ball was hosted by Chancellor Austin Lane and the SIU Foundation on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk hotel in Chicago. The funds raised benefit students who need assistance with their bursar bills to ensure they can stay enrolled in classes at SIU.
“Our focus here tonight is on our students, especially those who need your help the most,” Lane said.
Crothers honors counselor, friend with major gift
Dr. Marti Crothers has made a gift of more than $1 million to honor Dr. Janet Coffman and the treatment she provided. Her planned gift will establish the Coffman- Crothers Training Institute for Trauma and Psychological Health Endowment Fund.
“This training institute is in honor of Dr. Coffman. It is in recognition of her commitment and dedication to the treatment of victims, including myself, of complex trauma,” Dr. Crothers said. “It is dedicated to Dr. Coffman for all the lives she touched and saved.”
Lounsbury makes investment in supply chain students
Chuck Lounsbury, a graduate of the College of Business and Analytics, made a $500,000 donation to establish the Charles and Barbara Lounsbury Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will benefit students in the program.
“This will allow students to focus on what companies need and want out of their logistics and distribution employees,” he said. “I don’t think that’s happening at a lot of schools today. Hopefully, these funds make a difference in students’ lives and the program itself.”
Tinoco honors father, heritage with $25K gift
Dr. Janet Tinoco donated $25,000 to endow the Jesse Salvador Tinoco Scholarship for Women in Engineering, named for her father. The scholarship benefits students in the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology and Mathematics, with preference being given to females of Mexican descent.
“Some of it has to do with how I was raised,” she said. “My father was raised by Mexican immigrants. His parents pushed education as a way to improve one’s lot in life.”
Tinoco transferred to SIU and graduated in 1982 with a degree in engineering.“It was important before COVID, but it’s even more prevalent now,” he said. “This is how products get onto the shelves. You can’t have a modern business school without a supply chain program.”
Pendleton bridges the gap for SIU students
Beyond tuition, Southern Illinois University Carbondale students face the same financial challenges as everyone else – paying bills, buying food, finding childcare, and more.
That reality and the desire to help is what prompted Chad Pendleton, a 1997 SIU graduate, to step up and make a $25,000 pledge to establish the Pendleton Family Bridging the Gap Fund.
“It was clear that this is a way to make a meaningful impact,” Pendleton said. “A host of financial challenges come up for students – rent, food, everyday factors that might lead them to withdraw. It stood out to me as an area that I could support.”
SIU alumnus donates $25K to help forestry students
That decision began a journey that led Eric Larson from SIU, to East Texas, to Tennessee, to Wisconsin, and back to Southern Illinois. He recently donated $25,000 to establish the Eric Larson Forestry Scholarship Endowment Fund.
“Through the years, I realized how much I learned at SIU,” Larson said. “At first, I didn’t know if I was going to be financially successful. As it turned out, I did pretty well and wanted to give back.”
Larson hopes his scholarship fund in the School of Forestry and Horticulture will invigorate the next generation of passionate foresters.
Passion drives alumnus Mallory, GRO Community
Aaron Mallory is implementing the skills he learned at Southern Illinois University Carbondale to advance the mission of his organization, GRO Community.
A mental health service provider, GRO Community specializes in trauma-informed treatment for boys and men from low socio-economic groups and/or Black and Brown communities.
“We are supporting marginalized communities from a different approach,” he said. “We want to use economics and systems to create change. We want to solve the gun violence issue, which greatly affects Black youth and is heavily intertwined with mental health.”
Technical Service Center naming honors Roger Missavage’s legacy
When Roger J. Missavage passed away in November 2021, his brother, Dennis, and sister and brother-in-law, Arlene and Gene Liss, established the Roger J. Missavage Endowed Fund for Engineering Education with a $500,000 gift.
On April 19, 2024, Xiaoqing “Frank” Liu, dean of the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics, hosted a dedication of the Roger J. Missavage Technical Service Center.
COBA alumnus donates $100K to endow scholarship
Brian Wilson has deep roots at SIU, and his decision to endow a $100,000 scholarship fund in the College of Business and Analytics only strengthens that connection.
“My mother and father met at SIU, and several other family members went there,” he said. “It was probably the first university I was exposed to as a kid.”
The Brian Wilson and Family Finance Scholarship Fund will benefit students from Southern Illinois who are studying finance and other business-related majors.
“I want to do whatever I can to help the school continue to attract the best students and professors,” he said.
Salukis Unleashed sets bold vision for athletics
Saluki Athletics announced a bold vision for the future of its programs, launching Imagine: Salukis Unleashed, a $100 million revenue enhancement plan.
In conjunction with the Imagine SIU 2030 strategic plan, Salukis Unleashed will enhance the athletics experience for student-athletes, coaches, and fans across the region. It will be included in the university-wide Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign.
“Saluki Athletics showcases some of the best of SIU. It’s the way many of our alumni and friends connect with our university. When the Salukis win, we all win,” said Chancellor Austin Lane during a launch event Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2024, at Saluki Stadium.
Smith endows chair, champions more support for the university
Since graduating in 1964 with a degree in marketing and a master’s in business administration in 1966, Ron Smith has stayed engaged with his alma mater, including donating close to $170,000 over the last 20 years.
Now, he’s taken his support a step further, making a gift of stock worth $500,000 to endow the Ronald L. Smith Endowed Chair in Marketing at the College of Business and Analytics.
Scholarship recipient says SIU is special, it’s home
The financial support Chloe Dennison received allowed her to avoid student loans and gave her extra appreciation for her time as an SIU student.
“I am extremely grateful. Alumni and donors have changed my life,” she said. “I have always been afraid of student loans, and these scholarships have allowed me to dedicate myself to being the best student and the best nurse I can be.”
She will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and work as a registered nurse.
“The SIU community is so tightly knit. Everyone on campus wants to build you up,” she said.
Carbondale’s Hardley finds his path at SIU through scholarships
Carbondale native Simeon Hardley received the Linda K. Henson Photojournalism Scholarship, and he expressed his thankfulness for the financial relief scholarships provide.
“It plays a huge role,” he said. “It puts the idea in the back of your mind that someone trusts you and believes in you. It is so appreciated. It helped motivate me to finish school.”
Hardley said being from Carbondale and going to SIU has opened his eyes to the importance of alumni support.
Scholarship guides the way for future educator
Kaylee Rose graduated from SIU in December 2023 and is now teaching second grade at Lick Creek Elementary School.
After enrolling in SIU’s School of Education, she received financial assistance, including the Donald E. Starzyk Family Scholarship.
“That scholarship helped me a lot,” Rose said. “I didn’t have to come up with the money myself or find student loans. I think it’s amazing that alumni decide to give back. They can choose to spend that money on anything they desire, but they’ve decided to help someone get through college.”
For Mott, scholarships help bridge the gap to SIU
After transferring to SIU from Southeastern Illinois College, Sydney Mott has received multiple scholarships, including the Bill and Barbara Beck Accounting Scholarship, Kenneth J. and Jacqueline M. Hull/Illinois CPA Society Accounting Scholarship, and the Robert and Patricia Sforza Memorial Scholarship.
“When you add them up, these scholarships take the load off,” she said. “Even though donors may not always see the people they support, it’s important to know that student success may not be possible without those donations. It’s helping students not just in school, but it’s helping them find a job and further their lives.”
Scholarships connect Sparks with school, alumni, region
Dorian Sparks received two scholarships, one from the Friends of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and the other from the Society for Civil Discourse.
“The Paul Simon Institute scholarships provided me with a cushion going into college,” she said. “The Society for Civil Discourse scholarship came as I was going into the end of the semester and had $1,500 on my bursar bill to pay off. It helped me avoid taking out student loans.”
The scholarships have created a connection with her school and its alumni. Being from Southern Illinois has just made it all that much more special.
Benton’s Bayless thankful for scholarship support
From an early age, Peyton Bayless has seen the impact SIU can have on local families and students.
“Both of my parents went to SIU,” said Bayless, a Benton Consolidated High School graduate. “My mom came back to school when I was little, so I came with her and grew up around campus.”
Scholarships have played a significant role in his journey. He has received the Leo J. Brown Teacher Education Scholarship, Melinda and Pete LaBarre Elementary Education Scholarships, and the Roye R. and Floralee Q. Bryant Education Scholarship.
“If you’re lucky enough to receive a scholarship, it can change your life,” he said.