{"id":3913,"date":"2024-09-11T19:22:05","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T19:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=3913"},"modified":"2024-09-11T19:22:05","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T19:22:05","slug":"pendleton-bridges-the-gap-for-siu-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=3913","title":{"rendered":"Pendleton bridges the gap for SIU students"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jeff Wilson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond tuition, Southern Illinois University Carbondale students face the same financial challenges as everyone else \u2013 paying bills, buying food, finding childcare, and more.<\/p>\n

\"Chad
Chad Pendleton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That reality and the desire to help is what prompted Chad Pendleton, a 1997 SIU graduate, to step up and make a $25,000 pledge to establish the Pendleton Family Bridging the Gap Fund.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was clear that this is a way to make a meaningful impact,\u201d Pendleton said. \u201cA host of financial challenges come up for students \u2013 rent, food, everyday factors that might lead them to withdraw. It stood out to me as an area that I could support. It serves a critical need, especially for minority students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through the office of Dr. Paul Frazier, vice chancellor for anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, students can apply for emergency funds that help them stay enrolled at SIU, enhancing the university\u2019s retention efforts and helping students reach their academic goals.<\/p>\n

A Unique Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pendleton doesn\u2019t have the traditional Saluki story, but he shares the Saluki spirit that makes SIU special.<\/p>\n

After deciding that the University of Memphis wasn\u2019t the right fit for him, the Tennessee native took a job at a local hospital and discovered a passion for health care. He came across a flyer for SIU\u2019s off-campus location at a local naval base and learned that it offered an accelerated degree program in health care management. He knew immediately that it was the perfect opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI found it to be a very rewarding experience,\u201d Pendleton said. \u201cIt was phenomenal to get my bachelor\u2019s degree and bolster my career. After graduation, my career progressed quickly, and that was a direct result of my education.\u201d<\/p>\n

When his father became seriously ill, Pendleton embraced the chance to focus on what mattered most \u2013 family. With his sons transitioning through high school and college, Pendleton saw this as a time to be fully present for his family during pivotal moments in their lives. He also pursued his Ph.D., all while continuing to work with health care leaders by founding Pendleton Advisory Group.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gave me the flexibility to be there for my family when they needed me the most,\u201d he said. \u201cPendleton Advisory Group has been more successful than I ever imagined, and it has allowed me to maintain that balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

The experience of supporting his family during this difficult time reinforced Pendleton\u2019s belief in the importance of having both a personal and financial support network. His decision to contribute to SIU through the Pendleton Family Bridging the Gap Fund was born from this understanding.<\/p>\n

Reconnecting with SIU<\/strong><\/p>\n

This October, the Saluki Takeover Tour is coming to Memphis for the first time. Pendleton will be attending the Chancellor\u2019s Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at King Jerry Lawler\u2019s Hall of Fame Bar & Grill.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are more alumni in this area than I realized,\u201d Pendleton said. \u201cIt will be great to develop a network of individuals. We are all still representing the Salukis, and I am looking forward to reconnecting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pendleton, who also serves on the advisory committee for the SIU College of Health and Human Sciences, looks forward to meeting with alumni who may feel less connected to the college and the university.<\/p>\n

\u201cI credit much of my success to SIU,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to show others how they can re-establish their connection and how they can get involved. SIU gave me so much, and this is an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about making a gift, visit siuf.org. To register for the Saluki Takeover Tour Memphis, visit siuf.org\/memphis.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Jeff Wilson Beyond tuition, Southern Illinois University Carbondale students face the same financial challenges as everyone else \u2013 paying bills, buying food, finding childcare, and more. That reality and the desire to help is what prompted Chad Pendleton, a 1997 SIU graduate, to step up and make a $25,000 pledge to establish the Pendleton … Continue reading Pendleton bridges the gap for SIU students<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3913"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3915,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913\/revisions\/3915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}