Maria Napolez is a SIU law student from Los Angeles, California. She will be graduating in May 2017.

Why did you choose SIU? My dad attended SIU for medical school and has always said it altered the course of his life. SIU exposed him to a world of information that helped him discover his passion. I wanted the same experience and I have definitely gotten it! I’m excited, yet sad to be graduating in May, but I know the immense impact I’ll make with my SIU School of Law education!

What inspired you to choose your area of study? Law has always been a passion of mine. It is a profession that will allow me to help others, while simultaneously allowing me to continuously grow and learn as a person.

What achievement in your life are you most proud of? I’m most proud of my decision to pack up my life in LA, leave my fashion career, and attend law school at SIU! It has changed my life for the better! I’m more excited than ever to get back to LA with the knowledge I have gained at SIU School of Law.

Why should someone consider donating to SIU School of Law? Wow, where do I start? SIU School of Law is one of this country’s hidden gems! The warm and welcoming environment makes the difficulties of law school easier to deal with. Having visited several law schools prior to attending SIU, I never encountered such an environment where the faculty and classmates feels like family! I feel as though the faculty really goes through your law school journey with you. The support, encouragement, and random conversations in between classes with the deans, professors, and other law school faculty make my days enjoyable. I catch myself smiling for no reason sometimes, because I know I made the right choice to attend SIU School of Law. I can’t wait to donate!

Do you have a message you would like shared with a potential donor? Giving back, no matter how small the donation amount, is so helpful! The law school is such a small, close-knit environment. Every dime is felt, acknowledged, and appreciated.

If you had $1,000 to donate to the School of Law, what would you like to see that money benefit? I would give $3,000! First, $1,000 would go toward some sort of ‘appreciation’ event for the faulty to show them how much they mean to us. Another $1,000 would go toward funding a program to reach out to more minority students and fostering relationships that will encourage them to trust SIU School of Law with shaping their legal studies and legal career. And of course, $1,000 would go toward free coffee every day, for everyone!

You can support SIU School of Law during SIU Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 1: https://siuday.siu.edu/giving-day/1003/department/1422

Taylor Williams is a senior from Carterville, Illinois. She is studying civil engineering.

Why did you choose SIU? I chose SIU because it is close to home, had an accredited engineering program, and offered scholarship opportunities to me as an incoming freshman.

What inspired you to choose your area of study?  I really like math.

What achievement in your life are you most proud of? I am most proud of the person that I have become. There is no one specific achievement that I am most proud of because everything that I have accomplished and have not accomplished have made me into the person that I am today.

Why should someone consider donating to SIU?  Attending college is expensive.  State schools do not receive the same support from federal and state government as it has in the past.  In order to remain affordable, SIU has had to invest institutional resources into assisting students.  Donors who give money to SIU can help with that institutional investment by providing scholarships to us-the students.

Have you received any scholarships as a student? Yes

What does the scholarship mean to you and how has it enabled you to pursue your goals? The scholarship I received as an incoming student helped me decide to enroll at SIU.  The scholarships that I have received as an engineering student motivate me to continue to excel in the classroom and get involved in campus.

How has SIU inspired you? SIU has inspired me to become more involved and to live college life to the fullest. I came here to receive an education but have received so much more than that through making friends in the dorms and joining a sorority.

Do you have a message you would like shared with a potential donor? Every donation counts and is appreciated.  Students today need scholarship opportunities to help with the cost of college.  Four years of college will cost more than $100,000.  Even families who don’t have financial need experience difficulties coming up with the money to pay for college.  Scholarship opportunities should exist for students who work hard, earn good grades, and get involved.

If you had $1,000 to donate to the SIU, what would you like to see that money benefit? College of Engineering scholarship opportunities.

What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about SIU? When I tell my friends about SIU, I brag mostly about my experience here. My teachers have always been willing to help me with things that I don’t understand. I get to do experiments to further my understanding of material taught in class. The staff is always working with me when I need help finding experience outside of school such as internships and externships.

Whether you can give $1 or $1,000, every amount matters on March 1, 2017. Help us open the door to opportunity for students. Support SIU Day of Giving at: siuday.siu.edu

Jared Nicholas is a junior with senior credits from McLean, Illinois. He is a double major specializing in accounting and German.

Why did you choose SIU? I had never heard of SIU until my junior year of high school. My German teacher suggested it because of a German scholarship SIU offers. I visited the campus and really enjoyed its proximity to nature and semi-isolation from the rest of town. What really impressed me, though, was the attention and enthusiasm Marcus Odom, the Director of Accountancy at the time, and Jill Gebke, the Assistant Dean of the College of Business, showed for me as a potential student. They were the first people to prove to me why SIU prides itself in being a close community that cares about its students.

What inspired you to choose your area of study? Ultimately, I would like to become a corporate lawyer. I chose accounting to gain a broader business background before law school. I started German in high school and decided to continue with it. Learning German has not just taught me a language, but it’s broadened my world view as well as made me think more critically about language. In college, it provided me the opportunity to spend a wonderful semester abroad in Switzerland. I’d like to use German by working for an international German company, such as Haribo, Aldi, Siemens, or BMW.

What achievement in your life are you most proud of? Freshman year, my roommate, Alex Attebury, and I organized a trip with other business freshmen to Walt Disney World to participate in one of their youth education programs about leadership strategies. It was a long process, especially with fundraising, but it was a fun project and it was a great end to our first year of college.

Why should someone consider donating to the College of Liberal Arts? The College of Liberal Arts at SIU has some of the most dedicated and caring professors I have met, which leads to more dedicated and thoughtful graduates. Employers appreciate the skills the liberal arts teach, such as critical thinking, appreciation for other points of view, and the ability to discuss and debate ideas. The liberal arts provide a broader education, not just for liberal arts majors, but for other students, too.

Do you have a message you would like shared with a potential donor? I would like to tell that potential donor that their money could go to supporting important departments that are unfortunately often overlooked and underappreciated.

If you had $1,000 to donate to the College of Liberal Arts, what would you like to see that money benefit? I would like to see it go towards faculty professional development, including more intensive training for teaching assistants and new teachers, or any other way to maintain or even improve the college’s teaching quality.

You can support SIU College of Liberal Arts during SIU Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 1: https://siuday.siu.edu/giving-day/1003/department/1380

Olivia Martinez is a junior from Round Lake, Illinois. She is specializing in Fashion Design and Merchandising.

Why did you choose SIU? It was the only school that offered all three aspects (Design, Merchandising, and Styling) as majors of the field I wish to go into. They also work with other colleges on campus to achieve various minors and certifications. Most other schools either offer ONLY Merchandising, or ONLY Design. I want to be well-rounded and knowledgeable when I step out into the real world.

What inspired you to choose your area of study? I have loved fashion since before I can remember. I wanted to major in something I am both good at, and sincerely passionate about.

What achievement in your life are you most proud of? I am most proud of my dedication and passion for my major and career as a student. I strive for success and always try to make ambitious moves toward bettering my education and my future. It is so great to love what I do.

Why should someone consider donating to the College of Applied Sciences and Arts? We are a college of DIVERSITY. There is such an array of different majors and different people that all deserve respect, support, and the chance for greatness. We help students in all areas from Mortuary Science, to Dentistry, to Fire Safety Management, to Aviation, to Fashion Design and Merchandising and so much more.

Do you have a message you would like shared with a potential donor? Given Illinois’ current struggles, CASA and various majors within it struggle to stay afloat and be noticed in a school of so many opportunities. Any aid, of any kind, is amazingly generous and will be graciously appreciated to extents beyond what any one individual can imagine.

If you had $1,000 to donate to the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, what would you like to see that money benefit? I would have to stay loyal to my major due to the fact that I see the obstacles and challenges the program faces day in and day out. That money could aid in getting our program known and taken more seriously. It would aid in repairs for machines that are used EVERY day by various students every year. It would open doors for opportunities for our yearly fashion show displaying students’ hard work and dedication to what they love to do. The possibilities of the use of a donation are limitless.

You can support SIU College of Applied Sciences and Arts during SIU Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 1: https://siuday.siu.edu/giving-day/1003/department/1378

Seventy-five years ago, the Southern Illinois University Foundation was established to encourage and support the philanthropy of all who are committed to Southern Illinois University. The first cash gift of $10 was made by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Hubbs, loyal supporters of the Foundation.

Since that humble beginning, the Foundation has raised more than $350 million and supported thousands of students through scholarships and more.

With this significant milestone anniversary, the SIU Foundation celebrates its many accomplishments made possible through the support of loyal alumni, friends, staff, faculty and community members.

“Our 75th anniversary is an opportunity to thank the many alumni, donors and friends who have helped transform the university throughout the decades,” said SIU Foundation CEO Jim Salmo. “What can be better than celebrating how we have all helped transform the lives of thousands of young men and women?”

When the Foundation was created in 1942, enrollment stood at 1,519 – the largest among teachers’ colleges in Illinois. Much has changed since then. The past seven-and-a-half decades have chronicled Southern Illinois University’s remarkable transformation from its origins as a teaching college to a nationally ranked public research university and regional economic catalyst.

Throughout the past 75 years, the Foundation has paved the way to many important enhancements on campus, and it has created scholarships that have made education possible for students who would not have been able to attend without them.

The Foundation continues to be an effective force for Southern Illinois University’s growth and advancement by connecting the goodwill and vision of donors with the university’s ongoing progress. For more information about the SIU Foundation, visit www.siuf.org/about-us/.

To give to the Foundation, visit www.siuf.org/making-a-gift/give-online/.

On March 1, members of the SIU community will join together for an extraordinary day of giving back. The goal is simple: to inspire Salukis everywhere to come together, demonstrate their pride for SIU, and provide essential funding to support SIU students and help shape the university.

We are asking you to help us reach our goals by marking your calendar and making a gift at siuday.siu.edu on March 1. Your gift will help us continue to open doors for SIU students. Bookmark this link today to make your donation on March 1.

Together – in just one day – we can create opportunities for students. Let’s make an impact on today’s students and future Salukis.