By Jeff Wilson
CARBONDALE – When visionary leadership intersects with inspiring generosity, incredible things are possible. Rarely has that been more apparent than during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tedrick Welcome Center at Southern Illinois University.
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” said Chancellor Austin Lane during the ceremony on Friday, Oct. 11. “This building is going to blow students away and help us seal the deal.”
The building, which is the first major on-campus construction project in 12 years, will be located at the main university entrance off U.S. Highway 51 and act as a new front porch for Southern. Thirteen years ago, it was the site of McAndrew Stadium and has since been a parking lot.
Named for Roger and Sally Tedrick, whose $6 million leadership gift was instrumental in the funding of the building, 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. The SIU Foundation is funding the building through a combination of reserves, fundraising and borrowing. No state funds are being used to build the Tedrick Welcome Center.
“From the ashes of McAndrew Stadium will rise the Tedrick Welcome Center,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “We want to pay special thanks to Roger and Sally Tedrick for their incredible lead gift.”
Roger Tedrick, a 1970 graduate of SIU’s College of Liberal Arts, is a member of the SIU Board of Trustees and emeritus member of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors. He is the owner and CEO of Tedrick Group Risk Management Solutions, based in Mount Vernon. Raised in Carbondale, he attended University High School on SIU’s campus. Sally Tedrick is a 1973 graduate of the SIU School of Education.
“There hasn’t been much done on this campus that (Roger Tedrick) hasn’t been a part of,” said J. Phil Gilbert, chair of the SIU Board of Trustees.
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 building. 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.
“The Foundation has been incredible supporters of so many projects,” said SIU System President Dan Mahony. “It has done so much for the university – things that we could not have done otherwise. This building will be a big part of our success going forward.”
The vision for the building dates back over a decade when it first became clear that the SIU Foundation would need to vacate its current location in Colyer Hall.
“We talked about a building 12 years ago,” said SIU Foundation Board of Directors President Diane Compardo. “Now it feels like fate that it took this long. This is the perfect location.”
Leading the charge for the welcome center has been the Foundation’s emeritus board members, led by Greg Cook.
“The emeritus board represents decades of university experience,” Cook said. “I can’t imagine a better group to take on this task. The whole team thought it should be the front door of the university.”
To learn more about the Tedrick Welcome Center and track construction progress, visit siuf.org/twc.