{"id":4310,"date":"2025-03-07T18:03:04","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T18:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4310"},"modified":"2025-03-07T21:21:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T21:21:06","slug":"st-louis-shows-up-in-record-numbers-for-saluki-takeover-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4310","title":{"rendered":"St. Louis shows up in record numbers for Saluki Takeover Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_4311\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4311\" style=\"width: 452px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4311\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-Reception-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Saluki Takeover Tour St. Louis\" width=\"452\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-Reception-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-Reception-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-Reception-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-Reception-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-Reception.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 452px) 100vw, 452px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4311\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chancellor Austin Lane introduces coach Scott Nagy and the Saluki Men&#8217;s Basketball team Wednesday, March 5, at the Budweiser 703 Club inside Busch Stadium in St. Louis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>By Jeff Wilson<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ST. LOUIS \u2013 Hundreds of SIU\u2019s alumni and friends came together during another incredible Saluki Takeover Tour St. Louis during the week of the Arch Madness MVC Tournament.<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor Austin Lane and many other representatives from campus visited six high schools and one college. The SIU Foundation hosted two corporate and networking events, 12 donor visits, and the Chancellor\u2019s Reception on Wednesday, March 5, at the Budweiser 703 Club inside Busch Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been all over the place promoting what it means to be a Saluki and recruiting students to come here,\u201d Lane said to the record-breaking crowd of 275.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4321\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4321\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4321\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Wendell Williams, Frederick Polkinghorne, Austin Lane\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-3-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-3-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-3.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4321\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management (from left), McKinley High School Assistant Principal Frederick Polkinghorne, a class of 2009 SIU graduate, and Chancellor Austin Lane met during the Saluki Takeover Tour St. Louis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4312\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4312\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4312\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"McCleur High School\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4312\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">McCleur High School met with SIU Admissions officials during the Saluki Takeover Tour St. Louis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lane highlighted the university Research 1 designation and its continued commitment to affordability and student success, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Out-of-State Tuition Eliminated \u2013 All U.S. undergraduates now pay in-state tuition.<\/li>\n<li>Saluki Step Ahead \u2013 A seamless transfer pathway for community college students.<\/li>\n<li>Saluki Legacy Discount \u2013 Tuition savings for children and grandchildren of alumni.<\/li>\n<li>Saluki Commitment \u2013 Covers tuition and fees for eligible in-state students.<\/li>\n<li>Scholarships \u2013 Multiple options to help fund education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4320\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4320\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4320\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-2-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"McKinley Classic Leadership High School students met with campus leaders.\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/StL-2.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4320\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">McKinley Classic Leadership High School students met with campus leaders.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Southern is one of only three public Illinois universities to be recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 institution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur alumni should be walking tall. There are only 187 Research 1 institutions out of 4,000-plus universities. That is a big deal,\u201d Lane said.<\/p>\n<p>For the SIU Foundation, the takeover tours are an opportunity to connect with donors as it progresses through the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign. With a goal of raising $500 million by June 2028, it is the fifth largest such campaign in the history of Illinois higher education. More than $390 million has already been raised, and the Saluki Takeover Tour helps spread the excitement.<\/p>\n<p>The Saluki Men\u2019s Basketball team and coaching staff stopped by the Chancellor\u2019s Reception to thank the fans for their support during the MVC Tournament and throughout the season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we started to put this thing together, hardly anybody \u2013 from the staff to the players \u2013 knew each other. We built this thing from the ground up, and this is just the start,\u201d said Saluki Men\u2019s Basketball Coach Scott Nagy. \u201cWe have such a great fanbase. Thank you all for coming out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other events<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The SIU Foundation Women\u2019s Leadership Council hosted \u201cConnect &amp; Inspire,\u201d an event celebrating Saluki women.<\/p>\n<p>Dozens of women gathered on Tuesday, March 4, for the event, which kicked off the takeover tour by celebrating Women\u2019s History Month.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4314\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4314\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4314\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WLC-StL-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Women's Leadership Council\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WLC-StL-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WLC-StL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WLC-StL-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WLC-StL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WLC-StL.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4314\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The SIU Foundation Women&#8217;s Leadership Council hosted &#8220;Connect &amp; Inspire&#8221; on Tuesday, March 4.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Hosted by SIU Foundation Board President Diane Compardo \u201991 and Dr. Dawn Korte \u201991, a founding member of the Women\u2019s Leadership Council, the event at the Saint Louis Club featured Dr. Korte, who has had an impressive career in human resources, sharing powerful negotiation strategies for women in the workforce. Sherrica Hunt, assistant vice chancellor for development &amp; alumni relations, anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, highlighted the growing impact of the Women&#8217;s Leadership Council.<\/p>\n<p>On the morning of Wednesday March 5, SIU leaders and St. Louis-area corporations came together at the Greater St. Louis Inc. Andrew C. Taylor Center for Civic Collaboration to explore opportunities at the Saluki Corporate Engagement Takeover event.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4316\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4316\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4316\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Corporate-StL-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Corporate Networking\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Corporate-StL-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Corporate-StL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Corporate-StL-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Corporate-StL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Corporate-StL.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4316\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The SIU Foundation hosted a corporate networking event on Wednesday, March 5.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With 22,000+ SIU alumni in the St. Louis area, this event highlighted the many ways corporations can connect with SIU to recruit top talent and invest in innovation.<\/p>\n<p>This collaboration strengthens SIU\u2019s role in workforce development, research, and economic growth, ensuring a strong future for both our students and corporate partners.<\/p>\n<p>Interested in partnering with SIU? Contact Sherrica Hunt at <a href=\"mailto:sherricah@foundation.siu.edu\">sherricah@foundation.siu.edu<\/a> or Shane Bennett at <a href=\"mailto:shaneb@foundation.siu.edu\">shaneb@foundation.siu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The SIU Alumni Association hosted pregame events at PBR St. Louis inside Ballpark Village before each basketball game, and the Young Alumni Group hosted an all-ages event at McGurk\u2019s Irish Pub on the evening of Friday, March 7.<\/p>\n<p>On the court, the Salukis won their first-round matchup against Indiana State in thrilling fashion with a last-second 86-85 victory. The Dawgs ultimately ended their season with a 70-53 loss to No. 1-ranked Drake in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Jeff Wilson ST. LOUIS \u2013 Hundreds of SIU\u2019s alumni and friends came together during another incredible Saluki Takeover Tour St. Louis during the week of the Arch Madness MVC Tournament. Chancellor Austin Lane and many other representatives from campus visited six high schools and one college. The SIU Foundation hosted two corporate and networking &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4310\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">St. Louis shows up in record numbers for Saluki Takeover Tour<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"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":[16,15,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-events-engagement","category-saluki-takeover-tours","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4310","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\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4310"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4325,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4310\/revisions\/4325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}