By Jeff Wilson

Each spring, the SIU School of Art and Design hosts Design Days, which brings professional designers, both alumni and non-alumni, to campus.

With “Momentum” as this year’s theme, the focus was on moving the field of design forward. The event and its theme were each representative of the dedication needed to be successful.

Mark Stenftenagel is a good example of that dedication. A 1973 alumnus of the SIU Design program, Stenftenagel has made an impact through monetary donations and personal effort.

“I had an extremely rich, enjoyable experience at SIU,” he said. “The more I get involved, the more I enjoy it. It’s a great university. There are really good students here.”

Making a noticeable impact  

His philanthropy has helped the university’s Design program stay modern. In 2014, the program moved to a new workspace in Pulliam Hall, leaving behind the Blue Barracks on East Campus. A $30,000 donation from Stenftenagel helped ensure the program could thrive in its new location.

“Because of people like Mark, we have dedicated Design scholarships,” said Rob Lopez, interim director of the School of Art and Design. “It helps with recruitment and retention. Our students can be proud when they leave.”

Stenftenagel also facilitates the delivery of free furniture that comes from Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The mart is a wholesale design center, and when it gets new inventory, the old items need a home. Stenftenagel has made sure the SIU Design program is one of those new homes.

Before visiting SIU for Design Days on April 6, he loaded a truck and trailer (donated by his colleagues at Installation Specialists in Itasca) and brought a shipment of new furniture along with him.

From football to furniture design and beyond

Stenftenagel came to SIU on a football scholarship. He later decided to forgo football and focus on design.

“I wanted to study design, and I also wanted to play football,” he said. “Southern was the best place to do that. I hated to leave the team. It was tough.”

After his junior year, Stenftenagel took a break from the design program and started an on-campus preschool. He designed the furniture for the school so that it could be easily set up and broken down each day.

“It was called Alpha Preschool,” he said. “It had a really open environment, which is what a lot of schools are going to nowadays.”

After meeting his future wife, Margaret, a 1972 SIU alumna, Stenftenagel sold the preschool and finished his design degree. After graduating, the couple moved to Boston for about two years, before returning to Illinois and settling in Elmhurst.

In 1984, he founded Whitney Architects, which focuses on architecture and interior design. A year later, he started Q Design, which does industrial design, focusing mostly on furniture.

A giant Q on the wall in the Pulliam Hall Design Wing, denotes Stenftenagel’s impact on the program. It represents the Q Lounge, which is filled with furniture he helped acquire.

“The world needs good design,” Stenftenagel said. “What we learned (at SIU) is more pertinent today. Design is the essence of problem solving. All kinds of companies are looking for design. The need is there.”

To learn more about the School of Art & Design, visit www.cola.siu.edu/artanddesign.

The SIU Foundation is in the midst of Forever SIU, a three-year fundraising campaign. To learn more about the campaign and how to give, visit www.foreversiu.org.

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By Jeff Wilson and Rebecca Renshaw

When Jason Kane’s parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2017, he decided it was the perfect time to honor their legacy.

With a $25,000 endowment, he created the Scott and Lynn Kane Family Scholarship. It benefits students in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts.

Scott Kane graduated from SIU in 1967 with a degree in radio and television. He went on to serve on the Communications Alumni Board and be honored as the college’s Alumnus of the Year.

“My father made a difference at SIU,” Jason said.

During his time at SIU, Scott was a part of an expanding radio/TV department. His experience left him with fond memories of the university.

“The education was hands-on, and the students had great relationships with the instructors,” he said. “There was amazing success coming out of SIU. It had reach around the world.

The endowment will cement Scott and Lynn’s legacy at SIU, Jason said.

“It will allow students to know who my father was,” he said. “It’s tangible and meaningful. It impacts future generations. It’s a way to honor their legacy that goes into perpetuity.”

Jason’s mother, Lynn, is not an SIU alumna, but Jason said her impact was just as important.

“She stood by my dad the entire time,” Jason (pictured, far right, with his parents and other family members) said. “He was able to do the things he did because of her.”

“If people have dreams and goals, how do they reach them without an education?” Lynn said.

To learn more about the Forever SIU campaign, visit www.foreversiu.org.

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By Jeff Wilson

Tom Catania’s continued support of SIU is largely derived from the inspiration he received from one influential professor, Madeleine Smith.

Catania, a 1967 graduate, set up the Madeleine Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor the woman who guided him as a student and befriended him afterward.

“She was like no other person I’ve known. She had a brilliant mind,” he said. “She really inspired me.”

Smith came to SIU (then Southern Illinois State Normal University) in 1929. She taught French as part of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature. She retired in 1971 but kept in contact with the university by sending postcards during her travels abroad.

From April 1943 to November 1945, she served as a member of the Signal Corps in the War Department in Washington, D.C. In 1946, she was selected as one of 100 American French instructors to visit France as part of a goodwill visit.

“She was working for us, for our government,” Catania said. “That’s says something about her, too.”

After receiving his degree in foreign languages and literature, Catania taught high school English and some French in Chicago. He and Smith continued their friendship until she passed away.

“She was a teacher in the truest sense of the word, like Socrates,” Catania said. “She taught by example. I tried to pass on a little bit of what I got from her. Besides being smart, she was a great person.”

Catania said he hopes his gift will honor Smith’s legacy and ensure that students have opportunities available to them.

“I think that it’s important to give young people an opportunity to find a school that gives them an education and the tools they need,” he said.

The goal of the Forever SIU fundraising campaign is to increase student scholarships and opportunities. To learn how you can help, visit www.foreversiu.org.

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I first came to SIU on a basketball scholarship in 1957. Like so many others, had it not been for that financial assistance, I would have never become a Saluki.

While earning two degrees, I received support and encouragement from faculty and staff members. My commitment to give back is personal. My life has been immeasurably changed by SIU, and I could never repay the university for what it has given me.

I’m encouraging everyone to help make a difference during the SIU Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 7. This 24-hour, online giving campaign seeks to raise funds and awareness of on-campus needs, largely focusing on student scholarships.

When I came here, people helped me, and it made a major difference in my life. The Day of Giving is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of current and future Salukis.

You can make a gift of any size by visiting siuday.siu.edu. You can do so now or bookmark the page and wait until March 7.

Donations can be made in a number of ways, including payroll deductions. Click here to download the payroll deduction form.

I also encourage everyone to help spread the word about the Day of Giving. Follow the SIU Foundation on Facebook and Twitter and use the hashtag #SIUDay on your social media accounts.

This year, there will be added competition among the colleges. A traveling trophy will be awarded to the college that raises the most money and the college that receives the most individual gifts.

On March 7, there will be Day of Giving booths in the Student Center and Morris Library. Chancellor Carlo Montemagno will speak at 2 p.m. in Morris Library.

Being a Saluki means being part of a great tradition. On March 7, I’m asking all members of the SIU family to help ensure the Day of Giving becomes a part of that tradition. Together, we can build a strong future.

Sincerely,
Harold R. Bardo Ph.D.
Associate Professor Emeritus

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. – A gift from Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumni Roger and Sally Tedrick will expand opportunities for SIU students to get involved with research and creative activities as part of a world-class undergraduate experience, according to SIU Chancellor Carlo Montemagno.

Currently, about 25 students receive funding for research and creative projects each year through a program called “REACH,” which stands for “Research-enriched Academic Challenge.” Past projects have ranged from biomedical research on the endocrine system to finding lost grave sites and researching and preserving artifacts to designing formal wear for people who use wheelchairs.

The Tedrick Undergraduate Research Fellowship will increase the number of students who can participate to about 40 each year. The donation from the Tedricks provides $50,000 a year in grant money for five years.

Montemagno said the awards give students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in their field of interest.

“Providing our undergraduate students with strong research and creative opportunities has set SIU apart, and this donation only strengthens that commitment,” said Montemagno. “Such opportunities prepare our students for the challenges they will face after graduation, either in graduate school or in their chosen fields of employment.”

REACH awards support the projects of qualified, full-time undergraduate students who compete for funding. Awards are granted based on the evaluation of the applications by a panel composed of experts from a range of academic backgrounds.

Selected students can receive up to $2,000 for their project and an assistantship that will pay for the student to work up to 10 hours per week on it. Teams can receive an additional $500 per additional team member. To be eligible, a student must be a sophomore or higher and carry a GPA of at least 2.8.

The Tedrick donation also creates a new “Best in Category” award. This special recognition is based on the quality of the students’ applications and the promise of their proposed research or creative activity. One student in each of the following disciplines will be recognized: art and design, humanities, communication/media, science and engineering.

To apply, students should submit an application by March 30. The first awards including the new funding will be made in mid-April.

Roger Tedrick is a 1970 SIU graduate and Sally Tedrick graduated in 1973. Both are longtime SIU supporters and life members of the SIU Alumni Association.

Roger Tedrick is owner, president and CEO of Tedrick Insurance Agency in Mount Vernon. He has served on the SIU Foundation Board and as its president, also serving as chair of the Saluki Futures Campaign for athletic facilities.  He was a member of the SIU Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2011, presiding over the board as chair for six years.  His university service also includes service on the SIU Alumni Association Board of Directors.

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CARBONDALE, Ill. — A three-year, $75 million fundraising campaign to support students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale raised more than $56 million in its first year.

“Forever SIU: The Campaign for Students” launched Jan. 1, 2017. As of Dec. 31, approximately 5,000 donors contributed $56,317,674, or 75 percent of the $75 million goal, according to Jim Salmo, chief executive officer of the SIU Foundation.

The campaign’s progress is a sign of confidence in the university, said SIU Chancellor Carlo Montemagno.

“As we meet with our alumni close to home and across the country, I hear stories that reflect great pride in SIU,” Montemagno said. “As we approach our 150^th anniversary in 2019, I’m grateful to the many graduates and friends who are investing in our future.”

More than half of the total raised is for student scholarships and fellowships, with the balance supporting academic programs, facilities and technology.

“Every gift, large and small, benefits our students,” Montemagno said.

Salmo said many donors work with foundation staff members to identify options for making gifts. Some make outright donations, some pledge gifts to be made over several years, and some defer commitments to be made through an estate or other means.

“Many donors are surprised to learn that they have a lot of flexibility in making a gift that supports something near and dear to them at SIU,” Salmo said. “And some are blending their gifts so that they have both immediate and long-term impact. However they choose to give, we are grateful for the positive difference they are making for SIU and its students.”

“The success of ‘Forever SIU’ is only the beginning,” Montemagno added. “There is so much ahead that we can accomplish in partnership with our alumni and friends.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit foreversiu.org.

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By Jeff Wilson

Kim Fornero knows the importance of experience.

The 1990 alumnus earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Agricultural Sciences and went into the hotel and tourism industry, specializing in food service. He recently made a sizeable estate gift to benefit the College of Ag and Saluki Athletics.

After working all over the country, Fornero settled in at Monmouth College in upstate Illinois. He has worked there for 19 years and is the executive chef for the university’s food service.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’d be where I am now if it wasn’t for SIU,” he said. “It’s an experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I’m proud to be a Dawg.”

While on campus, Fornero met Trish Welch, an advisor and instructor.

“She really helped the students form their direction,” he said. “She took the students under her wing and really mentored them. She wanted them to do the best that they could.

“Trish and (her husband) Harvey are both wonderful people,” he added. “They are both very caring about, not only the university, but the community as a whole. They are some of the most generous people I know. It’s wonderful to see people like that, and it’s kind of what inspired me to give back.”

After Fornero graduated, Trish Welch asked him to join the Curriculum Advisory Committee for the College of Agricultural Sciences. Fornero became a founding member of the committee, which disbanded a few years ago.

“Our goal was to formulate a direction for students to go so they get that real-life experience,” he said.

The need for experience is one of the factors that Fornero noted when setting up his gift.

“I’m hoping it gives students the opportunity to learn and get that important experience,” he said. “For them to get a good job, they have to work in the real world, and it’s not always financially viable for them to make ends meet during college.”

His decision to become a benefactor for SIU Athletics was based on his school spirit.

“I’m a Saluki to the core. Athletes need to have support also,” he said. “It’s a little tougher for them sometimes, because they’re expected to hold a higher standard.”

Fornero wants his gift to inspire others to do the same.

“I’m just hoping that other people will look at that and say, ‘It’s time to give back to something that helped me.’”