For decades, Dale and Colleen Hall have given back to Southern Illinois University Carbondale in meaningful ways.
Dale Hall’s education in SIU’s nationally recognized Automotive Technology program sparked a lifelong commitment to mentoring students, strengthening alumni connections and investing in the program that launched his career. Today, the Halls support that mission through an endowed scholarship, annual alumni outreach and a planned $100,000 estate gift that will benefit Automotive Technology for generations to come.
A career launched at SIU
For Dale, a 1988 graduate of the program, giving back begins with gratitude.
Dale credits SIU’s cooperative education program with launching his 34-year career at General Motors. After gaining hands-on experience at several Southern Illinois automobile dealerships, he landed a cooperative education position with Buick Motor Division while still an SIU student. The opportunity confirmed that he had found the career he wanted to pursue.
“You don’t know when you’re 20 years old what the future holds,” Dale said. “When the co-op position became available, it made my mind up very quick that that’s the direction I wanted to go. As soon as I graduated, I had an offer from Buick Division and just never looked back.”
Throughout his career, Dale stayed closely connected to his alma mater. He served on the Automotive Technology Advisory Board, recruited SIU graduates to General Motors, mentored students and returned to campus whenever he could.
While Dale’s connection to SIU began as a student, Colleen’s started years later. After General Motors transferred Dale to Southern California, mutual friends introduced the couple through mountain biking. They married in 2001. As Dale continued his career with General Motors, Colleen spent 34 years with AT&T. She became part of the Saluki community herself, supporting Dale’s involvement with his alma mater and participating in alumni events and Automotive Technology activities.
Together, the Halls have built a life centered on serving the Saluki community.
Each summer, they host Detroit-area Saluki alumni at their waterfront home, turning what began as a casual gathering into an annual tradition. Students visiting Michigan through the Automotive Technology program stop by as well, giving the Halls an opportunity to introduce them to alumni, share career advice and show the strength of the Saluki network.
Planting the seed of giving
Those relationships inspired the couple to deepen their support.
“Being a part of the advisory board and seeing the scholarships and the need, that really got us thinking,” Dale said.
Matching gift programs through both General Motors and AT&T helped the Halls establish the endowed Mossie Oak Scholarship to support future Automotive Technology students.
Since the scholarship was first awarded in fall 2009, it has supported 17 Automotive Technology students with a total of $25,900 in scholarships. The average award has been more than $1,500, helping students stay on the path to graduation and careers in the automotive industry.
When it came time to name the scholarship, Colleen surprised Dale with an unexpected suggestion.
“Dale was asking, ‘What do you want to name it ?'” she recalled. “I said, ‘You know what? Let’s name it after our dog.'”
Their beloved chocolate Labrador, Mossie Oak, had become a familiar face at Detroit-area Saluki picnics and alumni gatherings. Wearing a maroon Saluki bandana, she greeted guests, posed for photos and earned a reputation as the unofficial mascot of the community. Today, the Mossie Oak Scholarship honors her memory while supporting future Automotive Technology students.
For the Halls, one of the most meaningful parts of giving back is hearing directly from the students whose lives have been changed.
“Those letters are pretty special,” Hall said. “You get to see what it means to those students.”
One recipient, Daniel Dragowski, wrote that the scholarship allowed him to remain active in Automotive Ambassadors and the Automotive Technology Organization while continuing his education.
“This scholarship will go a very long way in helping me pay for tuition and continue attending SIU,” Dragowski wrote.
He later shared another milestone with the Halls, writing that the education and opportunities he received at SIU helped him accept a full-time position with Boost Auto after graduation.
“Once I am in a position to do so, I plan to come back and contribute to SIU Automotive Technology by hopefully becoming a member of the SIU Automotive Advisory Board.”
For Dale, Daniel’s story represents exactly what he hoped the scholarship would accomplish: helping students build successful careers and inspiring them to one day give back to the program that shaped them.
The letters also remind him of his own experience at SIU. As a student, Hall received a scholarship from Fel-Pro Corp., support he still remembers more than 40 years later.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that getting that scholarship probably had some influence on us endowing the Mossie Oak Scholarship,” he said.
A legacy for future Salukis
The Halls’ generosity has inspired others as well. Fellow Automotive Technology alumni have established scholarships of their own, creating new opportunities for future Salukis and strengthening a culture of philanthropy within the program.
Their commitment extends well beyond their lifetime.
Through their estate plans, Dale and Colleen have designated a $100,000 gift to benefit SIU’s Automotive Technology program, ensuring students will continue to receive the same life-changing opportunities that shaped Dale’s career. They quietly made the commitment before sharing it with fellow advisory board members, hoping their example would inspire others to leave a legacy of their own.
For Dale, that’s what giving back is all about.
“I think it just plants the seed of continuous giving,” he said. “Hopefully some of those students will do the same thing as they get out and have successful careers and can afford to do so. They’ll remember somebody helped them, and they’ll help somebody else.”
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is one of only 21 universities nationwide to hold both Carnegie Research 1 (R1) and Opportunity University designations, reflecting its excellence in research and its commitment to expanding access and student success.
The Halls’ commitment to future Automotive Technology students reflects the mission of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign. The campaign has surpassed the $500 million goal 20 months ahead of schedule. The fifth-largest fundraising campaign in Illinois higher education history continues through June 30, 2028.
During the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $6.9 million in scholarships to more than 2,200 students, benefiting nearly 19% of the student body. Through their scholarship, mentorship and planned estate gift, Dale and Colleen Hall are helping ensure future Salukis have the same opportunities that transformed Dale’s life and career.