By Ava Steffens
The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity at Southern Illinois University is investing in students’ futures through the Iota 5-Star Scholarship, a fund created to support students facing financial barriers as they pursue their degrees.
The scholarship, established through the fraternity’s 50-For-50 Campaign, recently awarded its first recipient, SIU junior Francesca “Frankie” Stewart. The campaign marks 50 years of the fraternity’s impact with a goal of raising $50,000 to support students in their academic journeys.
“The purpose is to support students, usually those from underrepresented communities, in some of the financial gaps they may have,” said Edward “Ed” Lance, a 1987 SIU graduate, corporate attorney and longtime fraternity member. “The goal is to find students who are excelling but who also have that need.”
Lance’s commitment to the scholarship is shaped by his own Saluki journey, which began unexpectedly in fall 1981. As part of a group of Chicago public high school football players invited to take an ACT exam at SIU, Lance earned one of the highest scores among his teammates. Program coordinators invited him to enroll that same semester.
With only two days between the exam and the start of the semester, Lance arrived in Carbondale with a small duffel bag. The last-minute change left him spending his first night at the Carbondale train station.
“I like to tell that story, that I was unhoused that first night here,” he said. “But my cousin, who went to SIU, called a friend of his, and she let me sleep on her couch. That same Monday, I was enrolled.”
Once enrolled, Lance moved into Neely Hall with his cousin, easing his sudden transition. Through ROTC participation and scholarship support, he was able to afford his education.
During his second year at SIU, Lance pledged Iota Phi Theta, then a newly established organization on campus. He credits the fraternity as a defining part of his experience, noting that members were encouraged to engage in campus life and leadership while expanding the chapter’s presence through grants and outreach.
Lance went on to serve in leadership roles with the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Black Affairs Council. He later represented students on the Undergraduate Student Government as a student senator and president pro tempore of the senate, becoming the first Black male student trustee on the SIU Board of Trustees during his final year.
“I have friendships and fraternal bonds that go back 43 years,” he said. “I do my best to uphold the reputation and integrity of all the brothers before me in Carbondale, even all these years later.”
Decades after Lance’s time at SIU, that dedication continues through the Iota 5-Star Scholarship. In addition to providing financial support, the program emphasizes financial literacy and preparation for life after college. A long-term goal includes providing scholarship funds that can be deposited into a savings account while recipients are still enrolled.
Part of Lance’s motivation comes from personal experience. During his time at SIU, a $400 bursar gap forced him to pause his education for a semester.
“Oftentimes, if you sit out for a semester and go home, you don’t come back,” he said.
Encouraged by roommates, including a fraternity brother, Lance stayed in Carbondale, worked to save money and returned to complete his degree.
“Gratitude inspires me to give back,” he said. “I live by a code that you must give more than you receive to live a full life.”
The scholarship’s impact was on full display during the second annual fundraiser, held on New Year’s Eve in downtown Chicago at the Residence Inn by Marriott. More than 150 people attended the event, which featured dinner and a live performance, with all proceeds supporting the Iota 5-Star Scholarship.
This year’s recipient, Stewart, is an SIU junior from Chicago majoring in social work.
“Frankie represents the passion and soul of the mission,” Lance said. “When she spoke at the 50-For-50 Banquet, she captivated the audience. Like many of us from the south and west sides, she came to Carbondale for a purpose.”
Stewart said she initially hesitated to pursue a four-year degree due to finances and family beliefs. She began her education at Malcolm X College before realizing her goals aligned more closely with attending a university.
“I’m the third person in my entire family attending college, and I did it on my own,” Stewart said. “It was difficult, but I persevered.”
Now vice president of the Dynasty Dance Company, Stewart balances campus involvement with a strong academic focus. She plans to work as a case manager and field worker for the Department of Children and Family Services while pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in social work.
“Someone was there to help me, so I want to be that person who helps someone else,” she said.
Stewart said she did not directly apply for the Iota 5-Star Scholarship but was selected after professors and mentors recommended her. When she received the award notification while at her student job, she was ecstatic.
“It’s motivating when you know someone believes in you,” she said. “A lot of people don’t get this opportunity.”
The scholarship allows Stewart to limit student loan borrowing and focus on her future.
“It is not about what you go through. It is about how you get through it and how you recover,” she said.
Through fraternity leadership, donor support and lived experience, Iota Phi Theta continues to open doors for students like Stewart and strengthen access and opportunity at SIU.
To support the Iota 5-Star Scholarship, visit siuf.org/iota.
Stearns enthusiastically pursued her passion all the way to Capitol Hill, where she completed a rewarding summer internship opportunity. During her time in Washington, D.C, she actively participated in hearings, summarized bills, and helped brainstorm thoughtful suggestions to help move important legislation forward. Additionally, she volunteered for Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s Senate campaign, which helped her gain firsthand experience in public service and legislative work.
“I come from a very large, blended family,” she said. “When I became an RA, I had nobody else in the room, so living completely alone for the first time was a challenging transition.”
Sofia Potter, a first-year law student and scholarship recipient from Cedar Falls, Iowa, plans to blend her economic background with her passion for justice.
The SIU Foundation is pleased to announce that Debbie Immel has joined the organization as Director of Development for the College of Health and Human Sciences, where she will work alongside Steph Taylor and Hannah Arnold, with a special focus on the Community Care and Education Center.
By Ava Steffens
She shares that within her first few days in Carbondale, she experienced heat exhaustion while on a hike with her dog. Although she considers herself an outdoorsy person, she was admittedly unprepared for the Southern Illinois heat, especially as someone who is “from the Pacific Northwest, where the hottest day is 75 degrees.”