Southern Illinois University System

01/08/2024 | Press release | Archived content

SIU Alumni Association awards more than $59K in student scholarships

August 01, 2024

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The SIU Alumni Association has awarded $59,288 to 46 new and returning Southern Illinois University Carbondale students for the fall 2024 semester.

Thanks to the support of new and legacy donors, students are receiving funds administered by the association from 15 regional and legacy scholarships and 20 textbook awards. These scholarships often help students fill critical gaps in their financial aid packages. This year's scholarship recipients are from Illinois, Delaware, Florida, Missouri and Texas.

"The Saluki family is strong in heart and generosity, and these scholarships are made possible by our alumni, who are always excited to share pride in their university and give back to the students," said Molly Hudgins, executive director of the SIU Alumni Association and a 1997 SIU Carbondale alumna. "Awards like these make all the difference in the world to many of these students, and I'm proud we're not only maintaining but growing giving among alumni."

Funding for many of the scholarships awarded to students each year comes from regional alumni groups of the association. These groups periodically host events to fundraise for the awards, such as the St. Louis Area Alumni Group, which typically raises more than $2,500 during its annual trivia night.

This year, the Chicagoland area has also seen massive gains in its regional scholarship fund. The group collected roughly $10,000 in donations during the SIU Day of Giving in February.

Hudgins attributes success like this to significant changes the association made in 2023, chiefly its decision to sunset its annual membership program for alumni and redirect more financial support to such areas as scholarships and student programming.

"Students are the most important part of SIU," she said. "Our organization and the more than 260,000 alumni we represent have roles to play in mentoring and supporting these Salukis. We're always proud to do our part in creating new Salukis for life!"

For more information about association scholarship funds available to current and prospective students, visit siualumni.com.

Scholarship recipients for the 2024-25 academic year are:

ILLINOIS

  • Anna: Elizabeth Back, Union County Chapter Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Benton: Madison Smith, Keith and Carol Sanders Alumni Scholarship, $5,000.
  • Buffalo Grove: Kristy Rubino, Christopher Columbus Jones Scholarship, $2,688.56.
  • Carbondale: Hannah Brown, Support Black Undergraduate Education Endowed Scholarship, $1,500.
  • Carbondale: Jayla Ware, Elizabeth Lewis Memorial Scholarship, $4,000.
  • Chicago: London White, Support Black Undergraduate Education Endowed Scholarship, $1,500.
  • Cobden: Emily White, Legacy Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Du Quoin: Grace Hill, Perry County Chapter Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Du Quoin: Bailey Nehring, Alongi Legacy Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Glenview: Roman Attea, Chicagoland Chapter Scholarship, $1,500.
  • Golconda: Benjamin Flatt, Rebecca and Jerry Kill SIU Alumni Association Scholarship, $650.
  • Goreville: Mason Lipe, Roscoe Pulliam Memorial Scholarship, $2,000.
  • Herrin: Owen Smith, Legacy Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Jerseyville: Chelsea King, St. Louis Chapter Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Marion: Cameron Flesch, Legacy Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Marion: Ethan Stout, Legacy Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Marion: Elaina Williams, Legacy Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Murphysboro: Gabriel Booth, Jackson County Family YMCA Scholarship, $2,800.
  • Murphysboro: Adam Qusem, Jackson County Chapter Scholarship, $2,000.
  • O'Fallon: Audrey Dowland, Roscoe Pulliam Memorial Scholarship, $2,000.
  • Richton Park: Anae Gueringer, Legacy Scholarship, $1,000.
  • Springfield: Ian Griffin, Prairie Capitol Chapter Scholarship, $500.
  • Tamaroa: Madelyn Doerflein, Alongi Legacy Scholarship, $1,000.

DELAWARE

  • Dover: Aurellia Fuentes-Ryans, Support Black Undergraduate Education Endowed Scholarship, $1,500.

FLORIDA

  • Jacksonville: Tateuany Davis, SIU Alumni Association Retention Award-Florida chapter, $1,000.

TEXAS

  • Lewisville: Angela Garrity, Rebecca and Jerry Kill SIU Alumni Association Scholarship, $650.

Receiving $1,000 textbook award recipients by hometown are:

ILLINOIS

  • Charleston: John Peterson.
  • Creal Springs: Anthony Forgatch.
  • Crystal Lake: Gavin Kalinowski.
  • Effingham: Madison Chambers.
  • Effingham: Elijah Wilson.
  • Galatia: Sierra Wilson.
  • Goreville: Mason Lipe.
  • Goreville: Kailey Moore.
  • Marion: Tara Tanner.
  • Newman: Kenzie Hales.
  • Jonesboro: Liam Hale.
  • Peotone: Tyler Hopper.
  • Sandwich: Ashley Hintz.
  • Trilla: Megan Baker.

MISSOURI

  • O'Fallon: Kierstyn Cheese.
  • Washington: Colin Bryant.

Receiving $1,000 SIU Alumni Association Student Alumni Council Senior Textbook Awards are:

ILLINOIS

  • Anna: Emily White.
  • Cobden: Olivia Capel.
  • Roscoe: Mary D'Haeze.

MALAYSIA