SIU’s 2024 Families of the Year include almost 7 decade long legacy, first gen Saluki

September 20, 2024

by Christi Mathis

Two special families are the 2024 Saluki Family of the Year winners at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and they will be honored during this weekend's Sept. 19-22 Saluki Family Weekend festivities.

The Harrison Solliday family of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, who have a 68-year connection to SIU, is the "legacy" Saluki Family of the Year. The Wayne Scott family of Marion, Illinois, with a first-generation, nontraditional student, is the "non-legacy" Saluki Family of the Year.

Nearly 90 students submitted entries for the contest, giving the Family of the Year committee a difficult task in choosing the Top 10 finalists who then submitted videos from which the winners were chosen.

Solliday connection extends to 1950s

"If you were to ask Google or Alexa, 'What does it mean to be a Saluki Legacy?' the response would most likely be a picture of my family (three generations deep) with the caption 'Go Dawgs!' scrawling across the screen," Solliday, a junior mechanical engineering major, wrote in his entry.

Solliday's grandfather, Mike Solliday, launched his Saluki journey by traveling to Carbondale from his hometown of Carmi 68 years ago to pursue a history degree, following his brother Jim who was already attending SIU. Soon after arriving on campus, Mike Solliday met Connie, a Du Quoin native and fellow Saluki who would become his wife. Harrison said it was "love at first sight" when his grandparents met at SIU in 1959, and both were active in the Greek community. Mike was a Sigma Pi, and Connie was a Sigma Kappa. A first-generation college student, Connie completed her bachelor's degree in zoology in 1962 despite having a severe hearing disability, Harrison noted. Mike then when on to complete his master's degree in 1967 and his doctorate in 1975, both in political science. He taught at various schools in Southern Illinois, including while completing his post-graduate studies, and ultimately retired in 2000 as an emeritus professor from SIU's College of Education "after 33 years of teaching and mentoring future teachers," Harrison said. Connie retired as head of chemistry in the laboratory at Carbondale Memorial Hospital after more than 20 years, Harrison said, pointing out that "it is ridiculously hard to get anything past Grandma; she is an expert at reading lips!"

That's just the beginning of the Solliday legacy, though. Many of Harrison's aunts and uncles have attended SIU, including Larry Solliday who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the university and was one of just two graduates at that time to receive an appointment to the federal government's Presidential Management Intern program launching his career with the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 1994. Harrison's mother, Laura, was a member of SIU's equestrian team while earning her bachelor's degree in microbiology, and after graduate studies elsewhere, became a successful physician's assistant and entrepreneur. His father, Tim, began his studies at SIU before transferring for work-related opportunities and completing his degree elsewhere, as did other family members.

"As Granddad continually brags to others, we collectively hold seven degrees from Southern Illinois University, and I am looking forward to adding another degree to that count," Harrison said. Further, he points out that the ties go beyond degrees and academics. They had lifetime memberships in the SIU Alumni Association before they were free, are "rabid supporters" of Saluki Athletics with season tickets for more than half a century for football and basketball, and spend countless hours watching baseball on "the Hill." Harrison said his grandma even launched the Adopt-A-Dawg mentorship program recently reinstituted by Coach Nick Hill and that his grandpa was invited by former Coach Jerry Kill to speak to the football team. As a child, Harrison and his cousins Andrew and Brian attended baseball camp at SIU, and he and his family "rally every year in St. Louis to support Floor Burn U (aka, the Southern Illinois basketball team) at the MVC Tournament. This a tradition that dates back more than 20 years."

Solliday said he and his family are "so thankful for what SIU has done for our family" and for the many happy memories.

Scotts carving path to success through SIU

In 2019, Wayne "Winston" Scott, a single father of three young children, was living in a motel and facing housing insecurity in St. Louis. But he was determined not to let his story end there. That year, he remarried, and he and wife, Michelle, were determined to succeed. They drew inspiration from his children, Shiloh (now 14), Sofia (12) and Sawyer (11).

Fast forward to fall 2024, where Scott is a junior social work major at SIU. He said he's found the staff and campus that "has really provided that atmosphere of growth and support."

"I am proud to be a Saluki," he said. "The campus is phenomenal. Never have we seen such a network of people dedicated to helping us achieve what we set out to accomplish and to really thrive in that environment."

Scott's journey hasn't been easy. In 1997, the high school dropout obtained his GED, and five years later, enrolled at a community college, but he wasn't doing well. Instead, he was accepted into the City Year Greater Philadelphia, an AmeriCorps affiliate. He completed CDL training and became an over-the-road trucker, but after a divorce, received custody of the children and ultimately moved his family to Marion with a five-year plan. His experience and driving record enabled him to obtain position as a CDL adjunct instructor at Rend Lake College in 2022, for which he's grateful to Margo Wagner, dean of community and corporate education, because it made him realize he could do anything if he set his mind to it.

A month before his time as an instructor ended, his father suffered a heart attack, later passing away.

"My father wanted me to graduate college," Scott said. "It was important to him that I did not 'end up like him,' having 'squandered opportunity.' For years, we encouraged each other to graduate college, break the cycle. But life got in the way. His passing proved that life truly was fleeting. And he is right: Graduating is important."

Thus inspired, he enrolled at John A. Logan College to complete his preliminary coursework and is now a first-generation student at SIU, enrolled in the College of Health and Human Sciences, which he's quite excited about as he considers social workers "superheroes."

"I am the first Saluki in my family, and I'm excited about that," he said. "I recognize how privileged I am to have this family and support system. I didn't always have that, and I know how that can feel."

Scott is confident he won't be the last Saluki, though.

"I have full confidence in my children and their academic success. They will graduate college," he said. "I am grateful and proud to be a Saluki. SIU feels like family. We believe in you, we encourage you and we see you. Go Dawgs!"

Families receive special recognition

New Student Programs will honor the Solliday and Scott families with a special prize package featuring Saluki "swag" and more. They will be recognized during the SIU vs. Southeast Missouri State football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, as well.

The Family of the Year recognition is one of the many special Saluki Family Weekend events. Festivities also include the Student Center Craft Fair, rock climbing, a moonlight paddle and hot dog roast at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, Greek Sing and much more. Find the complete schedule of activities at the Saluki Family Weekend webpage.

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