By Jeff Wilson
Eric Larson always enjoyed being in and around nature.
Growing up on a farm in Wyanet, Illinois, it was that passion that led him to choose Southern Illinois University Carbondale over the University of Illinois.
“I knew since I was about 10 years old that I wanted to be a forester,” he said. “There are not many trees around U of I. Southern Illinois was the perfect place for me. I fell in love with it.”
That decision began a journey that led Larson from SIU, to East Texas, to Tennessee, to Wisconsin, and back to Southern Illinois. He recently donated $25,000 to establish the Eric Larson Forestry Scholarship Endowment Fund.
“Through the years, I realized how much I learned at SIU,” Larson said. “At first, I didn’t know if I was going to be financially successful. As it turned out, I did pretty well and wanted to give back.”
While attending SIU, Larson was a member of the Forestry Club and enjoyed several field trips, including treks to Missouri and Gulfport, Mississippi. He spent a summer in Oregon after his junior year working for the Bureau of Land Management.
“After graduating high school with a class of about 20 students, it was great to blend in with students from around the world,” he said. “I was fortunate to have great instructors, and these field trips awakened my interest in forestry. It was worth seeing things in action more than just reading about them in a book.”
After graduating from SIU in 1969, he earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M and began working in the forest industry helping manage 600,000 acres of timberland in East Texas.
“Then I started my own business working for non-industrial landowners. I advised them and did things like planting trees, controlled burning, timber sales, and I marked individual trees to be removed, made inventories, wrote sales contracts, and I looked after logging jobs. I did the whole gamut,” he said. “It was a lot of hard work, but I always enjoyed being in nature.”
He also bought some timberland and practiced what he learned in school on his own property. Later, he had jobs with the state government in Tennessee and with a lumber company in Wisconsin.
Larson hopes his scholarship fund in the School of Forestry and Horticulture will invigorate the next generation of passionate foresters.
“I hope it encourages students to stick with it,” he said. “When I was going to school, it wasn’t always easy paying the bills, and I was more fortunate than most. This is just another tool to help them achieve their goals.”
Dr. Karl Williard, director of the School of Forestry and Horticulture, said Larson’s gift will make an impact on students through scholarships and supporting camps, which immerse students in forest and park management issues in other regions, including the Southeastern, Northeastern, and Western United States.
“This endowed scholarship is critical to future Saluki Foresters to support them in their academic journey and to lower the cost of participating in our Summer Field Camp, which is such a formative part of our student’s training,” he said.
To learn more about how to make a similar gift, visit siuf.org.
Badiu previously served as an academic advisor in SIU’s College of Health and Human Sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University, and has started working toward her doctoral degree at SIU. In 2005, she became the system director for Southern Illinois Healthcare, overseeing the growth and development of the region’s first comprehensive freestanding cancer center, Breast Centers, and established the Office of Clinical Research. Jen was instrumental in the initiation of fundraising efforts, including Pink Out Cancer, Black Out Cancer, SIU Coach Kill Cancer Fund, and SIH Grateful Patient & Family Giving Fund.
Flath comes to the Foundation after nearly nine years in the Corporate Support Department at WSIU Public Broadcasting. He also previously worked for Lee Enterprises as an advertising sales representative, at both The Southern Illinoisan and Herald & Review newspapers. He received his bachelor’s degree from SIU journalism with a specialization in advertising. He is involved in several community organizations, including the Carterville Area Rotary Club, several local chambers of commerce, the Knights of Columbus Council #10453, and The Night’s Shield in West Frankfort.
Greenlee had been the associate director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for two years, contributing significantly to the implementation of key initiatives and managing distinguished campus visits. She chairs the SIU Head Start Government Board and serves on the SIU Credit Union Board of Directors. She holds two degrees from SIU Carbondale, a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Science in Education. In 2023, she was selected for the Edgar Fellows program, a statewide leadership initiative.
Morrison was previously the assistant director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU, where she was responsible for developing and planning complex events. Before that, she was the admissions and events coordinator for SIU Undergraduate Admissions. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance, specializing in financial management and is pursuing her master’s degree in education with a major in organizational learning, innovation, and development, both from SIU.
Snyder has worked in various capacities at SIU, initially in the Office of University Risk Management, and later returning to pursue her master’s degree. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SIU Carbondale, specializing in workforce education and development and public health, respectively. Before her current role, she served as program director at the Southern Illinois Community Foundation, overseeing initiatives such as the NonProfit Network, GiveSI, and the Southern Illinois Leadership Institute.
Anyone is welcome to join the party, and the group accepts donations during their after-game gatherings. Of course, it takes regular participation to become an official member of Clubhouse 145, which includes branded hats and polos.
By Jeff Wilson