Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Able Flight officially launched the Campaign for Able Flight at SIU on May 6 with a successful giving day celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary of transforming lives through aviation. 

The one-day campaign raised $95,050 from 70 donors, helping launch a broader $2 million effort to establish the Charles H. Stites Able Flight at SIU Endowment Fund. The endowment will create permanent support for scholarships, adaptive flight training and program operations as SIU becomes the permanent home of Able Flight. 

Founded in 2006, Able Flight is the only nonprofit of its kind in the United States, providing individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to become licensed pilots. The program has helped more than 100 participants earn pilot certification, with additional students currently in training. 

SIU and Able Flight have worked over the past two years to transition the program to SIU Aviation. With that move, SIU strengthens its leadership in accessibility, innovation and flight education while expanding opportunities for students and participants alike. 

The endowment campaign has already secured more than $295,000 toward its $2 million goal. Leaders say reaching that goal will fully support Able Flight at SIU well into the future. 

“The success of the Able Flight 20th Anniversary fundraising campaign is evidence once again of how strongly our supporters believe in this mission and how willing they are to help build the Able Flight at SIU endowment fund,” said Charles H. Stites, Able Flight executive director. “For two decades, aviation has empowered people to challenge themselves in extraordinary ways, and this campaign helps ensure that mission continues far into the future.” 

Stites said the campaign builds on significant initial funding already committed by Able Flight, with additional contributions expected later this year. 

“We are off to a great start,” Stites said. “But as strong a beginning as we have had, the work is far from done, and I look forward to the SIU Foundation building upon and fulfilling this effort.” 

Participants in the program complete intensive training in specially adapted aircraft, building skills that translate beyond aviation. 

Brandi Fields, a trauma nurse from Kansas City, Missouri, trained with Able Flight after a spinal injury shifted the trajectory of her career but not her determination to pursue new opportunities. 

“There are a lot of transferable skills,” Fields said. “You’re assessing the weather and making sure everything is correct with your airplane. In nursing, assessing is one of the biggest parts of what we do. You always have to think on your feet.” 

Ronny Ahmed of Tallahassee, Florida, was paralyzed from the waist down following a 2014 shooting at Florida State University. He said Able Flight represents a level of independence he had not experienced since his injury. 

“I think it’s a sense of freedom,” Ahmed said. “There are so many restrictions when you’re in a wheelchair. This is a truly unique experience.” 

The training program, hosted by SIU Aviation, typically lasts up to eight weeks and culminates in check rides required for certification. Students train in adaptive light sport aircraft designed to meet a range of physical needs. 

In addition to preparing participants for aviation careers, the program introduces many students to SIU’s broader academic opportunities, creating pathways to enrollment and long-term success. 

Gifts to the campaign can be pledged over five years, with opportunities to support scholarships, aircraft and named endowment levels. 

To learn more about Able Flight, visit ableflight.org. 

By Ava Steffens 

The Saluki Student Investment Fund (SSIF) at SIU Carbondale offers hands-on experience in investment research and management. The student-led organization is modeled after real-world investment management firms, enhancing students’ academic and professional experience. The program provides access to the necessary resources while fostering relationship building among peers, alumni, and industry professionals. 

The SSIF began as a small student-run portfolio in 2000, starting at $25,000. 25 years later, students have grown the program and now handle $4.3 million in assets. They primarily focus on making investment decisions for their main client, the SIU Foundation. Members also manage funds for the College of Business and Analytics portfolio. 

“There are few college funds that reach the size of ours,” said Noe Estrada, a junior and the team leader of the SSIF’s consumer discretionary and staples sector. “It’s a lot of work, and it’s a testament to the resilient nature of this team.”  

Estrada explained the RSO’s strategy for calculating and analyzing the amount of funds generated from trading stocks. The process begins with looking at a company’s competitive advantage, and what drives its overall growth. From there, the fund calculates and analyzes sectors driving the company’s performance, using that data to determine strategic outcomes. 

Through the SSIF, Estrada had access to a $30,000 Bloomberg Terminal yearly subscription. He was also able to use the knowledge he gained from the organization to build his own three-statement financial model. 

“The Saluki Student Investment Fund changed my life. I’m going to enter a competitive job market with a significant skillset. What is being done in here sets the foundation to our future success.”  

Jimmy Lin, a sophomore finance major who serves as an analyst for the healthcare sector, emphasizes the importance of the impact that the SSIF has on professional development.

“Since the SSIF is the primary asset manager of the SIU Foundation, trading stocks using real money may seem intimidating at first. But once you are trained, it becomes second nature,” he said. “Those capabilities and abilities that we learned during our time in the organization will carry over into the corporate world.”

Although he agrees that the idea of students managing millions of dollars may seem daunting, Lin assures that the money contributed to the fund is in “good hands.”

“It makes us think a lot harder about the decisions we make. We must remain diligent, meaning we spend money with caution. It helps us strategize through the process and take it seriously.”

Kate DeGrazia, a senior and the team leader for the real estate sector, explained that the SSIF operates in a way that parallels the S&P 400 index. “Depending on how it’s divided up, the SSIF sectors are structured the same. We pick the strongest stocks so we can beat out the index,” she said.  

Community building and networking are also crucial aspects of the SSIF. “Meeting alumni is one of my favorite parts of the fund. It’s nice to see what my peers who are a couple years older than me accomplish,” said DeGrazia. “It’s like having big brothers and big sisters; knowing that alumni care and will extend their hard-earned money back to us has really shaped my experience.” 

The program is not only open to business majors, according to DeGrazia. “We’ve had premed, automotive, and engineering students too, and that uniqueness helps us out. There are so many different minds collaborating on each task, and we can all share our own perspectives.” 

Sarah Farris, a senior who is the team leader for the health care sector, originally joined the RSO to learn more about investing in her own future. The fund also dives deeper into subject matter learned in her marketing classes.  

“While it was scary handling real-world money at first, it provided a good experience and helped us gain confidence. It’s an honor that they trust students to be able to manage that amount of money.” 

Farris says that leading the organization was a crucial part of her college experience. She said the knowledge gained through the fund is comparable to working a job for all 4 years. The SSIF has led to a variety of post-graduate opportunities for her and her classmates. 

“Knowing that we have money in our back pockets to use for different experiences helps ease our minds,” said Farris. 

Presley Ornelas, a sophomore and an analyst for the real estate sector, first learned about SSIF when visiting his friends at SIU, who were involved with the organization. He attributed the SSIF to helping him grow a network of supportive peers and mentors. “Whether it’s visiting financial firms, competitions, or helping the community, it’s a great experience.” 

This year, Ornelas and 16 other SSIF students went to NYC to visit Dow Jones and Bloomberg. They received invaluable insight from established professionals while growing their network. Through experiences like this field trip, he learned more about professional and strategic development. 

“Thanks to the SSIF, I’ll already be prepared to take the CFA exam, and I’ll have my Bloomberg marketing certification,” says Ornelas.  

Beyond building connections with alumni and potential job recruiters, members shadow industry professionals in their day-to-day experiences. This offers a chance to learn from these mentors.  

“No matter how an alum decides to give back to the SSIF, knowing we have their support is priceless,” he said.  

Costs relating to operational expenses, student support, advisor stipends, and subscriptions are preserved primarily through external support. Those who wish to support the SSIF can get involved by meeting critical funding needs that maintain the organization’s impact. To learn more about how to make a difference in the lives of future investment leaders or to make a gift, visit give.siu.edu/ssif. 

For more information about the Saluki Student Investment Fund, visit business.siu.edu/rso/ssif.