By Britni Bateman
When Omar and Carol Winter made a $25,000 gift to Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Business and Analytics 25 years ago, they hoped to spark a hands-on learning opportunity for students. Today, their vision has grown into the Saluki Student Investment Fund (SSIF), a nationally recognized, student-managed portfolio worth more than $4 million.
The fund, established in 2000, allows SIU students to manage investments on behalf of the SIU Foundation, gaining experience in equity analysis, portfolio management and teamwork. For the Winters, both proud alumni, the idea was born from Omar’s time as an adjunct professor after a distinguished career in aerospace.
“I was surprised to learn that not one student in my first business class had ever read The Wall Street Journal,” Omar recalled. “So we started from the basics, simulating stock trades and teaching the fundamentals of investing. Their enthusiasm gave me the idea that, with real money, this could be something special.”
As an adjunct professor in the late 1990s, Omar became known for mentoring students and preparing them for the professional world. “Once a week, I’d invite a student and their guest to dinner,” he said. “They wore jackets, learned business etiquette and met guest speakers from around the world. It was a different kind of classroom — one that prepared them for life.”
That “something special” became reality when the Winters provided the $25,000 seed gift to launch the SSIF. What began as a class project is now one of the nation’s premier student investment programs, giving hundreds of Salukis the skills and confidence to compete on Wall Street and beyond.
Over the years, the Winters have watched with pride as the program’s student managers navigated major market shifts — from the 2008 recession to the COVID-19 pandemic — with discipline and professionalism.
“Their success has been remarkable,” Omar said. “They managed their way through crises that challenged even seasoned investors and still achieved long-term, outstanding returns.”
The original Winter fund has grown to more than $340,000, and the SSIF overall manages more than $4 million for the SIU Foundation — an accomplishment that continues to impress both alumni and employers.
One of the fund’s first students, Tim Marlo, went on to earn his master’s and doctorate at SIU and now serves as faculty advisor for the SSIF.
“What Omar and Carol started has changed lives,” Marlo said. “It’s given our students a real-world edge and opened doors for countless careers. Their legacy is alive every day in the trading room.”
Omar said seeing Marlo return to lead the program has been one of his greatest joys. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see it come full circle,” he said.
For Omar, who graduated the first year SIU’s College of Business earned university-level accreditation, and Carol, an education major from Belleville, SIU is where their personal and professional journeys began.
The couple’s own story started on campus. Carol initially declined a friend’s invitation to go on a blind date with Omar — and so did every other girl in her residence hall.
“When my friend came back down the hall asking again, I just said, ‘Okay,’” Carol said, laughing. The date was on a Thursday, and the next day she saw Omar walking through the Student Center. “He asked if I’d buy him a Coke,” she said. “I did — and he decided not to transfer anywhere else.”
The two recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.
As a student, Carol helped establish the Gamma Kappa chapter of Sigma Kappa and served as its first president.
“Our group of women became so close in Woody Hall that we all joined together,” she said. “That sisterhood is still alive today.”
Omar went on to a distinguished career in the aerospace industry, serving in leadership roles at Eastern Airlines and later at Sundstrand Aerospace, where he worked with clients around the globe. Their sons, Jeff and Doug, have both followed in his footsteps — Jeff recently retired after 40 years with Lockheed Martin, and Doug serves as chief commercial officer for Aircastle, a global aircraft leasing company based in Connecticut.
“SIU gave us both so much,” Carol said. “To see this program continue to thrive, and to know that it’s helping so many young people succeed, is deeply rewarding.”
Now in his 90s, Omar still looks to the future. He hopes the SSIF model will one day reach high school students across Illinois, inspiring a new generation to learn about finance and investing.
“The SSIF will long be a learning success — not just financially, but in teamwork, discipline and confidence,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful ride, and we’re proud to know it continues to grow.”
As the SSIF celebrates its 25th anniversary, the Winters’ legacy stands as a testament to the power of one idea — and one couple’s belief in the potential of Salukis.
“It was a unique way to give back,” Omar said. “And it’s made a lasting difference for more than 500 students — and counting.”
SSIF 25th Anniversary Celebration
The Saluki Student Investment Fund will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a dinner on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Old Main in the SIU Student Center. Happy hour begins at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., with a celebration program to follow. Generous sponsors include Banterra Bank, Ed and Monica Hamilton, Howard and Karri Spiegel, and Argus and Lanie Tong. Individual tickets and sponsorships are available now at siuf.org/ssif25.
Support the Next Generation of Saluki Investors
As the Saluki Student Investment Fund celebrates 25 years of success, the need for continued support is greater than ever. Gifts to the SSIF help fund essential resources such as Bloomberg terminals, student travel to national investment conferences and scholarships that make participation accessible to all students. Every contribution, no matter the size, directly impacts students by providing real-world experience, professional mentorship and the tools to compete in today’s global finance industry.
To make a gift and help strengthen this nationally recognized program, visit give.siu.edu/ssif.