By Jeff Wilson

CARBONDALE – As Southern Illinois University Carbondale celebrates Homecoming, it will also celebrate the first major campus construction project in nearly 12 years.

The SIU Foundation will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tedrick Welcome Center at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at the construction site, 1255 Lincoln Drive in Carbondale. The event will take place inside the construction fencing. A reception will follow at the site immediately after the ceremony.

Named for Roger and Sally Tedrick, whose $6 million leadership gift was instrumental in helping fund the project, the state-of-the-art welcome center will be the first stop for prospective students. Open houses, campus tours, orientations, and other events will begin at the welcome center.

“Construction of the Tedrick Welcome Center is 100 percent funded through the SIU Foundation. It will require no taxpayer dollars and no tuition or student fee monies,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “The Foundation prides itself on maintaining a strong partnership with the university, and the welcome center is its gift to this spectacular campus.”

The building, scheduled to be completed in May of 2026, will include a visitor center capable of hosting conferences, lectures, seminars and catered events for up to 300 people, and the philanthropy center, which will be the new home of the SIU Foundation. It will also serve as a hub for donor visits, alumni activities and campus and community events.

As the SIU Foundation continues the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign – which has raised more than $360 million toward its $500 million goal – its offices will move into the southern wing of the new building and be known as the Philanthropy Center. In its most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation provided $5.4 million in scholarships to 1,842 students, impacting more than 16 percent of all SIU students.

“Aligning with the Imagine SIU 2030 strategic plan, the Tedrick Welcome Center is going to help the university increase enrollment, engage with alumni and friends, and provide a laboratory for SIU to solidify its role as a philanthropic leader,” Chancellor Austin Lane said.

Currently, the SIU Foundation is housed in Colyer Hall, the last active building in the area which is the former home of Greek Row. The university has informed the SIU Foundation that it must vacate that location as the dilapidated building is scheduled to be razed.

In recent years, the power of philanthropy has been on display around campus. Fundraising efforts and major gifts solicited by the Foundation have led to new construction and major improvements in multiple areas, including:

• The revitalization of the Ralph E. Becker Pavilion at the boathouse
• The building of the SIU Credit Union Pavilion at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center
• A new, improved sign at the entrance of Touch of Nature
• The Mike Hanes Marching Salukis Band Tower and practice field on East Campus
• Improvements to the Fermentation Science Institute at McLafferty Annex
• A planned fountain to be added to Campus Lake
• Numerous other yet-to-be-announced projects across campus

“The philanthropic support of our alumni and donors is transforming campus in an incredible way,” Kupec said. “There are many opportunities for enhancements and new construction. SIU is a university on the move. Beyond the construction of the Tedrick Welcome Center, the Foundation will continue to have strategic impact on many improvements across campus.”

For more information about the Tedrick Welcome Center, visit siuf.org/twc.

Dedication ceremony taking place Oct. 11  

By Jeff Wilson

CARBONDALE – Southern Illinois University Carbondale is calling all current and former Marching Salukis and the group’s supporters to come together and honor the legacy of Mike Hanes.

The SIU Foundation will host a dedication ceremony for the Mike Hanes Marching Salukis Band Tower from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, at Sam Rinella Field on East Campus. There will be light refreshments and a special performance by the SIU Marching Salukis.

Hanes came to SIU in 1965 and served as director of bands until his retirement in 2005. He remained involved with the Marching Salukis until he passed away in 2022.

“Mike Hanes is one of the most revered Salukis, and his impact on our beloved Marching Salukis is unequaled,” said Kupec. “The band tower honors Mike’s legacy by supporting the future of the Marching Salukis, which meant so much to him.”

Construction of the tower was partially funded by a generous gift from SIU alumni, Drs. Phil and Pam Pfeffer. The Pfeffers met while attending SIU in the 1960s. Pam was the head majorette, and Phil was field announcer.

To cover the remaining costs of the band tower construction, the SIU Foundation is asking others to make a similar investment. Donations can be made by searching for the “Mike Hanes Memorial Naming Fund” at siuf.org/give.

Hanes became a promising percussionist in his hometown, Salem, Illinois, where his father was the high school band director. He graduated from Milliken University where he majored in radio/television. He enrolled at SIU as a graduate student in music education.

During a stint in the U.S. Army, Hanes conducted the Army band during stops in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Wurzburg, Germany. In Fort Collins, he volunteered to work with high school music departments, giving private lesson to young musicians. After the Army, he returned to Carbondale and completed his master’s degree.

Beyond his influential work with the Marching Salukis, he also led the SIU Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and served as conductor for both the university’s Summer Playhouse and Opera Theater.

By Jeff Wilson

Marilea Koch’s life was a testament to the value she placed on education and family. Through her estate planning, those deeply rooted convictions were more than confirmed, they were celebrated.

When Koch passed away in January of 2024, the gift that she left to the SIU Foundation materialized, in the form of hundreds of thousands of dollars to establish the Edward and Elizabeth Ann Paddison Endowment Fund. Named for her parents, her gift funds scholarships for students who live in Illinois counties south of Interstate 70.

Koch made her cousin, Carolyn Stubblefield, and her husband, Richard, trustees of her estate. They shared their fond memories of Marilea.

“Marilea valued education and wanted others to have access to books,” Richard Stubblefield said. “To that end, she endowed a scholarship to SIUC because she wanted students to be able to afford a college education. She also left a sizeable amount of monies to her community’s public library, and she made her church a beneficiary of her trust.”

Born and raised in Southern Illinois, Koch graduated from the Goode Barren Township High School in Sesser. She then attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale, graduating in 1952 with a degree from the College of Liberal Arts. During her time at SIU, she lived in Anthony Hall (which now houses the chancellor’s office) and developed lasting camaraderie among the young women who lived there.

“Marilea spoke fondly about her experience at SIU,” Richard Stubblefield said. “She was pleased that she could compete at the college level after her experience of attending a very small high school in Southern Illinois. She also spoke about the fact that she would not have been able to afford and attend college had it not been for the teacher education scholarship that she earned by being valedictorian of her graduating class.”

After college, she began her career as an English and speech teacher, holding positions in towns throughout Illinois, including Polo, Lincoln and Hinsdale.

“She was a teacher’s teacher,” Richard Stubblefield said. “She enjoyed the students that she taught and challenged those students to be writers.”

Family focus

Her parents, Edward “Ned” and Elizabeth Ann Paddison immigrated to the U.S. from England as children. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father was a coal miner until he became water superintendent in Sesser. The couple eventually moved to Chicago for better job opportunities.

“Marilea understood the sacrifice her parents made by leaving their home, family and friends to seek employment and a better life in order to support her higher education goals,” Carolyn Stubblefield said. “The scholarship she endowed honors her parents’ commitment to her education and seeks to enable young men and women with an opportunity to attend college at SIUC.”

In her final years, Koch composed two family histories, one for each side of her family.

“With her parents being from England, any time one stopped by the Paddison home, the kettle was boiling for tea,” Richard Stubblefield said. “Marilea’s extended family consisted of aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides of the family, and she would always make time to squeeze in a visit with them or drop them a note, even in her retirement years.”

Even though she was born during the Great Depression, her parents made traveling a priority, which is something Koch continued into adulthood. She traveled extensively across the U.S. and Europe.

“Marilea easily made friends wherever she taught and wherever she traveled,” Carolyn Stubblefield said. “She kept in touch with those far-flung friends with her annual Christmas letter, which was both newsy and amusing. As her younger cousin, I always looked forward to her personal notes at Christmas because she managed to interject humor into retelling stories about challenging situations, whether they dealt with car trouble or with a classroom experience.”

To learn more about estate planning, visit siufgiving.org.

“Before the West Coast” created by Saluki Hall of Famer Oyd Craddock

By Jeff Wilson

Some stories demand to be told, and sometimes they just need the right storyteller. Such was the case for Oyd Craddock and his film, “Before the West Cost: A Sports Civil Rights Story.”

A free screening of the film will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Morris Library’s Guyon Auditorium. The event will last from 4 to 6 p.m., during which the 1-hour, 6-minute film will be shown followed by a Q&A session with Craddock and reception, including refreshments. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the film and hear the story behind the documentary.

The event is sponsored by the SIU Foundation in collaboration with the College of Arts and Media, Department of Athletics, and Vice Chancellor for Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Craddock, a 1980 alumnus of SIU’s College of Business and Analytics, Saluki Hall of Fame football player, and member of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors, attended New Orleans’ St. Augustine High School in the 1970s. The school’s football team famously integrated the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) in 1967.

“This film is really a part of my life story,” Craddock said. “It tells the story of the trials and triumphs of the all-Black, boys’ Catholic high school that integrated the all-white athletic league in Louisiana. It was a breakthrough event to have integrated competition in sports in high schools back then.”

The film also highlights the leadership of the school’s iconic coach, Otis Washington, and follows the team’s journey throughout the 1970s. Craddock enrolled in St. Augustine in 1972 and was co-captain of the school’s 1975 undefeated state championship team.

“Otis Washington was an innovator, transformative leader, and incredible head coach,” Craddock said. “He was ahead of his time. He went on to be the first Black coach hired by LSU (Louisiana State University).”

Making a movie was not originally on Craddock’s mind when he attended the 2012 LHSAA Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Coach Washington.

“I got to the point where I felt like I was called to tell this story,” Craddock said. “It could not die with us. I felt it would inspire the current generation. It evolved from a photo library with some video clips to doing interviews with players from that era to actually telling the full story.”

More than a football story, “Before the West Coast” showcases the leadership, integrity, and perseverance that was required during such a historic time.

“You can excel in the face of adversity,” Craddock said. “At that time, racism was very prevalent in the Deep South, but leadership matters, integrity matters. The students’ journey help transform the city of New Orleans from the era of segregation. The deck was not stacked equally, but we had to find a way to overcome, and we did.”

After a 31-year career with IBM, the now-retired Craddock credits much of his success to his experience at SIU.

“It wasn’t as much about the athletic accomplishments at SIU as much as the total experience,” he said. “The rigor of business school and demands of football helped prepare me for the real world. SIU propelled me to my career. I forever love SIU, the experience, and the help and guidance I received.”

For more information about “Before the West Coast: A Sports Civil Rights Story” and to watch the trailer, visit beforethewestcoast.com. To register for the free screening and reception, visit siuf.org/craddock. Registration is preferred but not required.

University leaders connect with alumni, donors, partners, schools

By Jeff Wilson

The fourth annual Saluki Takeover Tour in Chicago engaged university leaders with alumni and donors while also facilitating partnerships with community colleges, high schools and corporate partners.

Hosted by the SIU Foundation, the takeover tour has become a staple of the SIU calendar. Stretching well beyond Chicago, this year there will be stops in Memphis, Houston, Dallas, Nashville, Florida, St. Louis, Phoenix, California, and across Southern Illinois. For a full schedule of Saluki Takeover Tours, visit siuf.org/takeovers.

Salukis came in record numbers – more than 275 of them! – to celebrate their alma mater during the Chancellor’s Reception on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Residence Inn Chicago Magnificent Mile, managed by SIU alumnus Tommie Van ’86.

“We take our university, and we get a lot of us to come up here, and we plant the flag in the ground and tell everybody in the Windy City that this is Saluki territory,” said Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation Matt Kupec.

From Tuesday, Sept. 23, through Thursday, Sept. 26, dozens of representatives from Southern Illinois University Carbondale spread out across Chicago and surrounding areas, building partnerships and spreading the Saluki spirit.

“There is so much work that is happening,” said Chancellor Austin Lane. “We need more out of Chicago. That has been our theme as we have met with our community college presidents and high school principals.”

Throughout the week development officers and leaders from the SIU Foundation met with dozens of donors acro

ss the city in support of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has raised more than $360 million toward its $500 million goal.

“This year we set a record for fundraising. It is about 2.7 times more than we raised in 2019,” said SIU System President Dan Mahony. “That money goes to support students, support programs, support scholarships, support all the incredible work faculty is doing.”

Over the four-day takeover tour, visits were made to the following community colleges:

• McHenry Community College
• Oakton College
• Joliet Junior College
• Harper College
• College of DuPage
• Prairie State College
• Moraine Valley Community College

“We had a wonderful, long day visiting those community college partners, because those are our future Salukis,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sheryl Tucker. “That’s part of where our enrollment growth is going to be.”

There were also visits to the following high schools:

• Englewood High School
• Morgan Park High School
• Noble Johnson College Prep
• Benito Juarez High School
• Farragut High School
• Al Raby School
• Chicago Agricultural High School

Many of the high schools are Hope Chicago schools. Hope Chicago scholarships remove financial barriers for students and families within the Chicago Public Schools system. Hope scholars also receive wraparound support like advising and mentoring to help them achieve their desired degree or certification.

“We have been here strengthening our partnership with Hope Chicago and other entities,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeff Burgin. “I know you know this, but I love saying it: If it’s been done and done well, a Saluki probably did it.”

Representatives from the College of Health and Human Sciences visited Navistar Inc. and AAR Corp. Over the years, Navistar has made incredible investment in the School of Automotive with gifts-in-kind totaling more than $1.1 million. AAR provides aviation services to commercial and government partners worldwide.

CHHS Dean Robert Morgan and School of Automotive Director Andrew Croxell also hosted an Automotive Happy Hour on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Church Street Brewery in Itasca.

SIU Research Park Executive Director Lynn Lindberg and others met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the 1871 Business Development Service.

The Saluki Takeover Tour in Chicago ended Thursday, Sept. 26, with the SIU Alumni Association’s Wrigleyville Takeover at the Saluki-owned Almost Home Tavern and Grill. Dozens of Salukis came together to celebrate their SIU connections.

By Jeff Wilson

Supporters of Southern Illinois University Carbondale donated nearly $1.2 million during the 9th annual SIU Day of Giving on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

More than 1,500 donors made a gift online at siuday.siu.edu during the 24-hour event, hosted by the SIU Foundation. Every gift helps SIU students and faculty and supports the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has raised $360 million toward its $500 million goal.

“This was the second SIU Day of Giving in 2024. After a successful event in February, we decided to move to the fall semester. There is a buzz on campus during the fall, and we wanted to make the Day of Giving part of that,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “Between the two days, SIU alumni and friends have made tremendous contributions to our university, donating more than $4.3 million over the two Days of Giving.”

The SIU Day of Giving has raised more than $17 million in support of student scholarships, research and other campus initiatives since its inception in 2017. Every gift made during the SIU Day of Giving is directed at the donor’s discretion to a particular area of their choosing.

“Donors are always able to restrict their gifts as they choose,” Kupec said. “The SIU Day of Giving is a great reminder of the power of our alumni base. These funds are used only for the college, department or initiative they want to support.”

The College of Health and Human Sciences had the largest dollar amount raised, totaling $496,795. Others topping that list were:

• College of Engineering, Computing, Technology and Mathematics, $153,190
• School of Education, $116,780
• College of Liberal Arts, $112,150
• Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, $55,750
• College of Agricultural, Life and Physical Sciences, $48,435

The Balancing Education, Experience, and Reality Scholarship Endowment Fund brought in the most individual gifts with 533. Others topping that list were:

• WSIU Public Broadcasting, 252
• College of Arts and Media, 93
• College of Health and Human Sciences, 77
• College of Agricultural, Life and Physical Sciences, 64
• Saluki Athletics, 58

To see a full breakdown of gifts and the donor wall from the most recent Day of Giving, visit siuday.siu.edu.

The SIU Foundation hosted a livestream broadcast from the WSIU-TV studio on campus. Chancellor Austin Lane, every dean, and other campus leaders sat down to discuss their areas.

“Saluki Nation is truly alive and well,” Chancellor Lane said during the livestream. “With the excitement that is happening at the university, the plans that we have in place to grow even more and the things we’re doing within the [Imagine SIU 2030] strategic plan are going to help us mobilize even more Salukis across the country and the world.”

To watch the livestream, visit the SIU Foundation’s YouTube page.

Night of B.E.E.R.

The SIU Day of Giving had a bit of a soft launch on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 17, with the Night of B.E.E.R. livestream event from the Fermentation Science Institute (FSI). The event celebrated and raised money for the Balancing, Education, Experience, and Reality Scholarship and the scholarship for Fermentation Science students. Every gift made during the event was counted in the Day of Giving totals.

Spearheaded by SIU Alumni Association Board President Scott Moller and Executive Director Molly Hudgins, the Night of B.E.E.R. focused on the impact donors have on students and the research happening at the FSI. Moller and fellow alumnus Dan Giedeman each made $2,500 commitments to match every like, comment, and share during the livestream.

“We’re celebrating successes, and we’re supporting the Fermentation Science Institute and the B.E.E.R. Scholarship,” Hudgins, who hosted the livestream, said. “Both programs are key to Saluki success. They are part of the fabric of being a Saluki.”

Guests on the livestream included Kupec, Moller, Giedeman, SIU alumnus Scott Shelton, Dr. Matt McCarroll, director of the Fermentation Science Institute, FSI students, and B.E.E.R. Scholarship recipient Emily White.

To watch the full event, visit the SIU Alumni Association’s YouTube page.

Longtime Saluki pledges $30K, joins leadership society

By Jeff Wilson

For more than 50 years, Mike Norrington has been a Saluki Athletics season ticket holder. Now, he is one of the first members of the newly minted Big Dawg Leadership Society.

The society honors the most resolute supporters among Saluki Nation and offers them unique access and opportunities to enhance the fan experience. Members of the Big Dawg Leadership Society are recognized at various giving levels. Norrington recently made a $30,000 pledge to Saluki Athletics.

A fixture at most Saluki Basketball and Football games, he believes there is no better bang for his buck.

“It’s the best entertainment in the southern part of the state. You can’t beat it,” Norrington said. “There’s no chant that brings about more internal stimulation than ‘S-I-U, S-I-U!’”

He also understands the value donors bring to the athletics department.

“I give, but it’s a pittance of the whole budget. You can’t run a football team without some big bucks. There are lots of players, lots of travel. That stuff isn’t cheap,” he said. “SIU is a place of higher education. It can’t put all its money in athletics.”

For Norrington, joining the Big Dawg Leadership Society was the obvious choice.

“If someone asks what’s happening that day, and I can say there’s an SIU game, that definitely elevates the day,” he said. “Your long-range commitment isn’t that bad. There are a lot of things in life that cost a lot more. The Big Dawg Leadership Society is just Saluki Athletics saying thank you for guaranteeing it for five years.”

To learn more about the society, email Todd Reeser at toddr@foundation.siu.edu or Kat Martin at katm@foundation.siu.edu.

Sharing Saluki stories

Norrington’s Saluki story began in 1965 when he came to SIU as a freshman from Decatur. After working a couple student jobs, he was hired onto the Saluki Patrol, becoming a full-time officer in 1970, working on the SIU police force until 1980.

“SIU police were the main people responsible for dignitaries that came to campus. I stood right beside President Jimmy Carter with the Secret Service in 1976. I was assigned as the driver to pick up Elvis Presley that same year.

“I picked him up at the airport when he got off his Lisa Marie jet and drove the car straight into the SIU Arena. We went with him on stage, and when it was over, we got back in the car and went right back to the airport. It was the coolest thing I have ever done.”

He also interacted with an SIU legend, President Delyte Morris. After starting his Saluki Patrol job, Norrington remembers meeting President Morris while walking through campus.

“My name tag just said ‘Norrington, but (Morris) said ‘Mike, you’re one of our new officers. We appreciate having you on board’ and shook my hand,” Norrington said. “He knew everyone and had respect for them all.”

In 1980, Norrington became the chief of police in Clinton, Illinois, working there for 13 years. He then returned to Carbondale as the director of law enforcement for the southern third of the state. He retired in 2018 after 25 years in that role.

During his decades around SIU and Saluki Athletics, Norrington has seen it all. He has seen the impact winning sports programs have on the university.

“When SIU went to the Sweet 16 a couple of times, that’s no joke. People I know around the country were talking about it,” he said. “If you’re into advertising, that’s the way to do it. The Salukis are something people recognize.”

Members earn unique access, opportunities to enhance fan experience

The Big Dawg Leadership Society is the next step in what SIU Athletic Director Tim Leonard calls “Saluki World Domination.”

The newly formed society recognizes Saluki Athletics’ most resolute supporters and provides them with unique access and opportunities that enhance the fan experience. By making annual gifts to support Saluki Athletics and commitments to the Pride of Little Egypt (the athletic department’s name, image and likeness program) fans can make a transformative impact on student-athletes, coaches, and the university.

The Big Dawg Leadership Society includes three levels:

• Legendary: $25,000+ annual commitment to Saluki Athletics and $2,500 for three years to the Pride of Little Egypt
• Hall of Fame: $10,000-$24,999 annual commitment to Saluki Athletics and $2,500 for three years to the Pride of Little Egypt
• Champion: $5,000-$9,999 annual commitment to Saluki Athletics and $1,000, one-year commitment to the Pride of Little Egypt

Each level includes benefits, which range from exclusive events, deepened connections with student-athletes and coaches, Saluki gear, and more. To learn more, contact Todd Reeser at toddr@foundation.siu.edu or Kat Martin at katm@foundation.siu.edu.

“A new day is dawning, and this is your chance to officially become a Big Dawg,” Leonard said. “To build and maintain championship-caliber programs takes an investment from all Salukis. We have made commitments to our student-athletes and coaches, and now we need our fans join us on this mission.”

Recently, many programs and athletes have enjoyed historic success:

• Swimmer Celia Pulido and track and field alumni DeAnna Price and Raven Saunders participated in the Summer Olympics in Paris
• Softball won 44 games and reached the NCAA Regional Finals
• Football hosted and won the first home playoff game in Saluki Stadium history
• Men’s golf made the NCAA Regionals for the third time in five years
• Men’s basketball saw its highest average home attendance in a decade
• Saluki student-athletes maintained an overall GPA of 3.23, highlighted by Saluki Softball earning the highest GPA of any NCAA softball team in the nation

Last fall, Leonard announced Imagine: Salukis Unleashed, a $100 million fundraising campaign scheduled to continue for a decade. That vision includes game-changing projects, ranging from basketball and football practice facilities, an updated baseball clubhouse, improvements to Lingle Hall, equipment upgrades, a new soccer stadium, and more.

“We want you to dream big with us,” Leonard said. “We love seeing our fans at every game, but the Big Dawg Leadership Society goes beyond season tickets. We are asking for enhanced annual commitments that drive us forward in exciting ways. It is time for Saluki Athletics to dominate like never before.”

To make a gift online, visit give.siu.edu/athletics. Checks can be mailed to: Southern Illinois University Foundation, Colyer Hall – Mail Code 6805, 1235 Douglas Drive, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901. To make a gift to the Pride of Little Egypt, visit prideoflittleegypt.com.

By Jeff Wilson

Beyond tuition, Southern Illinois University Carbondale students face the same financial challenges as everyone else – paying bills, buying food, finding childcare, and more.

That reality and the desire to help is what prompted Chad Pendleton, a 1997 SIU graduate, to step up and make a $25,000 pledge to establish the Pendleton Family Bridging the Gap Fund.

“It was clear that this is a way to make a meaningful impact,” Pendleton said. “A host of financial challenges come up for students – rent, food, everyday factors that might lead them to withdraw. It stood out to me as an area that I could support. It serves a critical need, especially for minority students.”

Through the office of Dr. Paul Frazier, vice chancellor for anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, students can apply for emergency funds that help them stay enrolled at SIU, enhancing the university’s retention efforts and helping students reach their academic goals.

A Unique Journey

Pendleton doesn’t have the traditional Saluki story, but he shares the Saluki spirit that makes SIU special.

After deciding that the University of Memphis wasn’t the right fit for him, the Tennessee native took a job at a local hospital and discovered a passion for health care. He came across a flyer for SIU’s off-campus location at a local naval base and learned that it offered an accelerated degree program in health care management. He knew immediately that it was the perfect opportunity.

“I found it to be a very rewarding experience,” Pendleton said. “It was phenomenal to get my bachelor’s degree and bolster my career. After graduation, my career progressed quickly, and that was a direct result of my education.”

When his father became seriously ill, Pendleton embraced the chance to focus on what mattered most – family. With his sons transitioning through high school and college, Pendleton saw this as a time to be fully present for his family during pivotal moments in their lives. He also pursued his Ph.D., all while continuing to work with health care leaders by founding Pendleton Advisory Group.

“It gave me the flexibility to be there for my family when they needed me the most,” he said. “Pendleton Advisory Group has been more successful than I ever imagined, and it has allowed me to maintain that balance.”

The experience of supporting his family during this difficult time reinforced Pendleton’s belief in the importance of having both a personal and financial support network. His decision to contribute to SIU through the Pendleton Family Bridging the Gap Fund was born from this understanding.

Reconnecting with SIU

This October, the Saluki Takeover Tour is coming to Memphis for the first time. Pendleton will be attending the Chancellor’s Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at King Jerry Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar & Grill.

“There are more alumni in this area than I realized,” Pendleton said. “It will be great to develop a network of individuals. We are all still representing the Salukis, and I am looking forward to reconnecting.”

Pendleton, who also serves on the advisory committee for the SIU College of Health and Human Sciences, looks forward to meeting with alumni who may feel less connected to the college and the university.

“I credit much of my success to SIU,” he said. “I want to show others how they can re-establish their connection and how they can get involved. SIU gave me so much, and this is an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way.”

To learn more about making a gift, visit siuf.org. To register for the Saluki Takeover Tour Memphis, visit siuf.org/memphis.