Inside: Southern Exposure, Top Students, Track & Field Success, and more…Inside: Southern Exposure, Top Students, Track & Field Success, and more…

A Strong VoiceFor SIU

hose in the WSIU listening areaare well-acquainted with the

voice of Jennifer Fuller ‘00 deliver-ing the daily news and delving into

regional issues. This year her first-rate report-ing received statewide recognition as well.The Mass Communication & Media Arts alum-na was recognized by the Illinois AssociatedPress Broadcasters Association as the BestRadio Reporter in Downstate Illinois for 2011and the state’s News Finder of the Year.

“To have Jennifer recognized, in a statethat is not short on quality reporters, speaksvolumes about her work,” says GregPetrowich ‘91 executive director of WSIUPublic Broadcasting. “As a former SIUCarbondale student who worked in the WSIUnewsroom, Jennifer is an example of whathard work and a commitment to journalisticintegrity can mean both for the academic program and the station.”

Fuller has won prior awards from the AP for Best Newscast and Best Reporter while at WSIU. But the thrillof the job is not in the recognition she has regularly received, but in truly enjoying what she does. “I love thatit’s never the same day twice, and that I never know what kind of day to expect when I come in,” Fuller says. “Iget to meet such interesting people, doing things I could never imagine, and I get to tell people what they’redoing. What could be better than that?”

Fuller is best known for her “Morning Conversations,” a weekly radio program that welcomes everyonefrom dignitaries and local leaders to community organizers and artists. “I really like to be able to give peoplethe opportunity to take the time they need to explain something. Having a longer interview segment, peoplecan really say what they mean and how they came to that conclusion.”

One of her favorite morning conversations was with then-astronaut Joan Higginbotham ’87. “And, I loveto tell students and others that I’ve interviewed the president,” says Fuller who sat down with Barack Obamawhen he ran for U.S. Senate. “I love that the program really runs the gamut of topics, and that so many peopleare able to share their stories with the rest of southern Illinois.”

Prior to her position at WSIU, Fuller reported at WTAX-AM, where she worked during and after earning hermaster’s in public affairs reporting at the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2001. Her coverage of politicaland education issues on the top-rated “Morning NewsWatch,” earned her two awards in 2002. In 2003, Fullerreturned to WSIU where she had worked as a student at both the radio and TV stations.

“She worked hard to be the best student reporter that she could be and that ethic and dedication hascarried with her through her professional career,” says Jeff Williams ’90, WSIU radio station manager andnews director. “Her professionalism is evident in her work on air as well as in the newsroom and especially inher work with our students.”

Williams says Fuller is part of a long tradition of station staff and students who have excelled at their craft. “Ithink it’s important to note that the second place finisher in this year’s best downstate radio reporter categorybehind Jennifer is Stephanie Pawlowski ‘05. Stephanie is also an R-TV graduate.”

For Fuller, training the next generation of reporters, producers, editors, and writers is one of the most ful-filling aspects of working at WSIU. “It really keeps us fresh and gives us the opportunity to tell stories from aunique perspective.” She also mentioned exceptional university staff she considers mentors and role modelsincluding Beth Hart ‘85, M.A. ‘02, Ken Keller, Mike Lawrence, John Jackson, Bill Recktenwald, and the late Sen.Paul Simon. “They were people who were so knowledgeable about their career, and they treated everyone asnot just a student but someone they were helping move from one point in life to the next.”

Fuller says she tries to give a little back “for all the great times and opportunities I had as a student,” andthat is a reason she and her husband, Brian Flath ’97 are joint life members of the SIU Alumni Association.The couple met on her first day as an SIU student, and they have been inseparable since.

“It’s really important to us that this is where we began,” Fuller says. “We really wanted to keep a part ofthat. Everybody has a special place in their heart for their alma mater.”

Suder Foundation FocusesOn First-Generation Students

ith the help of a new program at SIU Carbondale, NicoleKmiotek is pursuing her college degree without the fear

and uncertainty that often comes with being a first-generationcollege student. Kmiotek is part of the First Scholars program, which helps first gen-

eration students transition into college life. Established by the SuderFoundation, the program offers support for students who have ademonstrated financial need, a solid academic record, and are thechild of parents who have no education beyond high school.

“I learned about the First Scholars program when I was searchingfor scholarships,” she says. “One of the requirements was that your par-ents never attended college – it was perfect for me.”

A long-standing commitment to first generation students wasone of the reasons The Suder Foundation of Plano, Texas selected theUniversity for the five-year, $1-million scholarship program. TheSuder Foundation is providing the University with budgeted funds toestablish the program. SIU received $60,000 for planning purposesand $121,163 during the initial year of the First Scholars Program.

Additional funding is forthcoming, with the understanding thatafter the fourth year of the program, the University will be responsiblefor securing necessary funding to maintain scholarship renewals forexisting students and to award scholarships to new groups of students.

The Suder Foundation funded 20 scholarships at $5,000 each beginning in fall 2011, and will fund 20 addi-tional scholarships at the same level in each of the succeeding three years. Students from Illinois, Arkansas,Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee will be eligible for the scholarships. Financial need and demonstratedacademic ability as shown by ACT and/or SAT scores and high school GPA will be among the scholarship criteria.

The scholarship will be renewable for three years as long as the First Scholar maintains at least a 2.5 GPAand meets other criteria established by The Suder Foundation.

Kmiotek says the First Scholars program has provided amazing opportunities to her already. In addition topreparing her for college, it also helped her make new friends on campus, and encouraged her to join registeredstudent organizations and get involved in the community.

“Service work is one of the requirements of the program. I volunteer at the animal shelter in Murphysboroand assist during RSO fairs and orientation,” she says. “I’m also in Delta Zeta and Habitat for Humanity.”

Community involvement is only part of the First Scholars program’s requirements. Another of the SuderFoundation’s requirements of scholarship recipients is “pay it forward.” At SIU Carbondale, key scholarshiprecipients, such as Presidential Scholars, will mentor first-year participants in the First Scholars program duringtheir freshman and sophomore years. As juniors and seniors, the scholars have the opportunity to be men-tored by faculty, staff, or even alumni. First Scholars will subsequently fulfill their requirement by mentoringincoming participants.

“Mentors are important to the program and it’s a great way for alumni to get involved with current stu-dents,” says Christina Gilroy ’03, First Scholars program coordinator. “You can be of service to these students,even if you don’t live near the Carbondale campus.” For more information about the First Scholars program or to learn how to get involved, contact Christina Gilroy

at 618-453-1843 or first2go@siu.edu, or visit firstscholars.siu.edu. To support the First Scholars program, contact theSIU Foundation by calling 618-453-4900, or visit: siuf.org.

“Investing In Saluki Futures”www.siuf.org

W T

WSIU’s Jennifer Fuller questions a candidate in the 2010election season.

Nicole Kmiotek

The Smithsonian SalukiFor almost three decades, Eric Long ’79 has pro-duced spectacular images as a photographer atthe Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.Long, who recently sponsored an Associationextern during spring break, says he was thrilled toshare his expertise with a current SIU student. “Somuch of what happened to me professionally isbecause of things that occurred at SIU.”

SIU’s ‘Super Students’ Put Cancer On NoticeTwo of Southern’s most dedicated students are determinedto take on the fight against cancer. Brock Kabat and CaitlinMoliske are the 2012 Super Student Scholarship recipients,and both the pre-med physiology majors plan to join researchand practice to save lives. Together with this year’s group of MostDistinguished Seniors, they represent some of the University’s brightest stu-dents.

One Man’s DreamWhen the late Guy Renzaglia planted his first grapesin southern Illinois in 1982, the founder of SIUCarbondale’s Rehabilitation Institute wondered ifproducing wine could truly become a practicalbusiness in the region. Three decades later, the fam-ily-run Alto Vineyards is part of an Illinois wine con-sortium creating a direct economic impact of morethan $253 million annually. Southern Illinois alone isnow home to 32 wineries that are key players in theregion’s tourism industry.

C O N T E N T SDEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

STAFFEditorGene Green ’75

Staff WriterMarleen Sheperd ’02

Art DirectorTodd Freeman ’89 The Noteworthy Group, Inc.Carbondale, Illinois

Graphic DesignerGreg Baker

PhotographyJames HawkerSteve Jahnke ’02Eric Long ’79Athletic Media ServicesDaily EgyptianSouthern IllinoisanUniversity Communications

ContributorsKathy Dillard ’90Andrea HahnJulie HarveyHannah McArthy ’13Becky Malkovich ’95Christi MathisPete Rosenbery ’82Zachary Sapienza ’99, M.S. ’05Greg Scott ’91, M.S. ’99Tina ShingletonSteven SpearieAngela Spicer ‘09Ian Steele ’12Laura Taylor ’05, M.A. ’07Tom WeberTom WoolfZach Zeibert ’13Athletic Media ServicesSouthern IllinoisanSpringfield State-Journal RegisterUniversity Communications

Volume 74, No. 2June 2012

Southern Alumni (ISSN 1526-4238) ispublished quarterly by the SIU AlumniAssociation, Colyer Hall, SIU, Carbondale,IL 62901 for members of the SIU AlumniAssociation.

Association membership dues, $40 annu-ally, include a magazine subscription.Periodicals postage paid at Carbondale,Ill., and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Southern Alumni, SIU AlumniAssociation, Colyer Hall, Mail Code 6809,Southern Illinois University, Carbondale,IL 62901.

ON THE COVER

Eric Long holds a wide digital format camera as he prepares toshoot the gunners position in aDouglas SBD-6 Dauntless aircraft.

Enjoy Your Magazine . . . . . . . . . 2

Alumni Apparel . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Thanks For Writing . . . . . . . . . . 4

A Greeting From The Chancellor . . . . 5

Membership Advantages . . . . . . . 6

Southern Exposure. . . . . . . . . . 8

USA Today All-Academic Team . . . . 10

Calendar Of Events . . . . . . . . . 11

Alums Win Mega Millions Drawing . . 18

Take A Saluki With You. . . . . . . . 19

May Commencement . . . . . . . . 20

Salukis In Business . . . . . . . . . 22

Flying Salukis Are Elite . . . . . . . 24

Hinson New Basketball Coach . . . . 25

Saluki Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

In Memoriam. . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Association News . . . . . . . . . . 36

Life Goes On . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Step Back In Time . . . . . . . . . . 48

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by Gene Green

Each June, the SIU Alumni Association sends a com-plimentary copy of Southern Alumni to all recent

graduates of the University. We often feature severalstories and accomplishments by our talented studentbody, and this year’s collection of accolades is perhapsmore impressive than any recent year.

From SIU placing three students among just 60nationwide on the annual USA Today All-USA CollegeAcademic Team, to the Flying Salukis once again beingrecognized among the nation’s elite, our students con-tinue to do great things. We also feature Southern’sMost Distinguished Seniors and Super Students, andshowcase the Association’s award-winning Extern

Program and its many participants and sponsors.As you turn the pages of this issue, I hope you take pride in the impressive accom-

plishments of some of the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who help make SIUCarbondale a special place.

A distinctive honor Southern bestows each year is the Lindell W. Sturgis MemorialPublic Service Award. A prestigious prize bestowed annually since 1979 by the SIUBoard of Trustees, it recognizes contributions of an SIU Carbondale employee to hisor her community, area, state, or nation. This year’s recipient is John Erbes (see page9), and the SIU Alumni Association life member joins an impressive list of winnerswho have found a way to make the world a better place.

Sturgis, recognized for his commitment to public service and education, served onthe first SIU Board of Trustees after Southern attained University status in 1949. He waselected chair in 1969, and served in that role until his retirement from the Board in 1971.

His family established an endowment to fund the award, and now a bronze like-ness of the late Metropolis, Ill., native has been unveiled on the first floor of AnthonyHall. To further honor her grandfather, Pamela Pfeffer ’67, along with her husband,Philip Pfeffer ’65, M.A. ’66, commissioned the piece by sculptor Alan Lequire. Attheir request, the bust also includes a plaque displaying the names of the recipientsof the Sturgis award.

“The bust and plaque containing the names of the recipients remind us of ourresponsibility to our students and our communities,” Chancellor Rita Cheng says.“John is an outstanding choice for this year’s honor, and continues to make a positivedifference through his commitment to education and public service.”

Enjoy Your Magazine

(618) 453-2408 Fax: (618) 453-2586www.siualumni.com

Board of Directors President

Ray Serati ’59, Springfield, Ill.

Past-President

Randy Ragan ’67, M.S. ’68, Springfield, Ill.

President-Elect

Barry Smith ’80, Paducah, Ky.

Vice Presidents

Steve Falat ’87, Murphysboro, Ill.

Howard Spiegel ’75, Buffalo Grove, Ill.

Treasurer

Michael Kasser ’78, Carbondale, Ill.

Executive Committee At-Large

Jim Hayes ’62, Harrisburg, Ill.

Dede Ittner ’61, Carbondale, Ill.

Lowell Keel ’66, Tullahoma, Tenn.

Executive Director

Michelle Suarez ’85, M.S. Ed. ’04

Members

Len Baldyga ’59, Arlington, Va.

N. Lee Beneze ’85, Springfield, Ill.

Carl Bloom, student representative

Barb Brown ’76, M.A. ’77, Ph.D. ’85, Chester, Ill.

Steve Brown ’71, Washington, Ill.

Treg Brown, M.D., ’88, Carbondale, Ill.

Winston Calvert ’02, St. Louis, Mo.

Rita Cheng, SIUC Chancellor

Greg Cook, SIU Foundation

Harry Fanning ’83, Wright City, Mo.

Larry Fischer ’68, Quincy, Ill.

Christine Heins ’76, J.D. ’92, Murphysboro, Ill.

Mark Hinrichs ’81, Board of Trustees

Jeffrey Kutterer ’86, Saint Peters, Mo.

Andrea McNeill ’88, J.D. ’92, Johnston City, Ill.

Larry Mieldezis ’86, Suwanee, Ga.

Charles Neal, M.D. ’87, Ewing, Ill.

Brian Nelson, student representative

Allison Niendiek ’08, West Des Moines, Iowa

Glenn Poshard ’70, M.S. ’75, Ph.D. ’84, SIU President

Sandra Smith ’72, Chicago, Ill.

Laura Soucy ’87, Grayslake, Ill.

Bill Szelag ’73, M.S. ’74, Bastrop, Tex.

Ravi Tammana M.S. ’89, Ph.D. ’94

Susanne Taylor ’94, Charlotte, N.C.

Mark Temple Ph.D. ’96, Bloomington, Ill.

Ben Weinberger ’01, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Kaley Wind, student representative

Southern Alumni2

From left, Philip and Pamela Pfeffer and Chancellor Rita Cheng and Tom Chengat the unveiling of a bust of Lindell W. Sturgis in Anthony Hall.

Southern Alumni4

Thanks For Writing

Magazine BringsBack ManyMemories

For years, I’ve been the recipient of theSouthern Alumni, and I can’t begin to tellyou how much I appreciate receiving yourmagazine. I graduated from SIU in 1970,and every time I think about the school, itbrings back memories of a great school, agreat process, and many nice people.

What I learned at Southern, particularlythe business school and the educationdepartment, are the values that assisted mein establishing several successful business-es over a number of years. It also gave methe opportunity to recognize that you cando anything if you put your mind to it, butmost importantly, you need to continue tolearn. My education is the foundation forsuccess.

I cannot begin to tell you how apprecia-tive I am of SIU. All my kids are grownadults, but I keep telling them (wheneverthey’ll listen to me) about the warmth ofthe University and the people. I lived offcampus most of the time but still remem-ber many days at the “Rat Hole” and someof the other finer establishments, whereyou could buy a beer for 25 cents. I remem-ber Wides Village where I had an apart-ment, and also resided in Murphysboroover Alice’s Pool Hall — all fond memories.

I was born and raised in Chicago butmigrated to Phoenix, Ariz., 25 years ago andhave been actively involved in the truckingindustry for many years. I am a transporta-tion analyst and have sold in excess of 325trucking and logistics companies and haverehabilitated in excess of 200 companies.This has been done based on the soundprinciples of hiring people that are muchmore competent than I.

In closing, if there is anything I can everdo for the SIU Alumni Association, pleasefeel free to call upon me. SIU is a greatschool with great people, and it certainlyprovided me with the value systems that Ineeded and were necessary to succeed inbusiness.

Many thanks for sending the alumnimagazine. It certainly brings back greatmemories. A.W. Ahern ’70Chief Executive OfficerAhern & AssociatesPhoenix, Ariz.

Political Debates AtSIU Fuel LifelongFriendships

It was during the hotly contested BobbyKennedy/Eugene McCarthy primary in 1968when five young, idealistic SIU governmentstudents came together with a Universityeconomics colleague for hours and hoursof discussion and debate arguing the mer-its of their respective candidates.

One night the discussion grew so loudthat the host was thrown out of his trailer parkby the park’s owner. The owner of the trailer,however, was so impressed by the spirit of thisgroup that he chose to move the unit toanother location rather than kick us out.

On the weekend preceding the Indianaprimary, the Kennedy campaign providedseveral free buses to bring SIU students tocampaign. Some of us were irate when wediscovered that colleagues who supportedMcCarthy were using the Kennedy buses togo to Indiana to campaign for their candi-date. The ethical, moral, and situationalquestions growing out of this adventureprovided ammunition for much dialogue inthe future between us all.

Now, 44 years later, we celebrate anamazing and deep friendship that has sur-vived and strengthened over the decades.The fondness and appreciation for ourexperiences at Southern is always an inte-gral part of reunion discussions — and so ispolitics. Our periodic reunions have always

included a tolerant and adventuresomegroup of wives, with such gatherings heldat various points across the country.

This year we met in Princeville on theisland of Kauai. If you look closely at thephoto below, you will see a Hawaiian rain-bow. Somewhere over or under a rainbow,there always has to be a Saluki!Allan Lammers M.A. ’73Life MemberSacramento, Calif.

You’re Never Too Old

I read with interest the “Step Back InTime” article on Phil Coleman and the 1956Olympics Trials. I was in school at SIU from1950 to 1954 and was interested in Phil’strack career. A running friend of mine, JerrySmartt of Warsaw, Mo., was in those sametrials at the Los Angeles Coliseum in thesteeple chase event, and was on the U.S.team that competed in Russia in 1958.

Over the past few years, Jerry and I havecompeted in USATF and World MastersTrack and Field events in the U.S., Italy, andFinland. He is now 80 years old and recentlywon the U.S.A. Cross CountryChampionships (80+ division) held in St.Louis last winter.

I guess that shows that in some things,you’re never too old.Don Pratt, ’54Annual MemberMonticello, Ill.

From left: Allan Lammers M.A. ’73 (Sacramento, Calif.), George Gilley ’67, M.A. ’69(Portland, Ore.), Henry Gardner ’70 (Oakland, Calif.), David Jones ’69 (Bloomington, Ind.),and Kenzie Phelps M.A. ’71 (Lake Julia, Minn.). Not present for photo was William BarronM.A.’73 (Hong Kong, China). The shirts they are wearing were designed by Mary Gilley.

Dear Fellow Salukis:

We celebrated the many accomplishments of nearly 3,500 graduates during three exciting com-mencement ceremonies on May 12, and we welcome them into our proud alumni family.

Among the many highlights of that day was the inspiring keynote address delivered by retired U.S.Navy Captain and astronaut Mark Kelly, who drew standing ovations at each ceremony. His life storyof courage, perseverance, and preparation truly resonated with our graduates and the thousands offamilies and friends who filled the SIU Arena.

A week later, on May 19, we celebrated the School of Medicine’s class of 2012 during commence-ment ceremonies in Springfield, Ill. The 38th graduating class included 73 physicians and seven gradu-ate students.

The spring semester was full of achievements. Here are just a few examples:

• USA Today named three of our students to its prestigious All-USA College Academic Team, anhonor reserved for just 60 students nationwide. Lee Stewart and Jessica Stout were named to the 20-member first team, and Jordan Kabat, who graduated last December, was named to the third team.Ours was the only university in the country with two students on the first team. Much credit also goesto the staff of our University Honors program and our dedicated faculty mentors.

• Our Debate Team, led by Director Todd Graham, again excelled on the national stage, placingtwo duos among the top four in the country. That is a first – for any university. Sid Rehg and JoshRivera finished third, and the duo of Ben Campbell and Mike Selck placed fourth.

• The Flying Salukis continue to rank among the nation’s elite precision flight teams. The defend-ing national champions finished third at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association champi-onships. Two team members, Daniel Harrington and Taylor Breum, captured individual national cham-pionships, and Courtney Copping was the event’s top scoring female competitor.

• We received a two-year, $1.7 million grant to continue our important research into the Asian carpproblem that threatens Illinois waterways and the Great Lakes. James Garvey, director of our Fisheriesand Illinois Aquaculture Center, leads the effort, which includes other members of the center’s staffand researchers from other universities. The team recently reported that the fish now make up themajority of living tissue in the main channel of the Illinois River.

• The clinic director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Kirsten Schaper, received astatewide award from an advocacy agency for those with disabilities. The award recognizes her com-mitment to training, expanding educational resources, and developing an extraordinary partnership with parents.

• Dexter Wakefield, associate professor in the plant, soil science and agricultural systems department, received the Outstanding Contribution Awardfrom the National Teach Ag Campaign and the National Future Farmers of America Organization. Professor Wakefield was one of three people hon-ored during the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences conference in Atlanta. The award recognizes individuals for theirimpact on the agricultural education profession through service, mentorship, and leadership.

Congratulations also are in order for two members of our University family who are contributing their talents to this summer’s Olympics in London.A poem written by Frank Chipasula, professor of Africana Studies, will be displayed and read during the games as part of a special project involvingpoets from participating countries. He wrote the poem just as he began his 22-year exile from his native Malawi. In addition, Primo Angeli, who holdsbachelor’s and master’s degrees from SIU, is among 48 international artists competing to have their creation become the official poster for theOlympics. His multi-media illustration is “London Calling.”

A busy construction season of much-needed improvements is in full swing, including the creation of a pedestrian mall on the east side of FanerHall and a significant energy conservation initiative at the Student Recreation Center.

We broke ground in April for the Student Services building, which will open in time for the 2013-14 academic year. Other projects include roofreplacements on the Communications Building and Lawson Hall, fire alarm upgrades throughout the campus, a campus-wide outdoor notification sys-tem, and completion of the Saluki Track and Field Complex and the Transportation Education Center. Many other large and small projects are inprogress or in the planning stages, all designed to enhance the teaching and learning environment, and campus safety.

I have visited with alumni in New York City, Atlanta, and Nashville, Tenn., recently, and I enjoyed our annual SIU Day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.There is great Saluki spirit everywhere I go, and I look forward to opportunities to visit with more of you in the months ahead.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer. Thank you for all that you do to support our students and our University.

Sincerely,

Rita ChengChancellor

Chancellor Rita Cheng congratulates oneof the May graduates during commence-ment ceremonies. For more on that event,see page 20.

Chancellor’s Greeting

New Life Members2/9–5/18, 2012

James AlmKham BaccamTamara BlairDarin BohmDeborra BracyGlenda CaszattKristine DomarackiChristine EgleyNathan ElliottCheryl Endres and Andrea TurnerEarnest FerrellDavid and Cindy FiedlerTim FrankfortConnie GoldsmithToni GreathouseNancy GuertinGina GurleyBeth and Carl HartmannGregory HempelmanCharles HenrySusanna Hoeness-Krupsaw and Kim KrupsawDavid and Phyllis HowardSteven and Debra HowellsCaleb JohnsonLarry JonesDennis LaakeMark LamboleyTim and Lorrie LeflerAmanda LoweryBradley and Sydney MillerKeith MortagNorman PadalinoRobert and Jiraporn PadarWayne and Claudette PetersonMarla RathjenSamantha ShawByron SipePeter SjobergRichard SpanglerAaron StearnsStephanie Suits-Klyber and Gabriel KlyberDenise ThimmigGeorge and Linda VineyardJames Wahl

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Save Big With SafeRideMembers of the SIU Alumni Association receive a discount of

more than 35% on emergency roadside packages withSafeRide Motor Club. Available packages cover towing, lockout,jump start, flat tire, and many other services. In addition, SafeRideprovides financial support to the Association for every memberthat signs up. For more information, visitwww.siualumni.com/roadsideservices.

M E M B E R A D V A N T A G E S

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Introducing Cory Mohr DesignsGetting ready to redesign your kitchen or bath?Contact Cory Mohr Designs for a 50% savings on the design fee. Cory, an SIU alumnus, is offering thisgreat advantage exclusively to members of theAssociation.

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Take MeWith YouA Saluki mascot cut-outis featured on page 19of this edition ofSouthern Alumni. Take itwith you on your sum-mer travels!

Never Stop LearningTake an online course at home to learn Photoshop,get your network certification, or simply learn moreabout your computer’s programs. Learnkey offersmembers a 25% discount on courses. Take advan-tage of this opportunity today!

Did You Know?

You have access to thousands of scholarlyresearch journals? All thanks to your mem-bership in the SIU Alumni Association.

Check out JSTOR, an online research portal thatarchives thousands of scholarly journals for researchand education purposes.If you’re interested inlearning more about yourfield, need to completeproject research, or aresimply interested in read-ing scholarly publica-tions, visit the Associationwebsite to access JSTORtoday!

Find these advantages and more online atwww.siualumni.com/advantages

Southern Alumni8

Southern Exposure

Southern Illinois University Carbondale recently broke groundfor the 125,000-square-foot Student Services Building, a

state-of-the-art facility that will serve students, parents, andalumni. The building is going up south of Anthony Hall andParkinson Hall, slightly northeast of the Student Center on the

ground where the two-story parking garage stood.“We want the total student experience to be positive, and

this facility will be a one-stop shop for so many of the servicesour students need on a daily basis, and staffed by dedicatedprofessionals” says SIU Carbondale Chancellor Rita Cheng. “Italso will improve the aesthetics of the campus and provide animpressive, inviting new entryway.”

The facility, part of SIU’s Saluki Way plan, will house theUniversity’s enrollment management functions, includingUndergraduate Admissions, Bursar, Registrar’s Office, CareerServices, Enrollment Management, Enrollment TechnologyServices, Graduate School, Financial Aid, Learning SupportServices, New Student Programs, Transfer Student Services,University College, and University Housing. The building willalso house the Saluki First Year Initiative — which is designed

to make sure students reach their full potential and are activeparticipants during their first year at the University.

The three-story complex will feature a limestone façade andinclude a welcome center with cross-trained staff to serve stu-dents. The projected cost for design and construction is $36.6

million. River City Construction of Benton is the general contrac-tor; White and Borgognoni Architects of Carbondale is the projectarchitect. Construction is expected to be completed in June 2013.

Phil Gatton, director of Plant and Service Operations at SIUCarbondale, says the building creates a new entryway ontocampus, and that the facility focuses on student needs. “I thinkwhat we have come up with is a great solution that people willbe happy with,” he says. �

Ground Broken For SIUStudent Services Building

A drawing of the SIU Student Services building shows the facility which will house the University’s enrollment management func-tions and the Saluki First Year Initiative. The facility will help students enjoy a “one-stop shop” experience for many services.

New Deans At SIU CarbondaleSeveral new deans have recently been hired at the University. Three

colleges will soon have new leadership in July, as will Library Affairs. Wewill feature more information on these new campus leaders in theSeptember edition of Southern Alumnimagazine.

Southern Alumni

Southern ExposureCollege Of BusinessHonors Five AlumniThe College of Business at Southern Illinois University

Carbondale recently inducted four people into its Hallof Fame and recognized a fifth as Executive of the Year.The2012 Hall of Fame inductees are Kevin Bastien ’86, M.A. ’87,Diane Compardo ’91, M.A. ’92, Jeff Emme ’80, andStephen Parks ’80. Wesley Gibson ’81 is the Executive ofthe Year.

“It was an honor to have the opportunity to recognizethese five individuals. They have made undeniable contribu-tions to their field. The example they set for current andfuture students is a powerful message that will leave a last-ing legacy far beyond the professional achievements eachhas produced,” Dean J. Dennis Cradit says.

Bastien is the chief financial officer for the St. Louisheadquarters of the Edward Jones financial firm. He joinedEdward Jones as director of finance in 1996, handling taxfunction and partnership capital, and two years laterbecame a principal with the firm. He became CFO inJanuary 2009.

Compardo is currently a principal with the MonetaGroup, a financial planning firm providing family chieffinancial officer services to more than 2,000 clients. Thefirm, founded in 1995 and located in Clayton, Mo., earnedrecognition as one of St. Louis’ top wealth managers inAugust 2011. Her association with the firm dates to 1997, asshe was the first professional consultant. She became part-ner in 2007.

Emme is senior vice president for the Downers Grove-based Sara Lee Corporation. He oversees a staff of 25 in Illinoisas well as 17 employed overseas, and his connection with thecompany goes back 25 years. He serves as a board memberfor the Civic Federation of Illinois, is active in his church, and isa lifetime member of the SIU Alumni Association.

Parks, a vice president at General Electric, joined theDallas firm of KPMG Peat Marwick shortly after graduation.In 1985, he joined the United States Congress JointCommittee on Taxation staff where he assisted with theTax Reform Act of 1986 and other legislation. Three yearslater, he returned to KPMG as international tax partner inthe Dallas branch. His affiliation with General Electricextends back to 1991 in various other roles before promo-tion to his current post as vice president of taxes and infra-structure in 1995.

Gibson is the founder and managing partner of GibsonConsulting Group, LLC, with headquarters in Chicago andoffices in Tampa, Fla., London, Paris, and Shanghai, alongwith a training facility in Carbondale. A certified manage-ment consultant for more than 20 years, he also previouslyworked in operational consulting for the Chicago office ofArthur Andersen and with the firm’s special services group.

The Executive of the Year award recognizes an SIUCarbondale graduate who rises to a prominent businessposition and demonstrates a commitment to innovation,broadening the scope of economic opportunity throughutilization and transfer of technology and training skills.The honored executives serve as role models for peersand inspiration for College of Business students, accord-ing to Cradit.

All five honorees participated in an awards presentationand banquet held recently at the Student Center. �

On The SideSuski Named UndergraduateAdmissions Director

Katharine Suski ’98, M.A. ’04 has been named thepermanent director of undergraduate admissions

at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. “Katharinehas exactly the kind of knowledge and experience weneed in this critical position,” Chancellor Rita Chengsays. “Our focus on enrollment requires the strong lead-ership that Katharine provides.”

Suski, an SIU Carbondale alumna for both her bach-elor’s and her master’s degrees, has been part of theUniversity’s undergraduate admissions office since1999 when she became an admissions coordinator. Shewas campus visit coordinator from 2002 to 2007, whenshe became associate director of undergraduateadmissions. More recently, Suski has been interim direc-

tor of undergraduate admissions since August 2010. “I’m honored to lead the admissions team at my alma mater,” the SIU Alumni

Association life member says. “I am personally invested in the success of SIU andlook forward to further implementing student-focused, outcomes-based initiativeswithin the admissions office. As a second-generation alumna, SIU is in my bloodand has provided endless opportunity to my family and me. Supportive faculty,outstanding academic programs, and lifelong connections are just a few of thebenefits SIU students enjoy.” �

Erbes Wins Sturgis Public Service Award

T he community volunteer efforts of John ErbesJ.D. ’79 span generations. You will find him working with the Boy Scouts

and local youth baseball and soccer programs, assist-ing the Murphysboro High School Crimson Expressband, building sets, and assisting the elderly innumerous areas. The SIU School of Law graduatefinds joy in helping people.

The interim director of the Southern IllinoisUniversity School of Law Legal Clinic, Erbes views hisvaried volunteer efforts to be an extension of why hebecame an attorney: to assist others. It is that passionand community service that earned him the 2012Lindell W. Sturgis Memorial Public Service Award. TheSIU Board of Trustees presented the award andplaque to Erbes during a March ceremony at theStudent Center. His name will also go on a permanentplaque hanging in Anthony Hall.

Erbes was “completely surprised” upon learning of the award. “Looking at thelist of people who have received this award makes it even more of an honor,” hesays. “I don’t do volunteer work for the reward but I do get a lot out of it. It’s enjoy-able and personally rewarding.”

“John’s service to the public is just ‘who John is,’” wrote nominator RebeccaO’Neill ’85, J.D. ’88, a clinical professor at the law school and 2005 Sturgis Awardrecipient. “He goes far beyond what other people do to help others in his work, inhis profession, and throughout the community.”

Erbes and his wife, Julie ’80, live in Murphysboro. The couple has two sons,Andrew, 25, and Aaron, 20, and he credits his children’s activities while they weregrowing up as key to many of his volunteer efforts, laughing that at times his sons“really kind of pushed me … or they volunteered me.”

He views his volunteer efforts as an extension of practicing law, somethingwhich he reminds his students. He also remembers advice his father offered. “Hetold me that if I was going to do something, to do it to the best of my ability. I takethat approach with my job or whatever it is I am doing.” �

Katharine Suski

John Erbes

Southern Alumni10

Top Honors

Three Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale students are among just 60

nationwide named to the annual USA TodayAll-USA College Academic Team.

Lee Stewart (Dowell), a political sciencemajor, and Jessica Stout (Taylorville), aphysiology major, each have a place on the“First Team,” and Jordan Kabat(Waltonville), a 2011 mechanical engineer-ing graduate, is on the third team. All threeare University Honors students, PresidentialScholars, and members of the SIU Alumni

Association. “This is one of

the most presti-gious academichonors in thecountry, and weare extremelyproud of Lee,Jessica andJordan,”Chancellor RitaCheng says.“They are in thecompany of stu-dents from other

distinguished universities, including Rice,Cornell, the Naval Academy, Northwestern,and the University of California at Berkeley.But it is important to point out that ours isthe only university with two students onthe First Team.”

She also emphasized that SIUCarbondale is the only Illinois institutionrepresented on the First Team.

“This honor reflects the initiative, pas-sion, and commitment of our students,”Cheng says. “It also is a credit to the staff ofthe University Honors program and the fac-ulty who share their time, experience, andexpertise mentoring our students.”

This is not the first time SIU Carbondalestudents have earned spots on the acade-mic list, but this is the first year theUniversity is represented on the First Team,which includes only the top 20 students inthe nation. SIU Carbondale has, in fact,placed eight students on the USA Todayacademic teams since 2006.

Lori Merrill-Fink, director of theUniversity Honors Program, says this year’s

representation of students proves thatsome of the nation’s top students chooseSIU Carbondale. “These honors are a testa-ment not only to the character, drive andinitiative of these remarkable students, butalso to the opportunities and mentoringthey receive,” she says.

The University Honors Program hasdoubled in recent years, going from 220students in 2010 to 437 in spring 2012,with 57 set to graduate in May. Thisincrease in students isn’t because the pro-gram has become easier. In fact, the oppo-site is true.

The University Honors Program wasrestructured in 2008 to make the programstronger and more academically challeng-ing. Students choose now to enter theHonors Certificate track, which requiresthem to take five honors courses, or tochoose the even more rigorous HonorsDegree program, which requires a total of

seven honorscourses plus athree-credit-hourhonors thesis. Inaddition, theminimum gradepoint averagerequired for eligi-ble students isnow 3.4, anincrease from thepreviouslyacceptable 3.25.

“When stu-dents find out

that we are not like most high school hon-ors programs, but rather a value-addedlearning experience with many benefits,they are eager to join,” Merrill-Fink notes.

For Stewart, the honor is a score for hishometown of Dowell, population approxi-mately 420, and for his University as well. “Iview this not so much as a personal achieve-ment, but rather one for the University,” hesays. “I’m a small-town guy. I want kids fromthis area to know that just because they maynot have all the advantages (of bigger andmore affluent school districts), they can dowhat they want to do. SIU Carbondale gaveme the chance to prove myself.” He plans to

attend graduate school and to focus on afuture in policy analysis.

Stout will attend the SIU School ofMedicine beginning this fall. Ultimately, sheintends to specialize in pediatric oncology.As a student, she has worked toward thisgoal through undergraduate research pro-jects, including acting as a research assis-tant with the SIU School of Medicine andthe St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

She says she was “astonished” to learnshe’d been included in the First Team. “It isoverwhelming,” she says. “I am humbled tobe ranked within such a prestigious group.My focus throughout college has neverbeen reward-based, but rather about tryingto learn as much as possible to help kidsand their families fight cancer, now and inmy future.”

Kabat is a fourth-generation Saluki. Henotes that the excellence of the engineer-ing program and the opportunity to partic-ipate in undergraduate research were alsodetermining factors in his selection of SIUCarbondale for his education. He says thenational recognition was a “great way towrap up my career here at SIU.” Upon grad-uation in December 2011, he accepted ajob with Peabody Energy in Evansville, Ind.

In addition to the USA Today All-USACollege AcademicTeam members,the UniversityHonors Programhas nurtured stu-dents along theway to othermajor nationalawards. For exam-ple, honors stu-dents have alsobeen Morris K.Udall Scholarsand Barry M.Goldwater

Scholars, and nominees for Rhodes Scholars,National Science Foundation ResearchFellowships, and Marshall Scholars.

“The recognition that Lee, Jessica, andJordan have earned is a wonderful exampleof why we tell all of our students that bigthings are always within reach,” Cheng says.�

USA Today Names Three SIUStudents To All-Academic Team

Lee Stewart

Jessica Stout

Jordan Kabat

July6-8/13-15 McLeod Summer Playhouse presents Chicago the Musical,

Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

14 Austin/San Antonio: Round Rock Express baseball; game time 6 p.m.

21 Quad Cities Happy Hour, 7 p.m. at Doc’s Inn

26-30 McLeod Summer Playhouse presents Cinderella, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., and Monday at 7:30 p.m.

28 Dallas/Ft. Worth: SIU Day with the RoughRiders; game time 7 p.m.

29 35th Annual SIU Day at Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. Pregame at Cubby Bear Lounge two hours prior to 1:20 p.m. game time (game time subject to change).

August4 13th Annual Greater Michigan Picnic

8 Chicago Food Bank Summer Volunteer Effort, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Greater Chicago Food Depository

18 Quad Cities Social, 7 p.m. at the Blue Cat Brew Pub

30 Saluki Football at Eastern Illinois, Charleston, Ill. Game time 6:30 p.m.

September8 Saluki Football at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio;

game time TBA. SIU Alumni Association will host a tailgate before the game.

15 Saluki Football hosts Southeast Missouri State; gametime 6 p.m. Join the SIU Alumni Association on Saluki Row for a pregame tailgate.

22 Saluki Football at Missouri State, Springfield, Mo.; game time 1 p.m.

28-30 Saluki Family Weekend

29 Saluki Football hosts Indiana State; game time 6 p.m. Join the SIU Alumni Association on Saluki Row for a pregame tailgate.

Looking Ahead:Oct. 13 Homecoming

Nov. 18 3rd Annual SIU Day with the St. Louis Rams

Calendar Of Events

Legacy Preview Set ForHomecoming Weekend

Mark your calendars for the next Legacy Preview set for Friday, Oct.12, a program giving you the chance to share your alma mater

with your child. Coinciding with SIU Carbondale Homecoming Weekend,this preview will provide an opportunity to learn more about admis-sions, financial aid, scholarships, and housing at the University.

You will also have a chance to meet with college representativesregarding specific majors that interest your student. In addition, learnabout special scholarship opportunities offered specifically for studentsrelated to an alumnus. For those who would like to view the campus andsee how things have changed, walking campus tours will be available.For more information please visit admissions.siu.edu/legacy or contactAmber Short at ashort@siu.edu or 618-453-2988. �

by Gene Green

not connected to an institution’s artdepartment – a collaboration quiteprevalent in those days.”

Long had read a publication pro-duced by Kodak which listed collegeswith photography departments. Heenjoyed an article written by C. William“Doc” Horrell ’42, a noted photographerwho had been an SIU Carbondale facultymember since 1959. After perusing thematerial, he and his father decided tomake two campus visits – OhioUniversity and SIU Carbondale.

“When we arrived in Athens, Ohio,the first thing I found out was that thephotography department was tied to theart department,” Long says. “The build-ings were old and I really wasn’t thatimpressed. Arriving at SIU, I was takenby a beautiful campus in a great part ofthe state. The facilities were still fairlynew in the mid-1970s, and the depart-ment was its own entity. I told my fatherthat I thought Carbondale would be agood place to continue my education.”

Long began classes at Southern in thefall of 1975 and would graduate threeyears later. Along the way, the one thinghe wanted to avoid ended up helpinghim secure employment in the realworld: he was asked to work with SIU’sart department.

“I was approached by ceramics pro-

fessor Harris Deller about shooting someof his ceramic pieces for a publication,”Long recalls. “Doing that job taught me agreat deal about lighting, and I reallyenjoyed it. One of my photos ended upon the cover of Ceramics Monthly maga-zine and served as the first color photo-graph that publication ever placed on itscover.

“Afterward, the editor of the maga-zine sent me a wonderful letter tellingme how much they liked my pho-tographs. I used the cover and that letteras a shining example in my portfolio –the combination carried me quite a dis-tance when I left SIU for the real world.”

an SiU coUrSe PayS DiviDenDS

When Long graduated, he admits hehad neither the confidence nor funds toopen up his own studio. He insteadworked on several small jobs when theycame his way, but it was once againsomething that had occurred at SIU thatgave him a professional boost.

“I had taken a course at Southerncalled ‘Reconstruction of Color’ whereyou shoot black and white 4 x 5 negativesthrough a specific color filter and thenprint the same picture through that samefilter. The process produced surrealisticimages that were really interesting.

For almost three decades,Eric Long ’79 has pro-duced spectacular images

as a photographer at the SmithsonianInstitution in Washington, D.C. Althoughhis career and training he received as astudent at Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale have indeed served him well,he admits that he had no idea what thenext step in his life would be when hegraduated from high school.

Long grew up in Rockville, Md., anddecided to attend a local community col-lege and pursue a career in accounting. “Iquickly learned that probably wasn’t agreat idea – I soon struggled with eco-nomics,” he recalls with a laugh. “Thatissue and a few other things made mestart to reassess my academic plans.”

During that time, Long’s motherpassed away. “Her death really made methink long and hard about what I wantedto do with my life,” he admits. “I wantedto find a career path that really wassomething I would find appealing. I hadalways been interested in photography,so I began to consider where I couldtransfer to for that type of degree.”

One of the premier schools excellingin the curriculum was the RochesterInstitute of Technology (RIT). The pro-grams offered were impressive, but thecost of attending made it an unrealisticoption. Instead, Long and his fatherbegan to research other universities.

LookinG For TheriGhT PLace

“In the 1970s, not many schools actu-ally had a true photography program,” hesays. “I also wanted something that was

13Southern Alumni

This image “Stradivarius Quartet of Decorated Instruments” won Long third place in anationwide Kodak contest for commercial photographers. The photograph is still beingwidely used at the Smithsonian.

Long’s photo of the SR-71A Blackbird, ahigh-speed altitude aircraft, was taken tohelp promote the building of the StevenF. Udvar-Hazy Center, the companionfacility to the museum on the NationalMall. He says this image is representativeof his style of lighting and drama.

“Taking this technique, I beganapplying it to slide film using multipleexposures through color separations, andused this approach to try and find work.That class at Southern gave me theopportunity to do something not manywere doing back in those days. I tookthat idea and began to follow severalleads.”

One lead led straight to theSmithsonian Institution.

“I secured an interview to work on abook project, and they decided that thephotography technique I had been usingmight be a good fit,” he says. “TheSmithsonian ended up contracting me toshoot sunrises over some of the buildingsin Washington. I really had fun with it.”

“While shooting one day, a man jog-

ging nearby became curious and stoppedto ask me what I was doing. I told himwhat the photos were for, and he intro-duced himself as a darkroom techni-cian/photographer for the Smithsonian’sMuseum of American History. He urgedme to go talk to his boss and show himmy portfolio, which at the time consistedmainly of large format studio work.”

Long interviewed with theSmithsonian Photographic Services, gavea presentation, and received positivefeedback. There was only one problem –a hiring freeze was in place. He wasurged to stay in touch in case additionalstaff was later added.

Long was eventually hired in 1983and worked at the Museum of AmericanHistory for the next 13 years. During

the latter part of that stretch, he heardof a project at the Air and SpaceMuseum regarding a proposed bookbased on model airplanes in the muse-um’s collection.

“No one really showed any interest indoing that, so I said I would. Later on Iworked at that museum again on a ‘StarWars’ project, and eventually transferredto the Air and Space Museum in 1996.I’ve been there ever since, and love whatI do.

“As I look back on the training Ireceived, I think the most important dif-ference in the photography program atSIU over other schools was that it helpedme develop my own style of photogra-phy. At a school such as RIT, I wouldhave basically copied the style of theirprofessors. SIU’s approach gave me a sig-nificant advantage coming out of schooland entering the real world. So much ofwhat happened to me is because ofthings that happened in Carbondale.”

One important thing that happenedat Southern was meeting his wife,Kathleen ’74, a native of Zeigler who hasworked in the Washington, D.C., area forthe Marriott Corporation for the past 12years. The Longs have three daughters.

“We get back to southern Illinoisevery year or so,” Long says, “and whenwe do we see friends and family inZiegler. I didn’t grow up there, but mywife says they have long since adoptedme as one of their own.”

SPonSorinGan exTern

Long’s latest connection with hisalma mater was serving as an Externsponsor this spring. He mentored Robert“R.J.” Bachmann, a junior majoring incommercial photography and advertis-ing. (See accompanying story onBachmann and the Extern Program.)

And what does he think of the SIUstudent’s work?

“His portfolio was quite impressive,”Long says without hesitation. “NormallyI see students bring in something theydid as a school assignment. R.J., howev-

14 Southern Alumni

Shot for a book regarding the travelling exhibit on “Star Wars’ 20th Anniversary,” Long saysthis image helped him land his current position at the National Air and Space Museum.

15Southern Alumni

er, was showing me things that hedid for actual clients. The empha-sis for a college photographershould be to try and get workpublished, and this young manhas already started doing that.”

The Extern experience issomething Long thoroughlyenjoyed. “I had done somethinglike this for other institutions, butit was quite nice to sponsor some-one from SIU,” he says. “Talking toR.J. really took me back to mydays at Carbondale. It was easy torelate to him as we talked aboutthe campus.”

All photos courtesy

Smithsonian/Eric Long

One of Long’s current projects is providing a product to World War II veterans who come to thenation’s capitol. Here he is shown giving a veteran a poster he produced on Veterans Day at theWorld War II Memorial. The SIU graduate has produced a postcard set as well (samples shown atright). To see the entire collection or to purchase, go to his website at www.ericlongphoto.com.

Long has produced three bookson airplane cockpits from theSmithsonian’s collection. This isthe cockpit of the Space ShuttleColumbia.

For Robert “R.J.” Bachmann, theSIU Alumni Association’s Extern

Program allowed him to refine his pho-tographic skills by working with a topprofessional in the field. Majoring incommercial photography and advertis-ing at Southern, the Hawthorne Woods,Ill., resident spent a week this spring atthe Smithsonian Institution under thewatchful eye of staff photographer EricLong.

It was something Bachmann willalways cherish.

“What happened that week inWashington, D.C., exceeded all of myexpectations and provided a hands-onlearning experience I will never forget,”he says. “Some of the highlights includedhelping Long photograph the HubbleTelescope Test Module, the WrightBrothers’ pocket watch used to record thefirst flight, and documenting severalexhibits on display at The SmithsonianPostal Museum.”

Long not only allowed Bachmann toobserve his daily schedule, but invitedhim to stay at his home in Maryland and

travel with him to work each morning. “Iwanted the experience to be as cost-effective as possible, while giving himthe full experience of what it was likegoing to the job each day.”

Bachmann made a strong impressionon the 1979 SIU graduate, who says theUniversity junior “has a real way withpeople and makes them feel comfortableat a photo shoot. He has another year togo in school, yet already has a confidencelevel you rarely see at that age. R.J. alsohas a strong sense of how to properly uselighting – that really impressed me.”

Bachmann hopes more SIU studentstake advantage of the opportunityoffered via the Extern Program.

“I greatly appreciate what the SIUAlumni Association is doing to help cur-rent students start successful careers,” hesays. “With the Association continuing topartner with successful alumni, theExtern Program should continue to growand be an experience many more stu-dents will want to participate in.” �

16 Southern Alumni

exTern exPerience exceeDeD hiS exPecTaTionS

Bachmann gets inside a cage and photographs a South American Toucan at the NationalZoological Park. The image was taken for possible use in the 2011 Smithsonian Annual Report.

R.J. Bachmann stands on the second floor mezzanine of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. TheHazy Center displays the larger sized collection of the National Air and Space Museum such asthe B-29 Enola Gay, SR-71A Blackbird, Air France Concorde, Space Shuttle Discovery, and over300 such artifacts.

Student Sponsor Business Bassil Alamoodi Holly Mosack Advanced Technology Services, Inc.Malicka Anjorin Penny Clancy ‘95 Sentinel TechnologiesAutumn Anthony Craig Leener My Eye MediaKwame Appiahene-Agyei Marianne Grisdale TEAMS Design USAJulio Arce Beth Mueller ‘94 Deloitte Tax LLPSusana Arevalo Acosta Rubin Mohan Deloitte ConsultingKrysta Arnold Annette Peterson ‘10 Demonica Kemper ArchitectsHaley Atwell Liz Kelly CAMPUSPEAK, Inc.Matthew Baccus Leigh Gleason ‘05 UCR/California Museum of PhotographyRobert Bachmann Eric Long ‘79 Smithsonian National Air & Space MuseumErdenechuluun Batsaihan LeeAnn Schumacher Summit GroupKelsie Bond Dana Robinson ‘04 Kemper CPA Group, LLPJames Book Jason Lembke ‘97 Legat Architects Inc.Randall Bryant Andy Shoemaker Rax Trax RecordingJessica Butcher Cassandra Woolfolk Center for Youth and Family SolutionsSarah Buto Josh Sharpe Country Music TelevisionBlake Cain Emily Young ‘07 Church Health CenterHannah Canivez Mark Ritz BLDD Architects, Inc.Andrea Chairse Johner Wilson Daley Monhan Groble, P.C.Taylor Chance Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘98 BoeingAndrew Chiles Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘98 BoeingJoy Christensen Ken Harris Fred Sparks DesignBrenna Coyle Terry Murphy Strategic Marketing, Inc.Kyle Davey Gina Eberhart ‘00 Ameren IPTaSheena Dorris Carrie Wallace Children’s Home & AidErin Druger LeeAnn Schumacher Summit GroupAngela Dunn Brad Weisenstein Belleville News DemocratCaroline Ebelhar Charlie Snyder Colorado Springs Fine Arts CenterSteven Ebers Greta Browning Southern Illinois DermatologyKeshia Edwards LeeAnn Schumacher Summit GroupAlysha Farson Eve Poynter ‘04 John G. Shedd AquariumMatthew Ferro Brian Dugan ‘07 Rockwell CollinsAbbey Frese Tammy Robbins Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenAmanda Gaddy Richard Irvin The Law Office of Richard C. Irvin & AssociatesLucas Gansner Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘98 BoeingAdrian Garcia Nancy Rivera The San Jose GroupMegan Gebke David Helfrich ‘02 Mackey Mitchell AssociatesKristen George Laura Taylor ‘07 SIU Alumni AssociationGregory Gilleylen Jr. Kyleen King Chicago BlackhawksKristen Hafner Mike Snuffer WSIL-TV3 ABCMark Hagene Niki McDonald ‘97 Coulterville Care Center Brandi Hammer Pete Jansons ‘89 CareerBuilder.comWesley Hanner Frank Franzcyk North American Lighting (NAL)David Hanson Donald Koppy KAI Design BuildChristopher Harpstrite Joe Brinkmann Trivers AssociatesJessica Hastings Kathleen Howard St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, Inc.Ukiya Henson Mike Snuffer WSIL-TV3 ABCLauren Hilmes Nancy Newby Washington County HospitalJason Holdener Larry Jones ‘76 Harrisburg Family Practice/Primary Care GroupSamuel Hollis Robert Laing ‘08 A&E Television NetworksTorin Hopkins Mark Keim ‘83 Centers for Disease ControlVictor Ibekwe Brandon Higgins ‘03 Power Great LakesMegan Imrie Josh Sharpe Country Music TelevisionNaoki Izumo Kelly Bayless Towers ProductionAbby Johnson Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘98 BoeingTonesha Jones Cynthia Bradley Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment CenterJon Kent Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ’98 BoeingRachael Krekel Jeremy Pinkston ‘01 Black Diamond Harley-DavidsonKelly Kresin Nicole Ciccone DC Interactive GroupHyuksin Kwon Steve Goepfert ‘75 United AirlinesSarah Larsen Scott Garber State FarmEbony Lawson Maureen Chausse 19th Ward Alderman Matt O’SheaAriel Liddell Elise Tincher Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago

Student Sponsor Business Nicole Lowden James Minckler Carbondale Crime LabKayla Loyd David Mutch Washington UniversityJose Martinez John Parkinson ‘90 Image Architects, Inc.Hannah McArthy Jeremy Pinkston ‘01 Black Diamond Harley-DavidsonMichael Meehan Jeremy Pinkston ‘01 Black Diamond Harley-DavidsonLonzie Midden Laura Chandler ‘97 Memorial Hospital of CarbondaleLinda Miller Shane Pearson Dwellings: A Design ShopLindsay Mitacek Kathy Ruffulo Aspire of IllinoisElhaum Mogharreban Jo Fernandez Children’s Hospital St. LouisCaitlin Moliske J. Ricardo Loret de Mola SIU Health Care Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyWilliam Moore Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘98 BoeingMike Mullane Josh Sharpe Country Music TelevisionMeagan Murphy Barbra Zarrick U.S. Probation Office Southern District of IllinoisStephanie Nehrt Amy Schrader Barnes Jewish HospitalRebecca Newbury Joann Varel Animal Disease LaboratoryAshley Norton Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘98 BoeingTraci O’Brien Brad Karsh JobBoundVictoria Odeleye Ann Robinson ‘81 New Horizons Ob-GynBroc Pachesa Allison Miller SolidLine MediaRachael Pearson Amy Stinson Whitney, Inc.Genesha Pender Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘98 BoeingIvan Perez Bruce Coleman BRIC PartnershipDennis Pickett William Brown Atlanta Video, Inc.Scott Polczynski Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘98 BoeingBrett Probst Wes Weaver Aisin Mfg. Illinois, LLC (AMI)Haoming Qin Marcel Kuper ‘7 M.V. Kuper PCLogan Randolph Allison Miller SolidLine MediaElizabeth Ratterman Gayla Hannon Mueller Prost PCAshley Rickard Nancy Sander’97 GenslerDeja Sawyer Kelly Bayless Towers ProductionNicholas Scardina Ann Schmal KPMGJenna Schneider Erin Opp ‘10 Kerber Eck & BraeckelJulie Schroeter Mike Schmidt Logan Hollow Fish FarmJohn Schumacher Pete Jansons ‘89 CareerBuilder.comBethany Semevolos Rosemary Colson OSF Saint Anthony Medical CenterDanielle Sheley Jim Alberts ‘02 fwai architects,inc.Leah Shirley Joe Thompson BKD, LLPJesse Sinadinos Shawn Decker Speedway LLCWaylon Smeathers Scott Grott ‘86 MetroJames Smith Michael Abba ‘90 Ameren Illinois UtilitiesHaley Smith Lynn Dettman Murphysboro Health CenterKevin Smith Dana Robinson ‘04 Kemper CPA Group, LLPTucker Springfield Ann Schmal KPMGBrittni Starr Keith Werosh National University of Health SciencesErica Struemph Heath Doty ‘92 Jahabow Industries, Inc.Emily Struemph Heath Doty ‘92 Jahabow Industries, Inc.Cortnee Tarr Astin Hayes WGCI-FMMarcela Teixeira Bruce Wigo International Swimming Hall of FameYee Pin Tio Micki Moon Archway Services for ChildrenMiranda Toynton Eve Poynter ‘04 John G. Shedd AquariumFlora Trujillo Teresa Guy WalmartAngelika Tryba Brad Caliendo Wheaton Police DepartmentRiley Tucker Jackson Bomher Horsedrawn ProductionsRebecca Vanderjack Mike Hobbs ‘03 St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, Inc.Trenton Vandeven Chad Denning Gamma BlastStephen Vercellino Beaumont Heidmann DeloitteClay Walker Dixie Fields Good Samaritan HospitalZachary Wallace Steven Oliver BLDD Architects Inc.Weiran Wang Anthony Petruzzi ‘92 Transamerica Financial GroupTrevor Ward Darryl Jones Splattered InkCody Wiggins Joe Brinkmann Trivers AssociatesAnthony Wilcheski IV Maurice “Woody” Woodruff ‘ 98 BoeingQin Zheng Ann Schmal KPMG

2012 ParTiciPanTS

aboUT The ProGram …The Extern Program, established by the SIU Alumni Association in 1984, is designed to prepare students for success after graduation by simu-

lating a real job environment. Junior and senior students go through an application process, interview, and commit to work over the University’sspring break. For sponsors, the program is designed to share their expertise with students who aspire to soon enter their given vocation.

Students begin applying in October, interviews are held in December, the matching process occurs from January to March, and sponsorapplications are due in January. To secure the best externship match, time is allocated to insure a student’s goals and interests are compatiblewith what the sponsor can offer. The Association partners with SIU Carbondale’s undergraduate colleges during the matching process, andeach year approximately 150 students take part in this offering.

To help defray some of the students’ cost, the Association once again provided travel awards to some participants. In 2012, theAssociation’s board of directors awarded 28 travel awards totaling $11,000 to assist with the expense of traveling.

To learn more about the Extern Program, contact Director of Student, College, and Constituent Relations Tuesday Ashner at tlashner@siu.edu,Extern Coordinator Kimberly Brombosz at kimberlyb@foundation.siu.edu, or call the SIU Alumni Association office at 618-453-2408.

Southern Alumni18

Lucky Dawgs

by Becky Malkovich

Merle Butler ’71, ’87 did little recentlyto hide the fact that he was holding

one of three Mega Millions lottery ticketsworth more than $218 million.

“Yeah, sure, I won it,” the two-degreeSouthern Illinois University Carbondalealum said whenever one of his friends orneighbors jokingly asked if he had pur-chased the winning ticket at the Moto Martin Red Bud, Ill., where he has lived most ofhis life. “I answered, most of the time truth-fully, that ‘Yes, I did,’ but they didn’t catch it.”

They all caught it in mid-April whenButler and his wife, Patricia ’70, were intro-duced by Illinois Lottery SuperintendentMichael Jones as the latest MegaMillionaires during a news conference atthe Red Bud Village Hall.

Butler’s share of the record $656 millionjackpot came after a $3 investment in aMega Millions Quick Pick ticket. Ticket-holders in Maryland and Kansas haveclaimed their pieces of the pie as well, butthose states, unlike Illinois, allow lotterywinners to remain anonymous.

After checking the numbers drawnMarch 30, “I turned to my wife, who wasright there with me, and said, ‘We won.’And she kind of looked at me funny and Isaid, ‘No, we won.’ And then she startedgiggling and she giggled for about fourhours,” he says. “We were up all night. Wewaited for 9 o’clock when the banks open

and went over to our local bank where wehave a lockbox and placed the ticket inthe lockbox.”

The couple, retired analysts, shared thegood news with family and a few closefriends, and immediately sought financialand legal advice to help them cope withtheir sudden riches. The Butlers chose totake their winnings in a lump sum paymentof $157.8 million, which after 25 percentfederal and 5 percent state withholding,ends up as $110,517,449.

“We have a real good set of financialadvisers. Over the next few months, possi-bly a year, we’re going to start setting updifferent things we can use it for, andthere could possibly be a vacation inthere,” he says with a laugh. “This is a full-time job, it looks like. You’d be surprised atwhat all is involved. It’s a bit of work to setthis all up.”

When the couple was whisked awayfrom the news conference, many towns-people gathered to celebrate their goodfortune at a picnic behind village hall.Denise Metzger, manager of the conve-nience store that sold the winning ticket to

Butler, says the town was thrilled to see itsown claim the prize.

“I don’t think anyone had their nameout there. The rumor mill got squelched,”she laughs. “I am so excited the winner wassomeone from Red Bud. That’s just icing onthe cake.”

And in case you are wondering, theSouthern grads plan to remain in theRandolph County town.

“We’re going to stay here,” he says. “Weknow everybody in Red Bud just about. Igrew up here, it’s 3,700 people, and it’s anice, comfortable, family-oriented commu-nity. We really enjoy living here, and wedon’t plan on doing anything else,” he says.

Asked whether they plan to share theirwealth in any charitable ways, he notes,“We’re meeting with our financial advisers,and we’ve got a plan for setting up stuff,and we’re going to go through all that. Butthat’s all down the line, and everything iskind of open now, the types of things we’regoing to set up.” �

— Story and photos courtesy of TheSouthern Illinoisan

SIU Grads Are Mega Millions Winners

The Butler’s $3 investment in a MegaMillions Quick Pick ticket paid off with alump sum, after withholding, of$110,517,499.

Mega Millionaires Merle and Patricia Butler played the lottery only when the jackpotsreached more than $100 million. The SIU graduates are retired. Merle, 65, was a com-puter analyst, and Patricia, 62, was a programmer analyst.

Southern Alumni20

Commencement

Three separate commencement cere-monies were held at the SIU Arena

for undergraduate and graduate studentsin May, as retired U.S. Navy CaptainMark Kelly, who served as commander ofthe space shuttle Endeavour on its finalmission last year, was the keynote speak-er for each. Kelly flew four shuttle mis-sions in his career, and is one of only twoindividuals to visit the InternationalSpace Station on four different occa-sions.

He is married to formerCongresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, whocontinues her recovery from a January2011 assassination attempt. The coupleshares their story of hope and resiliencein their best-selling memoir, “Gabby.”

During the commencement celebra-tions, one individual received an hon-orary Doctorate of Humane Letters, twopeople received Distinguished ServiceAwards, and five alumni received AlumniAchievement Awards during theirrespective college or school ceremony.

Here are the honorees:

• Deidre McCloskey received an hon-orary Doctorate of Humane Letters fromthe College of Liberal Arts and College ofMass Communication and Media Arts.She is the Distinguished Professor ofEconomics, History, English andCommunication at the University ofIllinois at Chicago, and a professor ofeconomic history at GothenburgUniversity in Sweden.

• Edward Collins ’82, J.D. ’86, vicepresident and assistant general counselfor The Allstate Corp., received his AlumniAchievement honor from the College ofLiberal Arts. The Gurnee, Ill., residentearned a bachelor’s degree in political sci-ence in 1982, and a law degree from theSIU School of Law in 1986.

• Sam Robb ’68, M.S. ’75, a retired,longtime vocational agriculture teacherat Pinckneyville Community HighSchool, received the Alumni Achievementaward from the College of AgriculturalSciences. The Pinckneyville, Ill., residentspent 37 years teaching high schoolindustrial education or vocational agri-

culture classes in Kewanee, MountCarmel, and the last 32 years atPinckneyville Community High Schoolbefore retiring in 2005.

• Lee Raines A.A.S. ’85, ’86 directorand division head of automotive servicefor American Suzuki Motor Corp.,received his Alumni Achievement honor

Kelly Keynote Speaker At May Commencement

Mark Kelly, who served as commander of the space shuttle Endeavour on its final mission last year, speaks to recent SIU graduates.

Commencement

from the College of Applied Sciencesand Arts. The Acworth, Ga., resident hasheld various leadership positions withAmerican Suzuki Motor Corp., in addi-tion to other automotive manufacturers.

• Thomas Murray ’67, a retiredexecutive vice president and owner ofChicago-based Sargent & Lundy, LLC.,received his Alumni Achievement honorfrom the College of Engineering. Murrayspent more than 40 years with the com-pany and retired in 2007 as director ofthe company’s Power Delivery Servicesbusiness group. The Lisle, Ill, resident isa registered professional engineer ineight states.

• Brocton Lockwood, nominated bythe SIU School of Law, received aDistinguished Service Award. He earned

his bachelor’s degree in political scienceat Oberlin College in Ohio and his lawdegree from Vanderbilt University.Returning to southern Illinois and pri-vate practice, he taught constitutionallaw at the University and the SIU Schoolof Law from 1971 to 1976. As an associ-ate judge in the First Judicial Circuitbetween 1978 and 1983, part ofLockwood’s duties included assistingwith the backlog of cases in CookCounty by serving in their traffic court.Frustrated by the apparent corruption,the Harrisburg, Ill., resident volunteeredto serve as an undercover investigator forthe FBI’s Operation Greylord.

• Larry Bailey ’72, nominated by theCollege of Business, received aDistinguished Service Award. A busi-

nessman and consultant in Washington,D.C., he is a licensed CPA and is a formerpartner with two international publicaccounting firms, in addition to being aformer Internal Revenue Service agent.He is one of the founders of SIUCarbondale’s accounting registered stu-dent organization, Blacks Interested inBusiness (BIB).

• Hazel Loucks ’66, who served asIllinois’ Deputy Governor for Educationand Workforce from January 1999 toJanuary 2003, received her AlumniAchievement honor from the College ofEducation and Human Services. Anassistant professor at SIU from 1989 to1994, the Edwardsville, Ill, resident iscurrently an associate professor atMcKendree University. �

Southern Alumni 21

Southern Alumni22

Salukis In Business

Adevice that is referred to as “toosimple” by its inventor could ulti-

mately save 250,000 lives on an annualbasis. “Too simple is actually the prob-lem,” says Matt Reavill, a 1988 SIUCarbondale engineering graduate.“Complex problems aren’t supposed tohave simple solutions.”

The complex problem Matt refers tois an extremely deadly reaction to whatare often routine infections. This reac-tion is called sepsis, during which thebody literally collapses in an all-outattempt to fight off the infection. sepsisis often the actual cause of death whenyou hear “complications of” cancer,pneumonia, stroke, heart attack, orsurgery, etc. The complication is aninfection that exacerbates the problem.The death comes from sepsis.

“The problem clinicians have withfinding and treating sepsis is that stetho-scopes and blood pressure cuffs almostdiagnose it,” he says. “The only diagnos-tic device accurate enough to confirmsepsis is a central line catheter that mightcause death.”

In 1994, his father, Fred Reavill,died when his central line catheterbecame infected.

Matt’s company and device he invent-ed – ReavillMED CVP – are named inhis father’s honor. Matt’s invention usesthe patient’s existing IV line to infuse acentral line catheter to measure centralvenous blood pressure of the heart safelyfrom the arm instead of the neck. It wasFDA cleared in December 2010 and isestimated for a full launch by the firstpart of 2013.

Fred had survived a delicate heartprocedure at one of Indiana’s top hearthospitals. A central line was needed to

monitor his heart during the recovery. Itkept him alive and helped the doctorsconfirm he would need a heart replace-ment. But before a donor heart could befound, the catheter that was keeping him

alive became infected. He developed sep-sis from the central line used to save hislife and died 20 days later in a coma, justafter his 60th birthday.

Matt insists his invention isn’t a state-

The ‘World’s Best Stethoscope’

SIU graduate Matt Reavill feels his invention could saves thousands of lives each year.

Salukis In Business

23

ment against central lines. He’s actuallyidentified stethoscopes and blood pres-sure cuffs as the bigger problem.

“My dad was one of 28,000 U.S.deaths per year from central lines. sepsiskills 250,000 each year in the UnitedStates by not getting a central line placed(in time),” the Plainfield, Ill., residentsays. “Clinicians have been made soaware of central line infections anddeaths that they have to provide an expla-nation whether they use a line or not.Either way, it’s still time lost at the mostcritical first hour for the sepsis patient.

“The world’s best stethoscope doesn’thurt; it’s accurate, doesn’t take anylonger, protects the patient, and allows adoctor to share the results.”

The ReavillMED CVP isn’t a stetho-scope; it’s a central line. It is still an infu-sion device and will enable new life-sav-ing procedures like induced hypothermictherapy by delivering cold water directlyto the heart. However, Matt says it hope-fully has all the positive qualities of thebest stethoscope.

Whether he’s right or wrong, Mattrealizes that changing medical practiceisn’t easy. He has received supportabroad, where ReavillMED wonOmnicompete’s inaugural Health PitchBattlefield in London last October. Theglobal search was for best new medical

device technology to improve health-care delivery.

“Pain is an incredible motivator, fearis a frantic search for options, and a mis-sion is relying on them both,” he says.Learn more about the initiative atwww.reavillmed.com. �

Reavill recently won an award for inventing a medical device that reduces the risk ofinfection for patients who need a central line catheter. Photos by Paul Newton/TheSouthern Illinoisan

Student, Faculty Member Capture Broadcast HonorsSouthern Illinois University Carbondale’s Department of Radio-

Television continues to earn top industry accolades with strongshowings in the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) Festival ofMedia Arts competition. The awards ceremony was held in April at theBEA’s annual conference.

Nick Gresham ’12, a radio-television graduate from Chicago,earned top honors in the national competition for “Best TV SportsStory” in the organization’s student division. In addition, JanThompson, an associate professor in radio-television, earned severalawards in the BEA faculty division for her documentary, “The Tragedyof Bataan.” Narrated by actor Alec Baldwin, the documentary featuresaccounts of more than 20 Bataan Death March survivors.

Gresham, who graduated in May, was sports producer of WSIU-TV’s River Region Evening Edition newscast and won for his story, “All-Access: Saluki Practice.” The story, which aired Dec. 1, 2011, on WSIU-TV’s Saluki Sportsview, gave viewers a “rare, behind-the-scenes view ofan SIU men’s basketball practice” that relies on state-of-the-art visualtechniques, professional quality photography, and compelling sound,explains Greg Todd ’72, River Region Evening Edition news director.

While “thrilled” about earning the award, Gresham says it’s not about him. He gives much credit to WSIU, the College of MassCommunication and Media Arts, the Saluki men’s basketball program, former coach Chris Lowery, and WSIL-TV 3, the region’s ABC affili-ate, where he has also worked.

“I think we get lost in the competitive nature of sports and the demand for the win that we lose the human aspect and connec-tion of the people who are out there deciding the contest,” he says. “Fans don’t get to see that; fans don’t get to hear about theseguys doing good deeds.” His award-winning video may be previewed at rtv.siu.edu.

Gresham, who assisted the SIU Alumni Association by filming and editing videos of the 2012 Grad Bash event for siualumni.com,is a “great mentor to younger students,” Todd says. “Students like Nick go on to join many SIU Radio-TV graduates who are at the topof the broadcasting industry from coast to coast and beyond.” �

Gresham records some action at an SIU basketball gamelast season.

Southern Alumni24

Flying High

With a demeanor that belies theirstrength, the SIU Flying Salukis are

once again among the nation’s elite. Pacedby two individual event champions andthe top-scoring female competitor, thedefending national champions finishedthird in the country in May at the 2012National Intercollegiate Flying Associationchampionships in Salina, Kan.

Senior captain Daniel Harringtonwon his second consecutive simulatedcomprehensive area navigation (SCAN)event, while Taylor Breum, a junior inaviation management, captured the sim-

ulator groundtrainer event afterwinning short-field approachand landings lastyear. CourtneyCopping, also ajunior in aviationmanagement, was

the event’stop scoring

female competitor this year.The Flying Salukis finished with

319 points. National champion Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott finished with 500 points, andthe University of North Dakota, 382points. Western Michigan Universitywas fourth with 268 points and TheOhio State University was fifth with193 points.

Twenty-eight teams competed atKansas State University’s Salina RegionalAirport. The Flying Salukis used balanceto place in 10 of 11 events in the 28-teamfield, and was second overall in flightevents and fifth in ground events. Morethan 80 teams compete in regionals to beone of the 28 teams at the nationals.Among other universities competingwere the Air Force Academy, Purdue,Embry Riddle-Daytona, and Auburn.

“This is a demanding competition,

and the time and effort our students andcoaches spend inpractice and prepa-ration is a real tes-tament to theircommitment,”Chancellor RitaCheng says. “Notonly does the team

perform at aconsistent,

high level year after year, its members arewonderful ambassadors for ourUniversity. We are proud of their accom-plishments.”

The Flying Salukis have a solid lega-cy, and this year’s finish marks a mile-stone. This is the first time since 1985that the squad has had consecutive topthree national finishes. The team haseight national titles and qualified for thenational competition in 42 of the last 43years. Recent national finishes includefourth place in 2005 and 2010, and fifthplace in 2006 and 2008.

Nathan Lincoln, the Flying Salukis’coach and two-year team member in thelate 1990s, says it is also important howteam members carry themselves. He

acknowledges that some teams mighthave overlooked the Flying Salukis whenthey were placing fourth and fifth, “andnow people definitely know who we are.”

Lincoln was also pleased with thebalanced scoring in events. Scoring in 10of 11 events is a key to having a success-ful team, he says. The team showeddepth, with five Flying Salukis among

the top 23 individ-ual scorers amongmore than 300competitors.

Department ofAviationManagement andFlight ChairmanDavid NewMyer

says thisyear’s squad

stepped up to perform well after losing afew of last year’s team, along with someassistant coaches.

“The remaining coaches really held ittogether and put a lot of effort out there,”he notes. “These are faculty memberswho give up their time to make thatextra effort. I’m as proud of the coachesas I am the competitors.” �

Flying Salukis Among Nation’s Elite

Taylor Breum

Daniel Harrington

Courtney Copping

Ruiz Earns Simon Distinguished Faculty AwardThroughout his 17-year teaching

career at Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, José Ruiz Ph. D. ’03 hassought to make his classes interesting,appealing and challenging. A professorin the nationally recognized aviationmanagement and flight program, hedoesn’t shy away from expectations –for either his students or himself.

“It’s our responsibility to raise thelevel of expectations for our studentsso they can rise to meet them. Ourkids need to be challenged,” hesays.“They are capable of so muchmore. Often they just don’t recognizetheir potential.”

Ruiz is the 2012 recipient of the E.J. and Mary C. Simon Distinguished Faculty Award in theCollege of Applied Sciences and Arts (CASA). E.J. Simon was dean of the college from itsinception in 1951 until his retirement in 1970, and both he and his wife, Mary C. Simon,remained strong supporters of the University and CASA.

Saluki Sports

25

When SIU Director of Athletics MarioMoccia named Barry Hinson as the

new head coach of the Saluki men’s basket-ball program, he felt an exhaustive searchhad produced the right fit of athletics andacademics needed to turn around thefloundering hoop’s program. Hinson, whosucceeds Chris Lowery, becomes just the13th head coach in the school’s 99-year his-tory of men’s basketball.

Hinson, 50, has served the last fouryears on Bill Self’s staff at the University ofKansas. During his first two years at KU, heworked as the director of external rela-tions and in 2010 was promoted to direc-tor of operations. The Jayhawks have beenone of the nation’s premier programs dur-ing the last four years with a combined106-20 record and a trip to the Final Fourthis year.

“I have never been around a more posi-tive, energetic, unselfish person,” Self says.“I love the guy. Barry Hinson gets it andwill be a great person to work with andbuild the Southern Illinois University bas-ketball program.”

Prior to Kansas, Hinson was the headcoach at Missouri State for nine seasons.While at Missouri State, he guided the Bearsto a 169-117 record (.591) with postseasonNIT teams in 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2007. His2006 squad was left out of the NCAATournament with a 21 RPI, and hat clubwent on to win NIT games over Stanfordand Houston.

“Barry Hinson comes from a great tradi-tion, has an excellent record of graduatinghis student-athletes and winning games“says Moccia.”We are pleased to welcomehim as our new head coach.”

Although Southern dominated theMissouri Valley Conference by winning six-straight championships from 2002 to 2007,Hinson’s Bears beat Southern 10 times –more than any other conference schoolduring his nine-year tenure. The Bears hadthree, 20-win seasons under Hinson andadvanced to the finals of the MVCTournament three times.

Twenty-three of Hinson’s 26 players whocompleted their eligibility as seniors for theBears received undergraduate degrees fromMissouri State. Thirteen of his players wenton to play professionally overseas.

“I’m genuinely excited to be the head

coach at a universitywith a great tradition incollege basketball, andeven more excited to bepart of a communitywhich seems so muchlike the place where Iwas raised,” says Hinson,a native of Marlow, Okla.

One person whoknows Hinson well isexcited to have him backin the MVC.

“Barry Hinson is aman of great integrityand high character, whohas recruited exception-ally well and graduatedan extremely high per-centage of his student-athletes,” says MVCCommissioner DougElgin. “I compliment thesearch committee, MarioMoccia and ChancellorRita Cheng for making atremendous hire. I haveabsolutely no doubt thatBarry Hinson will returnthe Saluki basketball pro-gram to prominence.” �

Hinson To Lead Saluki Basketball

Meet The New Assistant Coaches …Associate Head Coach Tom Hankins – Hankins has spent the past 15 seasons as an assis-

tant at Oral Roberts. He was originally hired by Hinson at ORU in 1997, and served under him fortwo seasons (1997-99). During his tenure there, the Golden Eagles won five Summit League reg-ular-season championships and made three NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2007, 2008)and two trips to the NIT (2005, 2012). In addition to serving as the top assistant, Hankins will beSouthern’s recruiting coordinator.

Assistant Coach Terrance McGee – McGee has served the past two seasons as an assistantcoach at Grand Valley State University, during which time the Lakers compiled a 33-21 record. Aformer guard who played collegiately for Hinson at Missouri State (2001-03), he earned First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and All-Defensive Team honors. Prior to MSU, he spent twoyears at Kirkwood Community College (1999-2001). After his college career, McGee played pro-fessionally overseas for seven years.

Assistant Coach Anthony Beane – Beane is a former assistant at Illinois State. He servedtwo stints there, coaching five seasons under Tim Jankovich (2007-12) and two years on TomRichardson’s staff (2000-02). In between, he was an assistant coach at Saint Louis University from2002-06. Beane broke into the NCAA Division I coaching ranks with a three-year run atSoutheast Missouri State (1997-2000). He helped the Redhawks to back-to-back 20-win seasons,including a 24-9 mark and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1999.

Director of Basketball Operations Nate Mast – Mast, the former head coach of ParklandCollege, will serve as the program’s operations director. A graduate of the University of Illinois,Mast was a student assistant for one season for the Illini (2001-02) and later joined Bill Self’sstaff at Kansas in 2004 in an administrative capacity. A four year letterman at Illinois, Mast holdsthe UI scoring record for walk-ons. �

Hinson is all smiles at his new home — the SIU Arena.

Saluki Sports

Southern Alumni26

The SIU baseball team mounted anunlikely run in the 2012 MVC

Tournament, before falling to Creighton 8-6in the championship game. A win wouldhave given the Salukis their first trip to anNCAA Tournament since 1990.

Southern entered the tournament asthe sixth seed, and had swept its way to thetitle game by winning three straight.Despite a roster featuring 17 freshmen andsophomores, the Dawgs almost pulled offthe tournament win in Springfield, Mo.

“I can’t fault our club for anything,” SIUCoach Ken Henderson says. “We playedhard and played well. I’m frustrated we lost,but I’m so proud of our kids because of theway we played.”

Pitching on short rest, SIU ace CodyForsythe lasted four-plus innings. Hedeparted with a 5-2 lead after allowing thefirst two batters of the fifth inning to reach

base. “We just couldn’t get Cody deepenough into the game,” Henderson admits.“We were hoping to get six or seven out ofhim, but he gave us everything he had.”

SIU’s bullpen eventually gave the leadback, and the chance at post-season wasfinally ended.

Catcher Brian Bajer was named to theMVC All-Tournament Team, along withrelief pitcher Todd Eaton, and first basemanChris Serritella. Serritella was later named aLouisville Slugger NCAA Division I Third-Team All-American, making the Saluki slug-ger only the 13th All-American in SIU base-ball history and the first since Doug Shieldswas a third-teamer in 1990. He was draftedafter the season in the fourth-round of theMLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.

“It’s a great honor being named one ofthe top first basemen in the country,”Serritella says. “It’s definitely a great feel-

ing, and it’s above my expectations.” Heled the conference with a .389 battingaverage and tied for the MVC homerunlead with teammate Jordan Sivertsen with13 homers. In addition, the junior led theMVC in slugging percentage, on-base per-centage, runs scored, hits, doubles, andtotal bases. His 24 doubles and 156 totalbases in 2012 set new single-season SIUrecords, and his 91 hits were one shy ofthe school record.

SIU graduates only four seniors, andwith many key pieces returning for 2013,Henderson looks forward to even brighterdays for the Saluki baseball program.

“I truly believe that we’re going to lookback at that week in Springfield and saythat was the turning point in the program,”Henderson says. “Our young kids are learn-ing how to win, and the way we played isgoing to pay dividends for a long time.” �

Baseball Salukis Fall In MVC Title Game

SIU Softball Loses In Valley Championship Finale

MVC Coach Of The Year Award Honors Callahan

The Missouri Valley Conference announced that the league’s annual coach of the year award hasbeen renamed to honor former SIU head coach Dan Callahan. Callahan spent 16 years as the headcoach of the Salukis before losing his long battle with cancer in November of 2010.

Missouri State Head Coach Keith Guttin proposed the idea to name the trophy after Callahan,and the conference approved the decision after the league’s coaches voted unanimously “It’s the firstcoach of the year award in the league named in honor of a former coach,” notes MVC associate com-missioner Joe Mitch. “We have two player of the year awards named after former players — the LarryBird Trophy for men’s basketball and the Jackie Stiles Trophy for women’s basketball, but none untilnow for a coach. It shows you how much respect everyone in the league had for Cal.”

Callahan is one of only five coaches in MVC history to reach 200 league wins. Of his 595 careerwins, 442 of them came at SIU. “The Callahan Family is deeply honored that Dan will be rememberedin such a meaningful way,” says his wife Stacy. “We thank all of his former fellow coaches and theMVC for this recognition.” � Former Saluki head coach Dan Callahan.

Much like the SIU Baseball run, Southern’ssoftball team also made it to the title

game of the MVC Championships with aberth to the NCAAs at stake. Illinois State,however, hit three, three-run homers in thefirst three innings as the Redbirds rolled overthe Dawgs 13-3 at Charlotte West Stadium.

The Redbirds (35-21) crushed the Salukis(36-20) with the long ball as they scored themost runs ever in a championship game,putting a cap on the 2012 season. It markedthe fourth time the Salukis have made thechampionship game but failed to earn thetrophy. They have not won a tournament

title since the league was changed to theMVC in 1993, lasting winning as a GatewayConference member in 1991.

“I give a lot of credit to Illinois State andthe way they came out,” says SIU HeadCoach Kerri Blaylock. “The thing I’m mostproud of is that our kids fought until theend and did not quit.”

MVC Player of the Year Mallory Duran-Sellers went 1-for-3 with a walk in her finalgame for the Salukis. She was later named aCoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American for the second consecutive year,earning first team designation this season.

An English education major with a cumula-tive 4.0 GPA, she is a three-time MissouriValley Conference Scholar-Athlete and washonored as the MVC’s Elite 18 Award recipi-ent for softball at the 2012 MVCTournament.

The 2012 MVC Player of the Year brokethe MVC single-season record for runsscored with 61 and tied SIU’s single-seasonrecord with 45 walks in 2012. The Windsor,Colo., native ranked third in the MVC in bat-ting average at .362 in addition to drivingin 24 runs with a team-high 17 stolenbases. �

The SIU track and field program sentseven athletes to the NCAA

Championships June 6-9 in Des Moines,Iowa, with senior Jeneva McCall providingnational publicity by winning the NCAAtitle in the hammer throw. Her toss of 225-03 was good enough for the third nationaltitle of her career.

McCall, who won the NCAA weightthrow title in March and was the discusnational champion in 2010, has now wonmore NCAA titles than any athlete in SIUtrack and field history. The Midwest RegionField Athlete of the Year overtakes Brittany

America honors, as did freshman DeAnnaPrice with a 204-02 in the hammer throw.Others representing SIU in Des Moineswere junior Kim Fortney (16th in thewomen’s shot put), senior Cody Doerflein(20th in the men’s pole vault), sophomoreDoug Palacious (21st in the men’s triplejump), and junior Zach Dahleen (men’s1,500-meter).

It was a bittersweet weekend forDahleen, who broke a 50-year-old schoolrecord in the men’s 1,500-meter run duringthe preliminaries, but fell short of qualifyingfor the final. He ran 3:41.18 to overtake BillCornell’s 1962 time of 3:42.74 atop the SIUrecord book. The effort was two-tenths of asecond shy of the final qualifying spot.

“You can’t ask for a lot more than theperformances we had,” says SIU HeadCoach Connie Price-Smith. “We had greatperformances that didn’t make it in thefinals, but were certainly competitivemarks. I am pleased with how it turnedout.” �

Riley, who won two titles in the weightthrow in 2007 and 2008, and Darrin Plab,who was a two-time national champion inthe outdoor high jump in 1991 and 1992.

In addition to her hammer throw title,McCall finished 10th in the discus with a177-04, and finished her outstanding careerwith a third-place finish in the shot putwith a throw of 57-11.75 to earn the 13thall-America honor of her career.

As a team, the Saluki women finished ina tie for 14th place. Senior Malaikah Lovefinished 10th in the triple jump with a leapof 42-11.00 to earn second-team all-

Southern Alumni 27

Saluki Sports

McCall Wins NCAA Hammer Throw; Women 14th In Nation

Jeneva McCall

In The Hole …SIU baseball alumni from many eras again

came together this spring to watch theSalukis and raise money for the program. Thealumni saw Southern defeat Creighton onthe field, after raising money for SalukiBaseball at a golf tournament played earlierin the day at Hickory Ridge.

The tourney’s highlight was a hole-in-oneby former Saluki Jeff Nelson ’91 (holding theball), shown flanked by teammates TomStrabavy ’91 and Bob Geary ’91, who wit-nessed the ace that morning.

Thanks to the Saluki Research Rookies Program, the SuperStudents were placed in faculty-mentored, hands-on researchactivities freshman year.

“It was a great way to kick-start my research career,” saysKabat, who plans to obtain both a medical degree and a doctorateof philosophy in order to work at a comprehensive cancer centeras a medical scientist.

“SIU does a great job offering research positions to under-grads. We learned the ropes on how to be effective researchers.Having experience in the research field really helped me decidewhat research I wanted to do,” says Kabat, a Scheller, Ill., nativeminoring in chemistry.

“It allowed me to broaden my perspective to include things I hadnever considered before,” says Moliske of Taylorville, Ill., who isminoring in chemistry and psychology. “Before I participated inresearch, my only goal was to become a doctor. Now my interestsinclude both clinical research and medicine. Instead of simply treat-ing illnesses that have no cure, I will be applying the research doneby scientists in order to minimize fatalities caused by disease.”

The pair, entering their senior years at Southern, were bothrecommended for the Super Student scholarship by faculty thatoversees their research. SIU School of Medicine assistant profes-sor Buffy Ellsworth commended Kabat, who has presented hiswork at the Illinois Symposium for Reproductive Sciences.

“Brock’s ability to understand the primary literature andapply it in a proactive manner to future experiments in his pro-

Cancer, you’re on notice! Two of Southern’s brightest andmost dedicated students are determined to take on thedisease in promising future careers. Brock Kabat and

Caitlin Moliske are the 2012 Super Student Scholarship recipi-ents, and both the pre-med physiology majors plan to joinresearch and practice to save lives.

“I’m fascinated by the bench-to-bedside method,” Kabat says.“You have your own laboratory where you work on cures and tryto find breakthroughs. Once implemented, you can treat patientsat their bedside.”

Like so many, the students had personal encounters with can-cer that helped define their academic aspirations. The son ofKabat’s high school basketball coach developed pediatricleukemia. Two-year-old Andrew made it through after a tumul-tuous period of remission and recurrence.

“I saw the struggle the family went through, the fear andworry,” Kabat says. “I wanted to find more direct care to make surepatients like Andrew are permanently and immediately cured.”

Moliske’s friend, Jason Gumbel, was diagnosed with Burkittlymphoma their freshman year. Gumbel has been cancer-free formore than a year. He is a pre-med junior in biological sciences atSIU who plans to specialize in hematological oncology, or blood-related cancers. A team of clinical physicians implementing newprotocols made that future possible. Moliske and Kabat bothwanted this type of education – one that integrates the latestresearch with clinical application.

29Southern Alumni

event of the year out of more than 300campuses that participate.

“Raising support andawareness for St. Jude is amajor part of my life,” saysMoliske, who is now fundrais-ing chair. Up ’til Dawn at SIUhas brought in more than$165,000 for the hospital inthree years. “Because I was sopassionate about this cause, Irealized that it was easy for meto spread the word to others.When you truly care aboutsomething, others notice.Every day I wake up and helpraise funds for thousands ofkids I have never met.”

Moliske noted that the sur-vival rate for the most com-mon form of childhood cancerwas just 4 percent in 1962, butthanks to research and treat-ment protocols developed at St.Jude, it is now 94 percent.

“Knowing that is absolutelyamazing,” she says. “We reallycan make a difference.”

While Kabat maintained a 4.0 GPAand Moliske a 3.84, both have contributedmore than 300 volunteer hours each inUniversity and community service.

“What has made SIU so amazingare the extracurricular and researchopportunities,” Moliske says. “I can’timagine my college career withoutthose experiences.”

The Super Student program was cre-ated in 1989 by the Student AlumniCouncil (SAC) to honor fellow under-graduate students for their leadership,academic achievement, and volunteerservice. The scholarships represent away for SAC and the SIU AlumniAssociation to recognize outstandingstudents for their contributions to theUniversity by assisting with collegeexpenses. The scholarships are paid bySAC with funds raised throughout theyear. Both recipients say they are hon-ored to have been selected.

“It is nice to know that SIU does rec-ognize hard work and nice to be recog-nized for that hard work, especially whenso many others are deserving of theaward,” Kabat says. “It is humbling.”

jects is a great testament to his intellec-tual ability,” Ellsworth wrote of Brock.The talented junior also trained gradu-ate students in a protocol that Ellsworthdeveloped and which he took the initia-tive to teach himself.

Likewise, Moliske tackles “challengingindependent research projects,” wroteSchool of Medicine associate professorJodi Huggenvick in her recommendation.

Moliske hopes to pursue clinicalresearch and practice as a pediatrician atSt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, apioneer in taking research break-throughs to clinical application. St. Judehas also played a major role in both stu-dents’ college careers.

Since 2009, both have been involvedwith Up ‘til Dawn, the college fundraiserfor St. Jude. Up ’til Dawn earned the 2011Program of the Year Award from St. Judeunder the leadership of “MostDistinguished Senior” Jessica Stout, whoserved as executive director, andMoliske, assistant director. SIU’sfundraising effort was recognized as the

Brock Kabat uses a fixed-volume pipette to sample solu-tions in the lab. Kabat and Moliske’s rigorous researchwas one of many considerations in their being honoredas Super Students.

Southern’s initiative to get students involved in hands-on research as early as freshmanyear gave this year’s Super Students opportunities to work in the SIU School of Medicinelaboratories. Caitlin Moliske is shown here maintaining the health of cells at Life Science III.

30 Southern Alumni

Front row from left: Lisa Dohn, Jessica Stout, Loran Luehr, Karla Avelar, Kimberly Elsenbroek,Makayla Trotter, Jordan DiGrazia, Monica Bertrand, Darlyshia Cherry, Caroline Ebelhar, Sarah Claytor, Nicole Haarmann, and KristalynnRaymond. Back row: John Schumacher, David Loska, Travis Healey, Yuri Fedorovich, Michael Small, Mike McElroy, Daniel Dunbar,Cameron James, Thomas Marten, and Anthony Graham. Inset are Mallory Duran-Sellers and Ari Weiss.

1. Karla Avelar, Northlake, Ill.College: Liberal ArtsMajor: Criminology and Criminal JusticeMinor: History

2. Monica Bertrand, St. Charles, Ill.College: Liberal ArtsMajor: Music Education

3. Darlyshia Cherry, Belleville, Ill.College: Liberal ArtsMajor: Speech Communication – Public Relations

4. Sarah Claytor, Staunton, Ill.College: Agricultural SciencesMajor: Animal Science, Pre-VeterinaryMinor: Chemistry

5. Jordan DiGrazia, Crystal Lake, Ill.College: Applied Sciences & ArtsDouble Major: Aviation Management and Aviation FlightMinor: Spanish

6. Lisa Dohn, Rolling Meadows, Ill.College: EngineeringMajor: Computer EngineeringMinor: Mathematics

7. Daniel Dunbar, O’Fallon, Ill.College: BusinessMajor: Management

8. Mallory Duran- Sellers, Windsor, Colo.College: Education & Human ServicesMajor: English – Middle School Education

9. Caroline Ebelhar, Marion, Ill.College: Business Major: Management

10. Kimberly Elsenbroek, Kingston, Ill.College: ScienceMajor: Plant Biology

11. Yuri Fedorovich, Dolyna, UkraineCollege: ScienceMajor: Physiology – Pre-MedicineMinor: Chemistry

12. Anthony Graham, Mt. Vernon, Ill.College: Liberal ArtsMajor: AnthropologyMinor: Sociology

13. Travis Healey, Brighton, Ill.College: ScienceMajor: Biomedical SciencesMinor: Chemistry

14. Nicole Haarmann, Effingham, Ill.College: Agricultural SciencesMajor: Animal Science, Pre- Veterinary Medicine

15. Cameron James, Mattoon, Ill.College: BusinessMajor: Management – Entrepreneurship

16. David Loska, Bensenville, Ill.College: Applied Sciences & ArtsMajor: Aviation TechnologiesMinors: Economics, Aerospace Studies

17. Loran Luehr, Steeleville, Ill.College: Agricultural SciencesMajor: Human Nutrition and Dietetics

18. Thomas Marten, Raymond, Ill.College: Agricultural SciencesMajor: General AgricultureMinor: Environmental Studies

19. Mike McElroy, Ada, Mich.College: Education & Human ServicesMajor: Health Education

20. Kistalynn Raymond, Alhambra, Ill.College: Agricultural SciencesMajor: Agriculture EducationMinor: Plant & Soil Sciences

21. John Schumacher, Arlington Heights, Ill.College: Liberal ArtsMajor: Speech Communication – Public RelationsMinors: Marketing, Journalism

22. Michael Small, Hoyleton, Ill.College: ScienceMajor: Biological Science – Pre-MedicineMinors: Chemistry, Psychology

23. Jessica Stout, Taylorville, Ill.College: ScienceMajor: Physiology – Pre-MedicineMinor: Chemistry, Psychology

24. Makayla Trotter, Macomb, Ill.College: Liberal ArtsMajor: Geography & Environmental ResourcesMinor: French

25. Ari Weiss, Chicago, Ill.College: Liberal ArtsDouble Major: Economics and Political Science

ASSOCIATION HONORS 25 MOST DISTINGUISHED SENIORS

In addition to this year’s Super Students, the SIU Alumni Association, the SIU Carbondale Chancellor’s Office, and the Student AlumniCouncil (SAC) honored 25 seniors at an April ceremony as part of the institution’s “25 Most Distinguished Seniors” program. The 25 Most Distinguished Seniors program and the Super Student scholarship were initiated by the Association and SAC – a registered

student organization – to recognize students who have enriched the University community with their active involvement in all facets ofcampus life. Some of these activities include academic achievement, athletics, residential life, military service, Greek life, and registered stu-dent organizations.

“Like our 25 Most Distinguished Seniors program, the Super Student Scholarship is one of SIU’s most prominent student recognitionsand illustrates high standards of accomplishment,” says Tuesday Ashner, the Association’s director of student, college, and constituent rela-tions. “The recipients are considered to be some of SIU’s brightest juniors and seniors, so competition each year is certainly intense. Thatmakes it an arduous task for the selection committee.”

This year’s 25 Most Distinguished Seniors are as follows:

A Local Success Story

Southern Alumni 31

by Marleen Shepherd

While one-third of Americansbelong to co-ops such as credit

unions and electric utilities, many peo-ple still don’t understand what theyare, says Francis Murphy, ’89, M.S.Ed.’92, M.B.A. ’94. But that is changingfast. People around the world are flock-ing to co-ops, businesses that areowned and run jointly by memberswho share in profits and benefits.

The United Nations designated2012 as the International Year ofCooperatives, drawing attention to “thepower of the cooperative businessmodel to reduce poverty, create jobs,and fuel socioeconomic development.”

“It’s a business model people sharein and believe in,” says Murphy, generalmanager of the Neighborhood Co-opGrocery in Carbondale. “Co-ops areborn because people’s needs are notgetting met in the market in anotherway. With co-ops, needs are met in away that’s empowering and encour-ages community too. Every customercan become a shareholder.”

At co-ops, the concern goes beyondthe traditional bottom line. “You have tomake enough money to be able to reinvestin the business, but we’re also concernedwith the impact on the environment andon the community as a whole.” Those areincreasing concerns for consumers, as evi-denced in the rising demand for local, sus-tainable, and organic products. Murphynotes that even through recession, theNeighborhood Co-op’s compound annualgrowth rate has remained close to 18 per-cent per year for the last 20 years.

That’s quite an accomplishment for a lit-tle network of neighborhood buying clubsthat began in 1980. A member would drive aflat-bed truck to Madison, Wis., to bulk up onfoods unheard of in local groceries 30 yearsago. By 1985, the co-op had its first store-front on Jackson Street. Murphy recalls theoriginal shelves built from smoke-damageddoors. “We didn’t even have a cash register.”

That humble start is hard to picturenow when you walk into the $1.5 million,12,000-square-foot storefront in theMurdale Shopping Center. The co-op fea-tures a café, a teaching kitchen for cookingclasses, and a full-service grocery specializ-ing in products that are organic, locally pro-duced, or fairly traded as well as food forspecific dietary needs. Long-term plans

include operation of an organic farm andan education center.

Murphy says Southern plays a part inthe continuing success of the business,with annual sales of nearly $4 million.Murphy plunged into Southern’s M.B.A pro-gram while managing the store in order toget the financial background the co-opneeded to flourish. That and his previousSIU degrees in psychology and health edu-cation combined to give him an ideal mixof skills for the job, he says.

Murphy also points out that there willsoon be six SIU degrees in his immediatefamily. His wife, Julie, graduated cum laudewith an A.A.S. in physical therapy assistantand a bachelor’s in anthropology in 1994.Their son, Colin is taking his final coursesfor a bachelor’s degree in computer scienceat SIU this summer. (Their other son, Sean,graduated with a bachelor’s in urban plan-ning from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in ’07 and a master’s in regionalplanning from Cornell University in May.)

Many of the co-op’s 2,700 owners areaffiliated with the University, as are many ofits founders and board members. Of thegrocery’s current 45 employees, 26 arealumni or students.

The co-op also participates in the“Southern Illinois Cooperative Youth

Conference” in June. The SIU College ofAgricultural Sciences’ program provideshigh school juniors and seniors with theopportunity to learn about the coopera-tive business model and create theirown co-op, says coordinator MichelleSullivan M.S. ’07. Trips to area coopera-tives include a visit to the NeighborhoodCo-op, which features a local food scav-enger hunt and a talk with Murphy.

“Francis’ involvement in that is toinspire kids,” Sullivan says. “He tellsthem, ‘We didn’t start out in this beau-tiful building. It just started with anidea.’ The idea of a cooperative is tak-ing advantage of each person’s contri-bution, and doing it in formalized gov-ernance. It makes something possiblecollectively that might not have beenindividually.”

The success of the NeighborhoodCo-op, its involvement in local charita-ble and fundraising efforts, and its con-tinuing commitment to SIU and thecommunity has not gone unnoticed.Murphy was named CooperativeManager of the Year by the IllinoisCooperative Council. “The guy lives andbreathes cooperatives; he’s just a per-

fect fit for the award, and we’re really glad hereceived it this year,” says Jim Fraley, treasur-er for the ICC and manager of Illinois MilkProducers’ Association. “It’s a good exampleof a well-run cooperative, and this particularcooperative has Francis to thank for all hishard work and vision.”

Murphy was surprised to be awarded bythe statewide organization that includes“big players” in all sectors of the economysuch as large-scale agricultural co-ops,credit unions, and electrical co-ops. “This isthe first time a grocery co-op has beenselected. It’s pretty exciting.”

Murphy says Southern helped preparehim to do more than just a job. For the SIUAlumni Association life member, workingfor the co-op is a way to serve the localcommunity and international communitiesthat benefit from the cooperative model.It’s one in which farmers get better pricesfor the crops they sell than they could indi-vidually, and have more control over theireconomic fates. Consumers benefit fromwholesome foods that help rather thanhurt the local economy and the environ-ment, he says.

“I’m grateful that I found a line ofwork that is in line with what I believeand value.” �

A Business Model To Believe In

Three-time alumnus Francis Murphy poses with theproduce at the Neighborhood Co-op Grocery inCarbondale. Murphy received the CooperativeManager of the Year Award from the IllinoisCooperative Council.

Guy prunes grapes atthe vineyards beforeopening in 1988. Hebegan the businessfollowing at 23-yearcareer at SIU.

Almost 25 years ago, Paul Renzaglia ’82 never imaginedthat a family venture would have such a profound effecton the southern Illinois region. With the first plantings

in 1982, the Renzaglia family and Alto Vineyards began to introducea new industry to the area, and the company’s president and wine-maker admits he was stepping into unknown territory.

“At first I was scared the venture would not go anywhere,” the1982 Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduate says. “Butnow I’ve seen the tremendous growth and popularity of the indus-try here and am just amazed what has come of it.”

Although an appreciation of wine is deeply rooted in the Renzagliafamily, improving the lives of others was Paul’s first passion. Aftercompleting his bachelor’s degree in administration of justice at SIU,he worked with troubled youth in the St. Louis and Chicago areas. Hereturned to southern Illinois 10 years later after being recruited by hislate father, Guy, to become a partner in the family vineyard.

“Initially, my greatest interest came from my father, who alwaysgrew grapes and made wine in Italy,” Paul says. “We grew up withwine at our meals, and it became a big part of family and socialgatherings. It was easy to fall in love with something that was sointegrated into our lives at an early age.”

This paradigm shift refocused Paul’s passion toward viticul-ture. He spent the next several years learning the trade through lit-erature, workshops, and consultation from those who came beforehim. “The more I learn, the more I realize I still have a long way togo. But that’s part of the excitement… you never stop learning.”

From only five wineries in the state in 1988 to more than 100wineries in 2012, the Illinois wine industry has created a directeconomic impact of more than $253 million annually. SouthernIllinois alone is home to 32 wineries that are key players in theregion’s tourism industry.

Viticulture and winemaking are deeply rooted in the his-tory of the region. Prohibition forced many grape growersto move away from grapes and make room for othercrops, like corn and soybeans. The Shawnee Hillsregion’s rich heritage in fruit production is now anationally recognized American Viticultural Area.

Birth Of An IndustryAfter a 23-year career at SIU, where he helped start the

University’s Rehabilitation Institute and made the campus one ofthe few universities in the country to provide services for the blind,deaf, and persons using wheelchairs, Guy retired and decided it washis civic duty as an Italian to start growing grapes.

With 13 acres in Alto Pass, he planted native American andFrench-American hybrid grapes that, prior, had been deemedimpossible to flourish in the area. To everyone’s surprise, the vinessoon were producing quality fruit in the region. At the time, therewere only 38 acres of commercial grapes being grown in the state.

In May 1988, the Renzaglias began construction on a small600-square-foot winery with a little help from friends and othervintners. Starting a winery did not come without strife, though.The Village of Alto Pass had been dry by referendum since prohi-bition but came together to create an ordinance that would allowfor a single liquor license. In December, Alto Vineyards released itsfirst 1,500 gallons of Illinois wine, selling out in only three days.

Soon after Alto Vineyards opened its doors, Pomona Wineryand Owl Creek followed suit, and the three wineries showcased thenew-found quality fruit of the Shawnee Hills. Understanding thetourism potential for this new industry, the three wineries workedwith state and local entities to form what is now known as theShawnee Hills Wine Trail. Since its inception in 1995, the trail hascome to consist of 12 different wineries covering about 100 miles.

With the success of the southern Illinois wineries, Guy andPaul began canvassing the legislature, governors, and politicians togive credence to the new industry. “My father really brought theindustry out in the open,” Paul remembers. “We worked extremelyhard to get people to acknowledge that this industry did exist andhad huge potential. It was

from that hardwork that the

first Grapeand WineCouncil wasdeveloped.”

Southern Alumni 33

Paul during a barrel tastingof the 2006 Chambourcin.

At that time, the council was headed bythe deans of agriculture from theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaignand Southern Illinois University, and con-sisted of winemakers and grape growers inthe state. The organization establishedexperimental vineyards along with viticul-ture curriculums at both state universities,which are still a part of the agriculture pro-grams at UIUC and SIU today.

After 15 years of petitioning, theShawnee Hills region was accredited as anational American Viticulture Area in

2006. This was ahuge step for theregion’s wine scene,Paul feels. “The AVAbrings anotherdimension to helpvalidate our regionas a unique andviable growing areain the United States.Grapes from theShawnee Hills canbe comparable toNapa Valley or any

well-known region,and have the potential to push southernIllinois wine to new levels of respectthroughout the winemaking world.”

Leaving A LegacyIn November 2010, the Illinois wine

industry and southern Illinois said good-bye to Guy, who passed away at 92 yearsold. His son, however, continues the pio-neering reputation of the family. This fall,Alto Vineyards anticipates the first harvestof other varieties, including Sangiovese,Albariño, Lemberger, Cabernet Franc,

Cabernet Sauvignon, and Viognier. “We chose these based on suitability

and likeliness to survive our climates.Though quality is important, we also hadto consider how they would work asblenders,” Paul explains. “Alto Vineyardswas born out of a sense of determined-ness, punctuated by a certain quality ofmy father’s stubbornness, so we feel thatgrowing some high-quality grapes thatpeople don’t usually associate with thisarea is a fitting tribute to my dad.”

As tourism increases in the area, andinterest in the thriving wine industry insouthern Illinois increases, the Renzagliafamily recently committed to building anew facility to host the influx of guests vis-iting the Shawnee Hills. A new 5,000-square-foot tasting room will provideindoor space for visitors and increase traf-fic during the winter months on the winetrail. Alto Vineyards anticipates the creationof five to seven new jobs with this facility.

“My hope for the future is to continueto improve our wines and continue to nur-ture the industry in southern Illinois,” Paulsays. “It is then that we can truly becomethe Napa Valley of the Midwest.”

34 Southern Alumni

The Shawnee Wine TrailThe Shawnee Wine Trail is made up of the following wineries: Alto

Vineyards, Blue Sky Vineyard, Honker Hill Winery, Hedman Vineyard,Hickory Ridge Vineyard, Kite Hill Vineyards, Orlandini Vineyard, Owl CreekVineyard, Pomona Winery, Rustle Hill Winery, StarView Vineyards, and VonJakob Vineyards.

To learn more about the 12 wineries that make up the Shawnee WineTrail, go to www.shawneewinetrail.com.

The proud trio (from left) of Paul Renzaglia, Ted Wichmann, and GuyRenzaglia with Alto Vineyards’ first harvest years ago.

Alumni Deaths

HECKEL, Ruth S., ’395/01/2012, Carterville, Ill.

TOM, Dr. Theodore “Ted” B., ’402/19/2012, Carterville, Ill.

LANGDON, Dorothy “Tim” J., ex. ’415/04/2012, Carbondale, Ill.

PRATT, Charles F., ’412/12/2012, Rio Verde, Ariz.

SMITH SR., Dr. James M., ’413/19/2012, Elkton, Md.

BOUCHER, Marjorie E., ’422/08/2012, Dallas, Texas

CLINTON, James T., ’435/10/2012, Olney, Ill.

HOLST, Janet E., ex. ’443/29/2012, Collinsville, Ill.

ROBERSON, Stanley, ex. ’4411/08/2011, Saint Charles, Mo.

SEARCY, Marion E., ex. ’454/13/2012, Carterville, Ill.

ARMSTRONG, Dorothy C., ex. ’464/16/2012, Hixson, Tenn.

JOHNS, James E., ex. ’463/15/2012, Metropolis, Ill.

NOBBE, Mildred E., ’461/24/2012, Waterloo, Ill.

WIEDEMANN JR., Herman J., ex. ’462/26/2012, Salem, Ill.

BOLLINGER, Kathryn “Katie” L. Butts, ex. ’481/29/2012, Carterville, Ill.

ROBERT, Earl “Buster” L., ex. ’485/01/2012, Carlyle, Ill.

WENDT, Dr. Arnold, M.S.Ed. ’483/05/2012, Macomb, Ill.

ARMSTRONG JR., John “Bob” R., ’49, M.S.Ed. ’503/05/2012, Mattoon, Ill.

DICKERSON, Paul E., ’493/21/2012, Mount Vernon, Ill.

KARRAKER, Louis R., ’49, M.A. ’523/20/2012, Waterford, Wis.

KITTINGER, Wilma L., ex. ’493/23/2012, Eldorado, Ill.

REIMAN, Elliot E., ’49, M.S.Ed. ’503/18/2012, Chester, Ill.

WEISS, Ronald E., ’492/26/2012, Pontoon Beach, Ill.

CLUTTS, Hobart R., ex. ’505/07/2012, Cobden, Ill.

MONROE, Luticia A., ex. ’504/18/2012, Dahlgren, Ill.

WILSON, Loren C., ’502/23/2012, Houston, N.C.

CONCI, Leona M., ex. ’515/15/2012, Benton, Ill.

EBLIN, Clayton R., ex. ’523/17/2012, Creal Springs, Ill.

LEMAY, Rev. Everett C., ’523/11/2012, Mount Vernon, Ill.

TERRY, Charles O., ex. ’525/17/2011, Mount Carmel, Ill.

WHITLOCK, William “Bill” E., M.S.Ed. ’525/08/2012, Litchfield, Ill.

CLOUD, Russell L., ’532/10/2012, Monticello, Ill.

FUNKE, Lorene “Spurge” F., ex. ’534/24/2012, Cape Coral, Fla.

HEATH, Donald D., ex. ’5309/29/2011, El Paso, Texas

POSTON, Thomas N., ex. ’533/21/12, Harrisburg, Ill.

RETRUM, Virginia M., ’532/07/2012, Belleville, Ill.

FLY, Ruth H., ’542/14/2012, Cincinnati, Ohio

GRAMMER, Lonnie E., ex. ’545/11/2012, Royalton, Ill.

MILLIGAN, Robert L., ex. ’543/01/2012, Litchfield, Ill.

SCOTT, Ph.D., Leroy J., ’54, M.S.Ed. ’572/25/2012, LeCanto, Fla.

SERATI, Robert H., ex. ’544/12/2012, Anna, Ill.

HARTLEY, Elaine A., ’554/14/2012, Collinsville, Ill.

TARRO, John J., ’552/08/2012, Gillespie, Ill.

BURKLOW, Marilyn T., ex. ’562/21/2012, Harrisburg, Ill.

HAKE, Roger C., ’56, M.S.Ed. ’633/16/2012, Nashville, Ill.

PICKERILL, Frances L., ex. ’562/26/2012, Petersburg, Ill.

BLACKBURN, William “Bill” J., ’574/26/2012, West Frankfort, Ill.

MOORE JR., Charles J., ’57, M.S.Ed. ’604/09/2012, Saint Elmo, Ill.

TESCHNER SR., The Honorable John S., ’572/13/2012, Fort Myers, Fla.

INGRAM, Dr. James R., ’582/27/2012, Brighton, Ill.

O’BOYLE, Margaret Jeanette, ’58, M.B.A. ’682/06/2012, Murphysboro, Ill.

ANDRES, Col. Howard J., ’591/31/2012, Springfield, Va.

HATCHER, Mary A., M.S.Ed. ’591/23/2012, Fort Myers, Fla.

KENNEDY, David D., ’62, M.S. ’722/25/2012, Anna, Ill.

RAMSEY, James D., ’59, M.S.Ed. ’602/14/2012, Orange Park, Fla.

WEST, Timothy, ’59, M.A. ’614/02/2012, Winslow, Ark.

GARRETT, Virdon, ’60, M.S.Ed. ’651/29/2012, Mountain Home, Ark.

ICKES, William K., Ph.D. ’604/24/2012, Lubbock, Texas

PING JR., Chester W., ’603/01/2012, Auburn, Ill.

ADAMS, Thomas G., M.S.Ed. ’611/02/2012, Richmond, Mo.

DAVIS, Wayne T., ’615/04/2012, Rockford, Ill.

NOLEN, Elvis D., ’614/06/2012, West City, Ill.

WHITE, Kenneth E., ’614/09/2012, San Jose, Calif.

BRADEN, William C., ’622/16/2012, Alton, Ill.

BROWN, Billy “Joe”, M.S.Ed. ’623/24/2012, Clarksville, Tenn.

ELLIS SR., Jay S., ’622/19/2012, West Frankfort, Ill.

GRAHAM, George V., ’62, M.A. ’6811/17/2011, Worthington, Ohio

HODGE, Anita M., ’62, M.S.Ed. ’64, Ph.D. ’703/25/2012, Paducah, Ky.

LEE, James T., ’623/13/2012, Scotch Plains, N.J.

MILLER, Robert R., ’623/15/2012, Sonora, Calif.

NEWBERRY, Samuel “Ike” I., ’624/13/2012, Springfield, Ill.

PITCHFORD, Verla H., ’622/28/2012, St. Louis, Mo.

SAMPSON, Dennis M., ex. ’626/21/2011, St. Augustine, Fla.

ALLARD, Wayne H., ’631/31/2012, Great Falls, Va.

DERUITER, Garret W., ’63, M.F.A. ’655/01/2012, Charleston, Ill.

FOX, Lana A., ’633/12/2012, Wilmington, Ill.

GROOMS, Robert “Bobby” T., ex.’633/21/2012, Sherman, Ill.

HASENSTAB, Patricia “Pat” Feeley, ’633/23/2012, Belleville, Ill.

SHEEKS, Russell W., M.A. ’63, Ph.D. ’6711/17/2011, Murray, Ky.

SMITH, Harold “Smitty” F., Ph.D. ’631/17/2012, Parkville, Mo.

BELCHER, John W., ex. ’642/15/2012, Anna, Ill.

KIRK, Patsy E., ex. ’642/05/2012, Fairborn, Ohio

NEWTON, Kathern “Katie” P., ’643/19/2012, Jonesboro, Ill.

SINKEWIZ, Theodore “Ted” M., ’641/31/2012, Paw Paw, Mich.

WALQUIST, Thomas “Tom” T., ’642/02/2012, Belknap, Ill.

WERTH, Terry “TW” W., ’642/07/2012, Lincoln, Ill.

WITTERS, Brenda Marlow, ’643/17/2012, Golden Colo.

BAZZETTI, Barbara J., ’654/27/2012, Marion, Ill.

BENNETT, Ph.D., Suzanne, ’654/21/2012, Peabody, Mass.

BUCHANAN, Erwin J., M.S.Ed. ’653/01/2012, Jefferson City, Mo.

CLELAND, Bruce B., ’653/01/2012, Rossville, Ga.

TERJIMANIAN, Hagop A., M.A. ’655/29/2011, Montebello, Calif.

BARBER, Raymond L., ’6612/26/2011, Hartford, Ill.

GRENIER, Dr. Walter J., S.P. ’662/12/2012, Ellsworth, Me.

GROH, Larry L., ’662/07/2012, Clermont, Fla.

LAUE, Arlene H., ’662/18/2012, Shumway, Ill.

MAAG, O. Eugene “Gene,” Ph.D. ’663/21/2012, Edwardsville, Ill.

BARNS, Eugene “Gene” B., ’703/23/2012, Altamont, Ill.

BARTINIKAS, Jerry A., ’6711/05/2011, Sarasota, Fla.

KRABEC, Charles “Chuck” F., ’673/26/2012, Maywood, Ill.

LEWANDOWSKI, Arthur R., ’672/26/2012, Elmhurst, Ill.

POWERS, Richard “Dickie” L., ’674/02/2012, De Soto, Ill.

CRONIN, Faye E., ’684/04/2012, Crainville, Ill.

HAWKINS, Loretta B., ’683/16/2012, Sun Lakes, Ariz.

JACOBS, Ronald “Ron” L., ’685/04/2012, Danville, Ill.

POLAKOFF, David M., ’6812/26/2011, Mundelein, Ill.

SHEA, Lavona J., ’681/15/2012, Palm Springs, Calif.

KAREIVA, Alan “Al” L., ’693/08/2012, Pawleys Island, S.C.

MCCLURE, Cheryl S., ’693/21/2012, Mount Vernon, Ill.

TAYLOR, Robert M., ’692/21/2012, Carbondale, Ill.

CRABTREE, Stephen L., ’70, M.A. ’723/23/2012, Dolton, Ill.

HILL, Carolyn G., ’704/26/2012, Galatia, Ill.

KENNY, Brian P., ’724/19/2012, Springfield, Ill.

In Memoriam

Southern Alumni 35

continued on page 39

Benny Dunn, Distinguished Alumni

Benjamin “Benny” Dunn, a 2009recipient of the SIU Distinguished

Alumni Award, died at 95. The 1947Southern graduate always main-tained an unconditional love for edu-cation, teaching and baseball. He firstcame to the University in 1935, excit-ed to study history and become ateacher. He knew baseball wouldhave to wait, as the sport had beendiscontinued at SIU since 1924. Hisplans for both sports and an educa-tion were interrupted by World War II.

Dunn served in Southeast Asia as a member of the fieldartillery and was captured in March 1942. For three years heremained a prisoner of war working on the infamous “DeathRailway” and then was sent to the prison camp at River Kwai.Refusing to give up, he miraculously survived unimaginablehardships before being liberated in August of 1945. Arrivingback in the United States, he says he was overwhelmed by thewarm welcome he received from his family and friends whenhe returned to the area. After a brief period back home, Dunnquickly rekindled his zeal for higher learning and decided tofinish his education at Southern – 11years after first enrolling.

This time things would be different.Coach Glenn “Abe” Martin began to revive the baseball

program in 1946, the same year Dunn returned toCarbondale. He was soon able to fulfill his dream of playingcollege baseball a year later, something that had been unat-tainable for so long. Noting his maturity and leadershipability, the legendary Martin named Dunn his first-everteam baseball captain in 1947.

Following graduation, Dunn returned to teaching histo-ry and coaching baseball and basketball in his hometownof Gorham. His love of learning never faded, and he walkedSouthern’s halls once again years later to earn a master’sdegree in educational administration. This helped set a pathto becoming superintendent of schools in Gorham, alongwith stints as superintendent at Newman and Anna. �

Benny Dunn

Southern Alumni36

Association News

Phoenix Club Has Spring Training Game Outing

More than 40 alumni and friends attended a White Sox-CubsSpring Training game in Glendale, Ariz., at an event coordinatedby club president Danny Griffin. Prior to the game, 25 Salukisenjoyed a pregame reception at The Native New Yorker, where theAssociation provided pizza and wings before the group watchedthe battle of the two Chicago teams. Gene Green represented the

Association, providing a program where he updated alumniabout some initiatives on campus and answered several generalquestions regarding the state of the University.

12th Annual Greater Michigan Dinner

The Greater Michigan Chapter and the SIU AlumniAssociation hosted 61 alumni to a reception and dinner at Dave& Buster’s. Mike Behrmann, chair of Automotive Technology,was the guest speaker and presented on the building of theTransportation Education Center. Chris Micha, Dale Hall, ChadO’Brien, and Kent Wilson coordinated the event. ZacharySapienza attended on behalf of the SIU Alumni Association.

2nd Annual Chicago Pre-Cinco de Mayo Celebration

The Chicago Chapter of the SIU Alumni Association hosted 35alumni and friends for a Pre-Cinco de Mayo Social at the SalukiBar. This event featured substantially discounted drink specials andcomplimentary appetizers for all to enjoy. Books highlighting thehistory of McAndrew Stadium were given to all alumni in atten-dance. Vanessa Matheny, Chris Stemler, Jim Buczynski and KenMantel coordinated the event. Dean John Warwick, his life Laura,SIU Development Officers Eden Thorne and Mary Carroll attendedon behalf of SIU, and Michelle Suarez represented the Association.

SIU Day At Minute Maid ParkMore than 100 Salukis attended a May game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the hometown Houston Astros.

Houston Alumni Club leaders Jason and Chelsey Glenn helped organize the Saluki gathering, which featured tickets to thegame and an all-you-can-eat food bar. Gene Green represented the SIU Alumni Association at the event.

Some of the more than 100 SIU alumni and friends who attended the Houston Club event are shown on the right fieldconcourse late in the game.

Pregame activity was enjoyed at The Native New Yorker.

Southern Alumni 37

Association News

Chancellor Alumni ReceptionsHeld In Nashville And NYC

The SIU Alumni Association continually strives to provideopportunities for alumni to meet SIU Carbondale Chancellor

Rita Cheng, and those efforts continued in the month of Aprilwith receptions in Nashville and New York City. On April 5, morethan 30 alumni met with the Chancellor at Jed’s Sports Bar &Grill in Nashville. Club leader Elle Turner helped coordinate theevent, which was also attended by SIU Foundation’s Jill Gobert.

Two weeks later, 35 New York area alumni and friends hadthe opportunity to meet the Chancellor at Traffic Bar andRestaurant. Sara Ingold coordinated the event, Mary Carroll rep-resented the SIU Foundation, and Michelle Suarez and ZacharySapienza attended both events on behalf of the Association.

Central Florida PicnicHeld In Tampa Bay

The Central Florida Chapter of the SIU Alumni Associationhosted 32 alumni and friends to a picnic at Fort Desoto StatePark overlooking beautiful Tampa Bay. Prior to lunch, severalSalukis mingled, while others took advantage of the pristinebeaches and beautiful weather.

After lunch, several items were raffled off. Tom and JoAnnChamberlain coordinated the picnic and Zachary Sapienzaattended on behalf of the SIU Alumni Association.

3rd Annual Austin/San Antonio Spring Picnic Features SIU-Themed Trivia

The Austin/San Antonio Chapter of the SIU Alumni Association hosted 29 alumni and friends to a catered picnic atLanda Park in New Braunfels, Texas. Afterward, chapter leader Tara Janssen spoke about ways local alumni can get involvedwith the chapter, and then an SIU-themed trivia game was hosted and SIU prizes were raffled off as a fundraiser for thechapter. Claudia Ogrin, Tara Janssen, Sara Weiskopf, and Eileen Eiden organized the event. Laura Taylor attended on behalfof the SIU Alumni Association.

The Austin/San Antonio Chapter of the SIU Alumni Association hosted another successful event, as the third annual springpicnic was catered at Landa Park in New Braunfels, Texas.

Somers, N.Y., resident Carl Lutes ’48, M.S. 59 enjoys the New Yorkevent with SIU Carbondale Chancellor Rita Cheng.

Southern Alumni38

Association News

28th Annual SIU Day At Busch Stadium

The SIU Alumni Association hosted more than 100 alumni andfriends to a Cardinals game against the Chicago Cubs and anoptional pregame meal featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet of deli-

cious base-ball fare. SIUCarbondaleChancellorRita Cheng,and RonJacober ’61,KMOXRadio per-sonality andhost ofAmerica’slongest run-ning radiotalk show“Sports on aSundayMorning,”

were the speakers. Michelle Suarez, Gene Green, and ZacharySapienza represented the Association at the event.

KMOX radio personality Ron Jacober and SIUCarbondale Chancellor Rita Cheng were speak-ers at the annual SIU Day at Busch Stadium.

SIU Alumni Directory –Stand Up And Be Counted!

As we recently announced, the SIU AlumniAssociation is working with Harris Connect

Publishing Co. to produce an alumni directory. Thisproject represents our continuing effort to stay con-nected with fellow alumni featuring an approach welast used in 2003.

Harris representatives will begin a mailing andphone campaign in June to contact as many SIU alum-ni as possible for verification of information. Alumniwill be asked to corroborate graduation data, class year,college achievements, and a current career update. Thedirectory will feature alumni, academic, and businessinformation about SIU Carbondale graduates that willbe organized into easy-to-use sections.

We hope you will take a few moments to partici-pate in this worthwhile project. Please note that whileeveryone will be offered the option of obtaining theSIU Alumni Directory in either book or CD format, noone will be under any obligation to purchase materialfor inclusion in this publication.

Get Involved With An Alumni Club Or ChapterSIU alumni clubs and chapters exist to bring together the efforts of alumni to establish an SIU presence in their area, to encourage participation in

the life of the University, to provide information about the University, and to facilitate involvement and camaraderie among Salukis around the world.Characteristics of clubs and chapters include strong leadership of local alumni and approximately 1,000 or more SIU alumni living within a specificgeographic region.

Illinois Clubs & Chapters

Chicagoland Chapterwww.siualumni.com/chicago

Central Illinois Chapterwww.siualumni.com/ilcentral

Greater Rockford Clubwww.siualumni.com/rockford

Jackson County Chapterwww.siualumni.com/jackson

Lake County Chapterwww.siualumni.com/lakecounty

Peoria Tri-County Chapterwww.siualumni.com/peoria

Perry County Chapterwww.siualumni.com/perry

Prairie Capital Chapterwww.siualumni.com/prairiecapital

Quad Cities Clubwww.siualumni.com/quadcities

Randolph County Chapterwww.siualumni.com/randolph

Union County Chapterwww.siualumni.com/union

Williamson County Chapterwww.siualumni.com/williamson

U.S. Clubs & Chapters

Austin-San Antonio Chapterwww.siualumni.com/txsalukis

Central Florida Chapterwww.siualumni.com/cfsalukis

Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapterwww.siualumni.com/dallasft-worth

Greater Atlanta Clubwww.siualumni.com/atlsalukis

Greater Michigan Chapterwww.siualumni.com/michsalukis

Greater Nashville Clubwww.siualumni.com/nashville

Greater New York Clubwww.siualumni.com/nysalukis

Greater Phoenix Clubwww.siualumni.com/azsalukis

Houston Clubwww.siualumni.com/houston

Indianapolis Chapterwww.siualumni.com/indysalukis

Las Vegas Clubwww.siualumni.com/lasvegas

Los Angeles Chapterwww.siualumni.com/lasalukis

Minnesota Clubwww.siualumni.com/mnsalukis

San Diego Clubwww.siualumni.com/sandiego

San Francisco Bay Area Chapterwww.siualumni.com/sfsalukis

St. Louis Area Chapterwww.siualumni.com/stlsalukis

Washington D.C./ Baltimore Clubwww.siualumni.com/dcsalukis

KIRN, Alma J., ’70, M.A. ’722/10/2012, Springfield, Ill.

NEWELL, Gayle N., ’704/14/2012, Chicago, Ill.

SCHULER, David J., ’702/29/2012, Peoria, Ill.

TRZASKUS, Edward A., ’703/27/2012, Antioch, Tenn.

BIDDLE, Thomas O., ’713/06/2012, Louisville, Ky.

GRAND, John C., ’711/23/2012, La Grange, Ill.

LEWIS, Marguerite A., M.S. ’7111/04/2011, Nashville, Ill.

BOWEN, Eileen E., ’723/08/2012, Houston, Texas

WILLIAMS, Nancy M., ’724/11/2012, Des Moines, Iowa

COMBER, Patricia L., ’734/23/2012, Malvern, Pa.

EERTMOED, K. Robert, ’733/19/2012, Peoria, Ill.

HARRELL, James S., ’732/08/2012, Knoxville, Tenn.

SCHROER, Theresa D., ’7311/27/2011, Golden Valley, Minn.

THEUS, Robert W., Ph.D. ’734/01/2012, Little Rock, Ark.

WETHERINGTON, Sue, ’733/02/2012, Brentwood, Tenn.

BOOKS, Larry D., ’742/14/2012, Mount Vernon, Ill.

GRANEY, Michael D., ’744/05/2012, Springfield, Ill.

HALSTEAD, David L., ’74, M.S.Ed. ’852/07/2012, Dowagiac, Mich.

HELLENY SR., James J., ’742/26/2012, Herrin, Ill.

KORNEY, Marilyn J. Unterfenger, ’746/11/2011, Palatine, Ill.

SMITH, Nancy E., ’743/14/2012, Johnston City, Ill.

GARRETT, D.C., Dr. Donald H. ’7511/07/2011, Palatine, Ill.

PLATH, Karl H., ’7512/21/2011, Chicago, Ill.

WASSEL, Gail E., ’754/06/2012, Chatham, Ill.

BYBEE, Celeste R., ’764/24/2012, Douglas, Ga.

JOHNSON, Debbie J., ’765/05/2012, St. Charles, Ill.

WILBER, Cornelia “Connie” F., Ph.D. ’774/23/2012, Westfield, N.J.

ZANZOTTERA, Bruce W., ’773/14/2012, Herrin, Ill.

MCGRATH, Dorothy S., ’783/31/2012, O’Fallon, Mo.

PONDER JR., Felix, Ph.D. ’782/05/2012, Columbia, Mo.

SCHOHL, Terri L., M.S. ’7912/13/2011, Chicago, Ill.

KAISER, Norman C., ’802/23/2012, St. Elmo, Ill.

MOULTY-WRIGHT, Gisele “Gee,” ’803/21/2012, Chicago, Ill.

BROWN, Estelita R., ’812/22/2012, Broken Arrow, Okla.

DALY, Eileen E., ’813/18/2012, Redington Shores, Fla.

JOHNSON, Alan E., ’811/28/2012, New Bern, N.C.

JONES, Warren M., ’814/13/2012, Ocala, Fla.

MAXWELL, Jane R., ’812/05/2012, Knoxville, Tenn.

MAYER, Carole A., ’812/09/2012, Warren, Pa.

DROTTZ, Harry A., ’8212/26/2011, League City, Texas

CATCHPOLE, Mattilou S., Ph.D. ’833/24/2012, Mineral Ridge, Ohio

KERSEY, Smith J., ’831/27/2012, Jacksonville, Fla.

KLISE, Roderic E., ’834/14/2012, Bremerton, Wash.

LAMBERT JR., Charles “Chuck” K., M.B.A. ’832/21/2012, Flower Mound, Texas

ODUM JR., Charles, ’832/21/2012, Bradleyville, Mo.

FAIRMAN, Kathryn D., ’842/06/2012, Saint Johns, Fla.

HENDREN, Daniel M., ’8512/12/2010, Farmington Hills, Mich.

SHELNUTT, J. Hugh, ex. ’852/02/2012, Carbondale, Ill.

KINNEY, John R., ’8611/19/2011, Fairfield, Ill.

KOSTER, Mary M., ’863/05/2012, Peru, Ill.

HURST, Henry, ’882/24/2012, Killeen, Texas

REID, Carol Jean, J.D. ’883/29/2012, Springfield, Ill.

WARD, Richard A., ’883/22/2012, Monmouth, Ill.

WRIGHT, Brian K., ’934/05/2012, Herrin, Ill.

BAITY JR., Wilbert, ’943/30/2012, San Antonio, Texas

HAY, Joseph W., ’941/27/2012, Santa Ana, Calif.

CADOR, Darent P., ’954/28/2012, El Paso, Texas

FINK, David J., ’952/09/2012, Manhattan, Kan.

GOLDENHERSH, Barbara L., Ph.D. ’956/10/2011, Belleville, Ill.

HUMPHRIES, Kelly “Pat” P., ’952/28/2012, Newton, N.C.

MILLER, James A., ’962/25/2012, Mount Vernon, Ill.

CARMAN, Steven K., ’974/04/2012, Mount Vernon, Ill.

GOODMAN, James L., ’973/13/2012, Paducah, Ky.

HEAL, Deanna L., ’994/13/2012, Creal Springs, Ill.

NASH, Curtis C., ’013/19/2012, Los Angeles, Calif.

CHRISTIAN, Charles “Chuck” R., ’023/06/2012, Tacoma, Wash.

FINCH, Marc W., ’033/05/2012, Fairview Heights, Ill.

SCHROPP, Goeff, M.S.Ed. ’032/22/2012, Makanda, Ill.

MILLER, Michael L., ’032/29/2012, Sullivan, Ill.

WEESE, Randy D., ’032/23/2012, Chester, Ill.

KELLEHER JR., Phillip M., ’052/17/2012, Cherry Valley, Calif.

REED, Bryce F., ’094/16/2012, Jonesboro, Ill.

EVANS, Charles L., ’114/28/2012, Du Quoin, Ill.

SMITH-ELLIS, Robert L., ’112/21/2012, Rockford, Ill.

Faculty/Staff

DOWNS, Edna L., ’76Emerita, Registered Nurse Health Services4/07/2012, Benton, Ill.

ENGLUND, Charles “Chuck” R., M.A. ’63, Ph.D. ’68InstructorChemistry Department4/17/2012, Lindsborg, Kan.

HISGEN, Richard “Dick” M., ’84Emeritus, Account Technician IClinical Center5/01/2012, Carbondale, Ill.

KOINE, Evelyn R., ’74, M.S. ’77Emerita, Assistant DirectorInternational Programs and Services5/07/2012, Carbondale, Ill.

LIPE, Thomas W.Emeritus, Custodial Sub ForemanUniversity Housing4/22/2012, Murphysboro, Ill.

MBUGUA, Alice W., M.S. ’08Research Assistant Rehabilitation Institute2/19/2012, Carbondale, Ill.

MEYERS, CalEmeritus, Chemistry3/12/2012, Carbondale, Ill.

In Memoriam

Southern Alumni 39

continued from page 35

119 N. Washington • Carbondale, IL 62901

618-457-3308

“Proudly serving SIU alumni and friends

for 30 years!”

Visit us on Facebook at: facebook.com/TresCarbondale

Southern Alumni40

Life Goes On

by Steven Spearie

Afamily weekend marking twomilestones — that’s what Dr. Bill

Kessler Jr. was celebrating more than ayear ago in Joplin, Mo. Daughter Kate’swedding on Saturday; son Will’s highschool graduation the next day. Lots ofout-of-town company, lots of hand-shakes, and lots of hugs.

After graduation, Will left on hisown. The plan was to meet up with fam-ily at home.

The Kesslers were delayed, sent to thebasement for weather-related reasons.They would find out that a tornado hadripped through Joplin, and only laterlearn it was one of the deadliest torna-does in U.S. history, killing 160 peopleand injuring 1,000 others.

Initially, though, details were sketchy.Communication with Will was futile.Texts went unanswered. “We thought,”says Kessler, still choked up about theincident, “that he was dead or seriouslyinjured.”

Will drove through part of the torna-do before seeking refuge, ironically, in achurch. Finally arriving at home, hemade contact with his dad. “I asked himeventually,” says Kessler, “if the home wasstill there. He said, ‘Sort of.’”

It was May 22, 2011.

An Imminent ThreatBlue Skies. That’s what Dr. Timothy

O’Keefe remembers about showing upfor his shift at St. John’s Regional MedicalCenter in Joplin that afternoon. Theemergency room was a little busier thanusual. Then, almost without warning, thehospital went to condition gray, “animminent threat.”

The wind kept increasing in intensity,until, recalls O’Keefe, “it felt like yourhead was in a jet engine.” Air in the ER

turned white like fog. Pressure builtagainst his chest and eardrums. “Whensections of the hospital, tiles and lights,came down, that’s when I decided to getunder something.”

The EF5 tornado, packing 250 mile-per-hour winds, damaged about 8,000homes and more than 400 businesses.On the one-year anniversary of the dis-aster, the weekend featured interfaithservices, dramatic readings led byOscar-nominated actor Paul Giamatti,and even the debut of a symphony.Volunteers and political leaders fromacross the country who helped out wereinvited back.

O’Keefe and Kessler, both 1984 gradu-ates of Southern Illinois UniversitySchool of Medicine in Springfield, had ageneral practice partnership since com-ing to Joplin in 1987 until the tornadowiped it out. With it went a sense ofindependence, they say.

“(Having my own practice) definedme a year ago,” says O’Keefe, 58, whomoved to Springfield in second grade. “Itdoesn’t anymore,” Kessler, 53, a native ofRochester, had the added strain of losinghis house. In hindsight, it was tempting,he notes, “just to get into the car anddrive away.”

They say they stayed in Joplin out of asense of loyalty to friends and to thecommunity. “You really don’t want todesert friends, colleagues and the com-munity,” says Kessler, “when they needyou most. People helped us when weneeded help, and we helped them whenthey needed help.”

Now Looking AheadMore than a year later, both O’Keefe

and Kessler are trying to come to gripswith some aspects of the tornado’s after-math. Professionally, both are now affili-ated with Mercy Clinic Joplin, and they’re

buoyed by the badly damaged hospital’scomeback and commitment to build abrand-new campus, which will open in2015.

Other buildings and homes are goingup to fill in the blank spaces, and someneighborhoods are rebounding. TheKesslers decided not to rebuild or moveback to their old neighborhood. They’vepurchased a house and hope to movethere in the next couple of weeks.

“You have to be careful about lookingahead and not forgetting the past,” henotes. “A lot of people lost family mem-bers and people lost material thingsimportant to them. It’s important not toforget or minimize the tragedy or thedeaths. The fact is that life does go on.It’s a balancing act, I suppose, lookingtoward the future.”

There’s no blueprint for dealing withscenarios like Joplin. You rely on yourtraining, and you roll up your sleeves.“You don’t have a choice,” says O’Keefe.“You focus on what’s right there in frontof you.”

Normally, a hospital is a place youcome to get better. In this case, the hos-pital itself was in the path of the destruc-tion. Six people – five patients and a visi-tor – lost their lives that night at St.John’s Regional. Its diesel generatorswere knocked out, leaving it without apower backup, and a gas leak threatenedwhat remained of the hospital.

People, oblivious to the damage, stillmade their way to the hospital. Workingin the open air across the street,O’Keefe says he mostly dealt with peo-ple with lacerations and fractures fromflying debris. A series of lingeringthunderstorms and dropping tempera-tures eventually forced doctors andpatients to nearby Joplin MemorialHall, usually reserved for concerts andbasketball games.

One Year AfterSIU Med School Alumni Bounce Back After Devastating Tornado

Life Goes On

Southern Alumni 41

Catching a break around 10:30 p.m.,O’Keefe walked home to get some sup-plies and a new pair of eyeglasses. Helearned that friends who lived about fiveblocks from the hospital were comingover to their house later. “I thought,‘That’s strange that they’re coming overso late.’ That’s when my wife (Donna)told me that they didn’t have a house,”he recalls.

“It was only then that I realized howmuch damage there was. There’s no way tocomprehend that amount of destruction.”

From SIU To JoplinAt the SIU School of Medicine,

O’Keefe and Kessler talked about set-ting up a practice together “if it workedout,” recalls Kessler. After completingtheir residencies – O’Keefe in KansasCity and Kessler in Peoria – the closefriends settled on Joplin, a city of

about 50,000 in the southeastern cor-ner of Missouri.

Both raised families there while theirpractice thrived. There was a level offinancial comfort, but also, says Kessler,a level of independence, a level of havingmade it. There were no other names onthe shingle. Just O’Keefe & Kessler. “Iwas the junior partner because I wasfive years younger,” Kessler says with alaugh.

In addition to the physical damage,the tornado claimed patients’ recordsand there was an insurance shortfall.Hospital revenue made up half the annu-al income for both physicians, and thathole made partnering with Mercy Clinica necessity.

“It’s a more abrupt change than we allexpected,” admits Kessler. “It’s not quitewhat we wanted, but it goes on, and wemake the most of it.”

‘In This Together’“Perspective can be a funny thing

sometimes, whether you’re looking at phys-ical things or at life. When you look at thedestruction in the city, you’re seeing muchfarther than you realize,” explains O’Keefe.“You think you’re looking six to eightblocks, but you’re really looking two miles.”

There are signs Joplin is doing well,“extremely well,” says O’Keefe. “There are alot of people who still need help, and a lot ofpeople under stress. But the push is to notlet this experience permanently harm us.”

“The whole experience reminds youwhat’s important in life: family, friends,community, faith,” says Kessler. “My hopeis that we accentuate the positive andminimize the negative … but not neces-sarily ignore the negative.” �

— This story originally appeared in theSpringfield State-Journal Register.

Dr. Timothy O’Keefe, left, and Dr. Bill Kessler Jr., are graduates of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine who practice medi-cine in Joplin, Mo. Photo courtesy of James Hawker/SIU School of Medicine.

OPEN

Southern Alumni

Class Notes

1940sFormer Southern Illinois

University men’s basketballplayerGeneStotlar’49 wasone of 75individu-als

named to the NationalAssociation of IntercollegiateAthletics 75th Anniversary All-Star team. Stotlar was a first-team All-American in 1946, wasthe MVP of the NAIATournament, and led SIU to thenational championship.Southern finished 20-6 thatseason and won 16 of its last 17games. He was also all-confer-ence in football.

1950sThe Association was

pleased to hear from NeilHediger who wondered why

his seniorclass picturedid notappear in the1950 SIUyearbook.After 62years, it’s hard

to tell, but we’re happy to shareit today. Following a 40-yearcareer as a design engineer forCaterpillar, Inc., and another 10years leading tours of the facili-ty, Hediger reports that heremains active at “88 yearsyoung,” and still cuts his owngrass (two hours for the frontyard, and four hours for theback). Glad to see that Salukispirit still going strong!

Fred Dallmayr’s (M.A. ’56)new book, Return to Nature? AnEcological Counterhistory,demonstrates “how nature hasbeen marginalized, colonized,and abused in the modern era.”Dallmayr is Emeritus Packey J.Dee professor of philosophy

and politicalscience at theUniversity ofNotre Dame.Informationon his mostrecent book isavailable at

www.kentuckypress.com/live/title_detail.php?titleid=2945.

1960sLegendary SIU Basketball

Coach Rich Herrin M.S.Ed. ’60has returned to the hardwoodas coach for Morthland College

in WestFrankfort, Ill.,as the SalukiHall of Famecoach willstart thehoops pro-

gram at the new college. James Rosser ’62, M.A. ’63,

Ph.D. ’69, president ofCalifornia State University, washonored for his work helpingunderserved communities gainaccess to quality higher educa-tion and championingadvanced programs that

increasediversity ineducationand in thescience, tech-nology, engi-neering andmath (STEM)

fields. The recipient of the 2012American Council onEducation’s Reginald WilsonDiversity Leadership Awardoversees a campus that isamong the most diverse in thenation in the ranks of its facultyand student body.

Waymon Butler ’65,M.S.Ed. ’70 is mayor ofMounds, Ill.

Roger Breternitz A.A. ’66has published the book WIN-NING! It’s a Lot More Fun! avail-able on Amazon.com. Breternitzremembers being on theCarterville campus from 1964-1966 in the commercial artsprogram, and getting a job as alifeguard on Crab Orchard Lakewith the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service. Hewould like toreunite withold friendsfrom the artprogram inthose years.Contact him

at rogbret@cox.net. John Gedraitis M.S. ’66 is

director of Senior Class Acts, a“chronologically challenged”(age 55+) readers’ theatertroupe in Wichita, Kan. The all-volunteer troupe performs skitsand stand-up comedy pro-grams for churches, nursinghomes, and senior citizens’activities in the Wichita area.

David Sawyer ’66 retiredfrom Louisville Seminary and isenjoying continued work in con-gregational and judicatory con-sulting, leadership development,meeting facilitation, keynote pre-sentations, and vocational dis-cernment coaching. Learn moreat www.FlourishingChurch.com.

A painting by CarolynWarmSun ’68, “Vernal Falls”

was one ofonly 48pieces ofart chosenout of 696submis-sions fromall over the

world to be in the YosemiteRenaissance XXVII show thisyear. It hung in the YosemiteGallery through May 2, and willbe shown in various other loca-tions throughout the year. Shesays shehas “foundintellectualstimula-tion, artistgroup sup-port andcama-raderie,personalchallenge,and purepleasure inbecomingan artist.”

The DuQuoin

Chamber of Commerce hon-ored Doris Rottschalk ’69 withan Outstanding Citizen Award.Rottschalk taught at Du1QuoinHigh School and served withmultiple organizations at

Southern,including theSIU AlumniAssociation,the SIUFoundationBoard ofDirectors, and

as a University MuseumAmbassador. Her communityinvolvement has included read-ing to children at the Du QuoinPublic Library, and leading vol-unteer efforts at the Du QuoinFood Pantry and at MarshallBrowning Hospital.

The painting “SundayMorning Senegal” by GlennSteward Sr., A.T. ’69 wasselected by the Black Creativity2012 Juried Art Exhibition held

at theMuseum ofScienceandIndustry –WestPavilion inChicago

this spring. Learn more aboutthe artist at www.glennstewar-dart.com.

1970sMayor of Mount Vernon, Ill.,

Mary Jane Chesley ’70,M.S.Ed. ’76 was recognized ina Chicago ceremony honoring

Southern Alumni

Alumni listed in maroonare SIU Alumni

Association members.

Bernie DiMeo '71wants your summergrill to show Salukistyle. The SalukiFootball Grill is thefirst product out ofthe gate for theowner of CampusGrills Inc., which alsodoes business asHot Sports Grills, Inc.The portable, football-shaped charcoal grill is13”x9”x20“ and sells for $49.99. Learn more atwww.campusgrills.com or www.hotsportsgrills.com.This is a new business venture for DiMeo, who headsthe Chicago public relations agency Bernie DiMeoCommunications.

Class Notes

Women’s History Month,“Illinois Women of Distinction.”Honorees were selected forinclusion by state officials, andChesley was among fourwomen selected by Lt. Gov.Sheila Simon.

The world is not going toend on Dec. 21, 2012, saysJonathan Reyman Ph.D. ’71.At least not according to Nativeviews on the end of time thathe has researched. The curatorof anthropology for the IllinoisState Museum is responsiblefor the museum’s inventory andcuration of Native Americanartifacts. He specializes in theAmerican Southwest but alsohas experience with NativeAmerican cultures and artifactsfrom the Eastern andMidwestern U.S., as well asfrom Mexico and Ecuador.

After 17 years as executivedirector for the Boy Scouts of

AmericasOzark TrailsCouncil, DeanErtel ’72retired fromthe council,which servesmore than

11,000 youth and volunteers in31 counties across SouthwestMissouri and Southeast Kansas.

Veteran Carbondale privatepractice attorney and formerchief trial counsel for SIU ShariRhode ’72, M.S.Ed. ’75, J.D.’76 is included in the 2012 edi-tion of Illinois Super Lawyers.Only 5 percent of Illinois attor-neys are chosen for the honoreach year.

Capstone, a leading publish-er of children’s books and digi-tal products and services,appointed David Smith ’72,M.A. ’73 to its board of direc-tors. Smith has 40 years experi-ence in publishing and educa-tional technology.

George C.H. Sun Ph.D. ’72has been recognized by theGlobal Directory of Who’s Whofor outstanding contributionsand achievements in the fieldsof philosophy and education.Sun is the founding president

at Thome H. Fang Institute anda member of the Young ChinaSociety. He has had numerousbooks and papers publishedand received many honors,including the OutstandingTeacher award in 1975.

Steve Rishel A.A.’73, ‘74helped rescue a family whose

boat cap-sized on theOhio River.Rishel, aretired SIUpoliceman,was present-ed with a life-

saving award by the IllinoisPolice Association.

Jackie Cox ’75, M.S.Ed. ’92,Ph.D. ’00 is project director forthe RAMPDUP grant, a three-year, million-dollar, TQE NoChild Left Behind grant award-ed from the Illinois Board ofHigher Education in 2010. TheRAMPDUP grant serves 70teachers in eight public schoolsand three private schools inrural southern Illinois with afocus on mathematics educa-tion, and works closely with theCollege of Education and

HumanServices andthe College ofSciences atSouthern. Coxtaught specialeducation,fourth grade,and giftededucation in

Carbondale Elementary District#95 for 20 years. In 1995, shewas hired by SIU’s College ofEducation and Human Servicesas a center coordinator andclinical instructor. She was oneof the first to receive theInspiring Women’s Award in2004, was awarded the AlumniAchievement Award in theCollege of Education andHuman Services in 2004, andwas named Outstanding TermFaculty in the College ofEducation and Human Servicesin 2009.

Four-degree alumna JoanDavis A.A. ‘75, ‘79, M.S. ‘82,

Ph.D. ’10 spent the month ofApril in Finland through theFulbright Specialist Program. Aprofessor in Southern’s dental

hygiene pro-gram, Davis isrecognizedinternational-ly as anexpert in thefield of inte-grating

tobacco cessation into healthcare curriculums and delivery.She developed the “TobaccoFree!” online curriculum througha grant from the AmericanDental Hygienists’ AssociationInstitute of Oral Health.

Andrew Piper ’76 took sec-ond place for magazine editingin a series or special section inthe Missouri School ofJournalism’s Pictures of theYear International Competition.The winner, “High SchoolSoldiers,” appeared in“ColoradoSeen,” a monthlyphotojournalism Webzine thatPiper started, available onlineat www.coloradoseen.com.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinnnamed David Vaught J.D. ‘77to head the Illinois Departmentof Commerce and EconomicDevelopment. Vaught will over-see the agency that is taskedwith growing Illinois’ economythrough outreach with state,national, and international cor-porations. Vaught is an attorneyand longtime financial analyst.

1980sThe

CaliforniaHealthcareInstituteelected RickWinningham’81 to serveon its boardof directors.

Winningham is CEO of the SanFrancisco-based biopharmaceu-tical company Theravance. He isalso a member of the externaladvisory board for SIU’s Collegeof Business and Administrationand a 2006 inductee in theBusiness Hall of Fame.

Southern Alumni44

Linda Drust ’82, M.S.Ed.’90, longtime educator andadministrator, has been nameddirector of SIU’s Rainbow’s EndChild Development Center.

John Roche Jr. ’82 wasinducted as a fellow of theCollege of Labor andEmployment Lawyers. He prac-tices public sector labor lawand represents law enforce-ment employees in Illinois.Roche is also treasurer of PianoForte Foundation, which pro-motes classical and jazz pianoin the Chicago area.

Millie Herrera A.A.S ’83,’83 has been selected by theU.S. Department of Labor toserve as regional representativein Florida, Georgia, Arkansas,Tennessee, Louisiana,Mississippi, Alabama, NorthCarolina, and South Carolina.Herrera has advocated forrights of women, children,workers, and immigrants formore than 15 years.

Dhyana Ziegler M.A. ’83,Ph.D. ’85 is the first African-American woman to serve aschair of the Southern ScholarshipFoundation, which aids low-income students. Ziegler is pro-fessor of journalism at FloridaA&M University in Tallahassee.

Michael Banks M.F.A. ’84 ispresident of MetropolitanCommunity College’s Blue Rivercampus in Independence, Mo.Before coming to Blue River, hewas vice president of academicand student affairs at St.Charles Community College inCottleville, Mo.

Carolyn Boyles M.B.A. ‘84is the co-author of a new book,Searcy, a photographic historyof Searcy, Ark. The book profilesthe history of the city inNortheast Arkansas from itsearly days through currenttimes. Boyles is the daughter ofthe late Professor Emeritus ofEnglish David M. Vieth.

Randy Osborn ’86, execu-tive director of the Boys andGirls Club of Carbondale, wasnamed Citizen of the Year bythe Carbondale Chamber ofCommerce.

Southern Alumni 45

Class Notes

Ruth Stonestreet Ph.D. ‘86is the 2012 recipient of theGeorgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Dr. RobertA. Hull Leadership Award. The

ValdostaStateUniversityprofessor wasawarded forher work inthe preven-tion, diagno-

sis, and treatment of humancommunication disorders suchas autism.

Philip Lyons ’87, M.S.Ed.’91 is interim vice chancellorfor Administrative and StudentLife Services at the Universityof Wisconsin -Stout. Lyonsworked as the assistant vicechancellor since 2007.

Illinois State Police District19 Trooper Michael Ahrens ’89was promoted to the rank of

sergeant. In addition to hispatrol duties, Ahrens serves as afield training officer, a rifleinstructor, and a radar instructor.

Purdue University CalumetProfessor of CommunicationTheresa Carilli Ph.D. ’89 isadding to her growing play-wright resume. Her 12th play,“Cat Hoarders Anonymous,”premiered at The Producer’sClub in New York City inFebruary. Her full-length come-dy, “A Perfect Garden,” will beperformed at Purdue Calumetthis fall.

1990sIllinois National Guard

Chief Warrant Officer 5 JamesGaddis ’90 of Springfield, the4th Command Chief Warrant

Officer of theState ofIllinois, isretiring June30 after 27years of ser-vice. Gaddisis the

youngest soldier ever to haveserved as a Command Chief ofthe nation.

BobGuido ‘91 isa mortgagebanker atHeartlandBank andTrustCompany,

Champaign-Urbana.Randy Nehrt ’91 is acting

executive director of theIllinois CommerceCommission as a search ispending for a permanentdirector. Nehrt has served asbureau chief of external affairsat the ICC since 2007.

Renowned journalist JackieSpinner ’92 was the keynote

speaker forSIU’s celebra-tion ofWomen’sHistoryMonth.Spinner is adistinguished

alumna, Fulbright Scholar, and

assistant professor of journal-ism at Columbia CollegeChicago. She was a staff writerfor The Washington Post for 14years, covering the wars in Iraqand Afghanistan and serving innumerous countries aroundthe world. Spinner wrote TellThem I Didn’t Cry, a memoir ofher time in Iraq. In 2010,Spinner started Iraq’s first inde-pendent student newspaper,AUI-S Voice. She is also founderof “Angel Says: Read,” an inter-national literacy programbased in Belize.

Teresa Katubig ‘93 men-tors women to achieve theirfull leadership potential.Katubig is founder, president,and CEO of Extra Help, Inc., amulti-million dollar employ-ment, payroll, and workforceservices company.

Scott Walker ’93 is presi-dent of ADM Cocoa, a divisionof Archer Daniels MidlandCompany.

Arlindall Burks ’94 is asso-ciate pastor at St. Andrew’s

UnitedMethodistChurch inBrandon, Fla.This is thesecond min-isterial posi-

tion for Burks following a 26-year stint in the Navy.

Angie Bailey ’95, M.S.Ed.‘97, M.P.H. ’08, is the firstrecipient of the StephenWestbrooks-Excellence inRural Public Health Award.Bailey, health education direc-tor at the Jackson CountyHealth Department, wasawarded for her manyachievements in improvinghealth in southern Illinois,addressing issues such as fam-ily violence, healthy living, dia-betes, mental health, and pub-lic health preparedness.

Chris Gerrib M.B.A. ’95 haspenned a second science fic-tion novel “Pirates of Mars” fea-turing pirates, a space ship, asecret cargo, and of course, thered planet. The book is avail-able in bookstores everywhere.

Southern Alumni 45

Alumni Authors Shed NewLight On Illinois History

The culture of Cahokia, North America’s most sophisti-cated prehistoric native civilization, is brought to life in

a book by William IsemingerM.A. ‘71, Cahokia Mounds:America’s First City. Since complet-ing his master’s in anthropologyat Southern, Iseminger haslogged more than 40 years ofarcheological research at theCahokia Mounds State HistoricSite in Collinsville, Ill. Iseminger,current assistant site manager,has also served as museum cura-tor. The Southern graduate

received the 2012 Delta Award from SIU’s Friends of MorrisLibrary for the book.

What started as an SIU dis-sertation by David Joens Ph.D.’09 on a little-known public fig-ure is now the first full biogra-phy of an early and influentialblack politician. The legislativelegacy of John W. E. Thomas, theIllinois General Assembly’s firstblack member, includes passageof the state’s first civil rights act.The book, From Slave to StateLegislator: John W. E. Thomas,Illinois’ First African AmericanLawmaker, is also one of few comprehensive looks at blacknorthern politics during the Reconstruction Era.

Saluki stomping grounds get the star treatment in anall-encompassing volume penned on the region. The Stateof Southern Illinois: An Illustrated History byHerbert

Russell M.A. ‘66, Ph.D. ‘77 is afresh take on “Egypt,” the areasouth of U.S. Route 50 fromSalem to Cairo. With rich illustra-tions, maps and photographs, asweeping history unfolds fromthe earliest geologic formationsto the 21st century in the arearegarded as “a state within astate.” Russell also authoredEdgar Lee Masters: A Biography

(University of Illinois Press) and edited A Southern IllinoisAlbum, Southern Illinois Coal: A Portfolio, and The EnduringRiver: Edgar Lee Masters’ Uncollected Spoon River Poems (allpublished by SIU Press).

Class Notes

Gerrib is alsoa senior vicepresident oftechnologyat RepublicBank ofChicago. Visitthe author’s

Web site at www.pri-vatemarsrocket.net.

Heather Paquette ’95 ismanagingpartner ofthe Detroitoffice ofKPMG, aU.S. audit,tax andadvisory

firm. She graduated cum laudefrom Southern, where sheserves on the School ofAccountancy Board of Advisers.

George Vineyard ’96,M.S.Ed. ’99, Ph.D. ’05 is servingas interim director ofInstitutional Research & Studiesat SIU during the nationalsearch for a permanent director.Vineyard has served as aresearcher in EnrollmentManagement at SIU Carbondalesince January 2009. During2007 and 2008, he was the leadresearcher in InstitutionalResearch & Studies for theIllinois Shared Enrollment andGraduation Consortium.

Jay Ludescher ’97 was pro-moted to lieutenant colonel inthe Air Force. He is the chiefinformation officer at WilfordHall Ambulatory SurgicalCenter, supporting 4,500 staffmembers and managing 125flight personnel.

The Civil Air Patrol in Illinoishas selected Col. Rickey OethM.M. ’97 to serve a four-yearterm as commander of thewing, the head of the search-and-rescue group. Oeth hadbeen vice commander. Oethworks as a technology coordi-nator for the SpartaCommunity School District andhas been a member of the CivilAir Patrol since 1976.

Michael Beam M.F.A ’98celebrated his first solo exhibi-tion, The Ides of March, at Wine

on Third Gallery in NiagaraFalls, New York. Beam is curatorof exhibitions and collectionsat Castellani Art Museum ofNiagara University where heserves as an adjunct professor.His work is on view at SaatchiOnline Gallery, London, atwww.saatchionline.com/pro-files/portfolio/id/290898.

Jose Santiago ’98 is firecommissioner for the ChicagoFire Department.

A textbook written by LisaFord-Brown Ph.D. ’99, DK Guide

to PublicSpeaking, wasnamed 2011PearsonEducationProduct ofthe Year, inthe English,

Communication & PoliticalScience (ECP) Division. She isassociate professor of speechcommunication at ColumbiaCollege in Missouri, and herbook is available online atMyPearsonStore.com, Amazon,Barnes & Noble, GoogleShopping, and other services.

Ben Grossman ’99, naturalresource supervisor with St.

CharlesCountyParks, isdevelop-ing anature-basedclass-

room for children and workingto restore the county’s wet-lands, savannas, and wood-lands to what they wouldhave been like beforeEuropean settlement.

Diana Lados M.S. ’99, asso-ciate professor of mechanicalengineering at Worcester (Mass.)Polytechnic Institute, is thefounder of the IntegrativeMaterials Design Center at WPI.Lados also received a five-yearCAREER Award from theNational Science Foundation fora study of fatigue crack initiationand propagation, work thatcould lead to greater use of lightmetals in transportation applica-

46

Alumni Recognized ForMaking A Difference

Southern has long been synonymous with brilliant doc-umentarians whose work invites viewers into the lives

and struggles of real people. We caught up with thecareers of three such alumni: Steve James, Hilla Medalia,and Edgar A. Barens.

A riveting look insidethe lives of formerChicago gang memberswho try to prevent vio-lence in their neighbor-hoods is the substance ofthe latest documentaryby Steve James M.F.A.’84. “The Interrupters,”which aired on PBS’Frontline in February,scored a dozen awardsand is James’ fifth featureto be selected for theSundance Film Festival.

This is the 14th filmdirected by James whose

credits include “Hoop Dreams” (1994) and “Stevie” (2002),which are considered among the best documentaries evermade. James reflects that “The Interrupters” took him backto the same streets and neighborhoods traversed in “HoopDreams,” a film that followed two families hoping to usebasketball as a ticket out of poverty. Learn more about thefilm and James’ work at http://interrupters.kartemquin.com.

Jewish and Palestinian Israeli children confront issues ofidentity, segregation, and racism as they learn to dancetogether in the newest film from Israeli producer and direc-tor Hilla Medalia ’01, M.A. ’04. “Dancing in Jaffa,” is in

post-production at theselective 2012 FilmIndependentDocumentary Lab.Medalia’s previous filmshave earned her threeEmmy nominations, aGeorge Foster PeabodyAward, and the ParisHuman Rights Film

Festival Jury Award, among others. Her 2007 documentary“To Die in Jerusalem” reached a global audience. Learnmore about Medalia’s work at http://knowproductions.net.

Filmmaker Edgar Barens ’86, M.F.A. ’93 goes behindbars to examine end-of-life issuesin America’s prisons. Barens’ mostrecent film, “Prison Terminal,” fol-lows the final months in the life ofa terminally ill prisoner and thetrained hospice volunteers, them-selves prisoners, who care for him.Barens, of UIC’s Jane AddamsCenter for Social Policy and

Research, has helped start numerous hospices in the U.S.correctional system during the last 10 years. Learn more atwww.prisonterminal.com.

Violence interrupter AmeenaMatthews withProducer/Director SteveJames, Producer AlexKotlowitz, and Co-Producer/Sound RecordistZak Piper. Photo by AaronWickenden/Courtesy ofKartemquin Films.

A scene from “Dancing inJaffa.”

Edgar Barens

Southern Alumni 47

Class Notes

tions and a reduction in energyuse and carbon emissions.

Doug Troue ’99 is SIUService Center coordinator atSoutheastern Illinois College inHarrisburg. He helps studentsmake the transition to SIU aftergraduation from SIC.

2000sKelly Green ’01 is director

of develop-ment ser-vices, a topdepartmenthead, withinCapeGirardeau citygovernment.

Clete McLeod ’01, ’01,M.S.Ed ’07 is SIU’s strengthand conditioning coach. Hereturns to Southern after a sim-ilar role at Oregon StateUniversity, where he wasresponsible for the perfor-mance training of the football,men’s soccer, and women’s bas-ketball teams. He also served asthe sports nutritionist for all ofOSU Athletics’ teams.

Filmmaker Josh Hyde ’02returned to campus to screenhis film “Postales” at the 2012Big Muddy Film Festival. Theproduction also screened at theEdinburgh International Film

Festival, the New YorkInternational Latino Film

Festival, andthe StarzDenver FilmFestival.Other alumniworked onthe film,including cin-

ematographer/producer DanFischer ’01 and film editorEvan Smith M.F.A. ’08.

Scott Mueller ’02 is princi-pal at the law firm of DannaMcKitrick, PC, of Clayton, Mo.Mueller leads the TitleLitigation group for the firmand also practices in real estate,collection, and banking law.

Javonda Quinn ’02 is adulteducation and literacy coordina-tor for the Ritenour School

District. TheRitenour AdultEducation andLiteracy pro-gram assistsadults in earn-ing a GED,learning to

speak English, and improvingbasic academic skills.

Barb Martin ’03 is interimdirector of the SIU Press.Previously, she was manager ofeditorial, design, and production.

Gov. Pat Quinn appointedthree Southern graduates asarbitrators to review workplaceinjury claims on the IllinoisWorkers’ CompensationCommission: Brandon Zanotti’03; D. Douglas McCarthy J.D.’79; and William GallagherJ.D. ’76. Arbitrators rule onclaims filed under the state’sWorkers’ Compensation Act.

Damian Crooks ’06 is staffattorney for a nonprofit legal aidagency “Supporting AmericanDreams” in Lake Bluff, Ill. BENNULegal Services(www.BENNUlegal.org) providesassistance to immigrants transi-tioning into the United States, aswell as to entrepreneurial smallbusinesses in their growth.

Karen Borre J.D. ’07 is anattorney with the law firm ofBlake Law Group, PC, which hasoffices in Belleville, Collinsville,Edwardsville, and Waterloo, Ill.

The Heartland SectionalsWheelchair Rugby Tournamentattracted athletes and fansfrom all over the Midwest tothe Student Recreation Centerin March, including DanielMellenthin ’09, M.S. ’11 whocompeted in the competition.Mellenthin was one ofSouthern’s “25 MostDistinguished Seniors” in 2009.

2010sJason Ordway ’10 compet-

ed in the 2012 U.S. OlympicTeam Marathon Trials. While atSouthern, he participated on thecross country and indoor andoutdoor track and field teams.

Justin Zurlinden ’11opened Vintage Soul, a coffeeshop and used furniture storein Carbondale. The business iscommitted to donating 50 per-cent of net profits to a groupworking in the Carbondalecommunity with individualswho are homeless or poor.

Adam Curynski ’11 is assis-tant baseball coach atUniversity of Wisconsin-Stout,working with the pitchers. Asan NCAA Division I startingpitcher who played two yearsat Southern, Curynski made 33

total starts for the Salukis. Healso had stints playing inde-pendent minor league ball.

Adam Stone ’89, J.D. ’01premiered his spoken-word bal-let about Alzheimer’s diseasetitled “A Life Unhappening” atShryock Auditorium and the

Touhill in St. Louis in May. Stoneis the writer and producer, whilehis daughter, Chelsea Stone’11, choreographed. Chelsealives in L.A., and works as anextra in TV and movies. BretCorrell ’11 provided one of thevoices for the ballet. Stone haswritten four novels, Cache GirlSaves the World, The NewHarmonies, Kingston Fugue, andXamon Song. Learn more atwww.adamestone.com.

The School of Social Work’s2012 awards recognized sixalumni. The AlumniAchievement Award went toCarla Donoho ’93, M.S.W. ’99,of Mt. Vernon, Ill. She is directorof Angel’s Cove, a program ofBaptist Children’s Home andFamily Services. The social workCitizen of the Year is VirginiaRinella ’66, M.S.Ed. ’71 ofCarbondale, former director ofpre-major advisement atSouthern and longtime volun-teer with the federal PrisonerVisitation and Support Program.Sharon Atchison ’08 of Marion,Ill., is the Field Instructor of theYear. She has served as execu-tive director of the LighthouseShelter in Marion since itopened in 2007. Two alumniwho graduated in May sharedGraduate Student of the Yearhonors for 2012. They are SarahDewolfe ’10, M.S.W. ’12 fromGurnee and Phillip Garcia ’08,M.S.W. ’12 from Carbondale.The Graduate Non-TraditionalStudent of the Year went toRuth Karnes ’11, M.S.W. ‘12 ofWest Frankfort.

Southern Alumni 47

When Andrew Perlmutter ’00 wed Courtney Leach inNashville, Tenn., he called all the Salukis to the front of thedance floor at the June 2010 wedding. Mary LouBradford ’77 sent the Association this group photo of the22 alumni in attendance with graduation dates spanningmore than 50 years. “Congratulations to a wonderful cou-ple, and in true SIU tradition, a great time was had by all,”Bradford says. From left to right, Brian Kinsley ’00, AliciaKarayiannis M.S.W. ’10, Austin Schwartz ’99, BretHilgart ’00, Perlmutter, Haley Leach ’04, George Terry’04, Janice Wallace ’02, Jennifer Wilson ’97, JohnWallace ’04, Martha Leach ’71, George Thodoropoulos’71, M.S.Ed. ’83, Farrah A. Hobbs ’99, Amey Hogg ’00,Alice D. Thodoropoulos ’71, M.S.Ed. ’83, JohannaSchneider ’76, Patricia Karnes ’80, Pam Melasky ’71,Janice Threw ’71, M.S.Ed. ’90, Bradford, Brandi Karnes’99, and Shirley Bramlet ’59, M.S.Ed. ’77.

More Than 90Years Ago…Old Main, which sat in the center of campusbefore it burned down in 1969, served manyfunctions at SIU. One activity held there overthe years were student assembly sessions.including this one in 1919 on the third floor ofNormal Hall. Note the standard garmentchoice and hairstyles of students from almosta century ago.

A Strong VoiceFor SIU

hose in the WSIU listening areaare well-acquainted with the

voice of Jennifer Fuller ‘00 deliver-ing the daily news and delving into

regional issues. This year her first-rate report-ing received statewide recognition as well.The Mass Communication & Media Arts alum-na was recognized by the Illinois AssociatedPress Broadcasters Association as the BestRadio Reporter in Downstate Illinois for 2011and the state’s News Finder of the Year.

“To have Jennifer recognized, in a statethat is not short on quality reporters, speaksvolumes about her work,” says GregPetrowich ‘91 executive director of WSIUPublic Broadcasting. “As a former SIUCarbondale student who worked in the WSIUnewsroom, Jennifer is an example of whathard work and a commitment to journalisticintegrity can mean both for the academic program and the station.”

Fuller has won prior awards from the AP for Best Newscast and Best Reporter while at WSIU. But the thrillof the job is not in the recognition she has regularly received, but in truly enjoying what she does. “I love thatit’s never the same day twice, and that I never know what kind of day to expect when I come in,” Fuller says. “Iget to meet such interesting people, doing things I could never imagine, and I get to tell people what they’redoing. What could be better than that?”

Fuller is best known for her “Morning Conversations,” a weekly radio program that welcomes everyonefrom dignitaries and local leaders to community organizers and artists. “I really like to be able to give peoplethe opportunity to take the time they need to explain something. Having a longer interview segment, peoplecan really say what they mean and how they came to that conclusion.”

One of her favorite morning conversations was with then-astronaut Joan Higginbotham ’87. “And, I loveto tell students and others that I’ve interviewed the president,” says Fuller who sat down with Barack Obamawhen he ran for U.S. Senate. “I love that the program really runs the gamut of topics, and that so many peopleare able to share their stories with the rest of southern Illinois.”

Prior to her position at WSIU, Fuller reported at WTAX-AM, where she worked during and after earning hermaster’s in public affairs reporting at the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2001. Her coverage of politicaland education issues on the top-rated “Morning NewsWatch,” earned her two awards in 2002. In 2003, Fullerreturned to WSIU where she had worked as a student at both the radio and TV stations.

“She worked hard to be the best student reporter that she could be and that ethic and dedication hascarried with her through her professional career,” says Jeff Williams ’90, WSIU radio station manager andnews director. “Her professionalism is evident in her work on air as well as in the newsroom and especially inher work with our students.”

Williams says Fuller is part of a long tradition of station staff and students who have excelled at their craft. “Ithink it’s important to note that the second place finisher in this year’s best downstate radio reporter categorybehind Jennifer is Stephanie Pawlowski ‘05. Stephanie is also an R-TV graduate.”

For Fuller, training the next generation of reporters, producers, editors, and writers is one of the most ful-filling aspects of working at WSIU. “It really keeps us fresh and gives us the opportunity to tell stories from aunique perspective.” She also mentioned exceptional university staff she considers mentors and role modelsincluding Beth Hart ‘85, M.A. ‘02, Ken Keller, Mike Lawrence, John Jackson, Bill Recktenwald, and the late Sen.Paul Simon. “They were people who were so knowledgeable about their career, and they treated everyone asnot just a student but someone they were helping move from one point in life to the next.”

Fuller says she tries to give a little back “for all the great times and opportunities I had as a student,” andthat is a reason she and her husband, Brian Flath ’97 are joint life members of the SIU Alumni Association.The couple met on her first day as an SIU student, and they have been inseparable since.

“It’s really important to us that this is where we began,” Fuller says. “We really wanted to keep a part ofthat. Everybody has a special place in their heart for their alma mater.”

Suder Foundation FocusesOn First-Generation Students

ith the help of a new program at SIU Carbondale, NicoleKmiotek is pursuing her college degree without the fear

and uncertainty that often comes with being a first-generationcollege student. Kmiotek is part of the First Scholars program, which helps first gen-

eration students transition into college life. Established by the SuderFoundation, the program offers support for students who have ademonstrated financial need, a solid academic record, and are thechild of parents who have no education beyond high school.

“I learned about the First Scholars program when I was searchingfor scholarships,” she says. “One of the requirements was that your par-ents never attended college – it was perfect for me.”

A long-standing commitment to first generation students wasone of the reasons The Suder Foundation of Plano, Texas selected theUniversity for the five-year, $1-million scholarship program. TheSuder Foundation is providing the University with budgeted funds toestablish the program. SIU received $60,000 for planning purposesand $121,163 during the initial year of the First Scholars Program.

Additional funding is forthcoming, with the understanding thatafter the fourth year of the program, the University will be responsiblefor securing necessary funding to maintain scholarship renewals forexisting students and to award scholarships to new groups of students.

The Suder Foundation funded 20 scholarships at $5,000 each beginning in fall 2011, and will fund 20 addi-tional scholarships at the same level in each of the succeeding three years. Students from Illinois, Arkansas,Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee will be eligible for the scholarships. Financial need and demonstratedacademic ability as shown by ACT and/or SAT scores and high school GPA will be among the scholarship criteria.

The scholarship will be renewable for three years as long as the First Scholar maintains at least a 2.5 GPAand meets other criteria established by The Suder Foundation.

Kmiotek says the First Scholars program has provided amazing opportunities to her already. In addition topreparing her for college, it also helped her make new friends on campus, and encouraged her to join registeredstudent organizations and get involved in the community.

“Service work is one of the requirements of the program. I volunteer at the animal shelter in Murphysboroand assist during RSO fairs and orientation,” she says. “I’m also in Delta Zeta and Habitat for Humanity.”

Community involvement is only part of the First Scholars program’s requirements. Another of the SuderFoundation’s requirements of scholarship recipients is “pay it forward.” At SIU Carbondale, key scholarshiprecipients, such as Presidential Scholars, will mentor first-year participants in the First Scholars program duringtheir freshman and sophomore years. As juniors and seniors, the scholars have the opportunity to be men-tored by faculty, staff, or even alumni. First Scholars will subsequently fulfill their requirement by mentoringincoming participants.

“Mentors are important to the program and it’s a great way for alumni to get involved with current stu-dents,” says Christina Gilroy ’03, First Scholars program coordinator. “You can be of service to these students,even if you don’t live near the Carbondale campus.” For more information about the First Scholars program or to learn how to get involved, contact Christina Gilroy

at 618-453-1843 or first2go@siu.edu, or visit firstscholars.siu.edu. To support the First Scholars program, contact theSIU Foundation by calling 618-453-4900, or visit: siuf.org.

“Investing In Saluki Futures”www.siuf.org

W T

WSIU’s Jennifer Fuller questions a candidate in the 2010election season.

Nicole Kmiotek

Inside: Southern Exposure, Top Students, Track & Field Success, and more…Inside: Southern Exposure, Top Students, Track & Field Success, and more…