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By Britni Bateman<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
By Britni Bateman<\/p>\n
When Omar and Carol Winter made a $25,000 gift to Southern Illinois University Carbondale\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s time as an adjunct professor after a distinguished career in aerospace.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI was surprised to learn that not one student in my first business class had ever read The Wall Street Journal<\/em>,\u201d Omar recalled. \u201cSo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n As an adjunct professor in the late 1990s, Omar became known for mentoring students and preparing them for the professional world. \u201cOnce a week, I\u2019d invite a student and their guest to dinner,\u201d he said. \u201cThey wore jackets, learned business etiquette and met guest speakers from around the world. It was a different kind of classroom \u2014 one that prepared them for life.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the years, the Winters have watched with pride as the program\u2019s student managers navigated major market shifts \u2014 from the 2008 recession to the COVID-19 pandemic \u2014 with discipline and professionalism.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir success has been remarkable,\u201d Omar said. \u201cThey managed their way through crises that challenged even seasoned investors and still achieved long-term, outstanding returns.\u201d<\/p>\n The original Winter fund has grown to more than $340,000, and the SSIF overall manages more than $4 million for the SIU Foundation \u2014 an accomplishment that continues to impress both alumni and employers.<\/p>\n One of the fund\u2019s first students, Tim Marlo, went on to earn his master\u2019s and doctorate at SIU and now serves as faculty advisor for the SSIF.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Omar and Carol started has changed lives,\u201d Marlo said. \u201cIt\u2019s given our students a real-world edge and opened doors for countless careers. Their legacy is alive every day in the trading room.\u201d<\/p>\n Omar said seeing Marlo return to lead the program has been one of his greatest joys. \u201cIt\u2019s incredibly rewarding to see it come full circle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n For Omar, who graduated the first year SIU\u2019s College of Business earned university-level accreditation, and Carol, an education major from Belleville, SIU is where their personal and professional journeys began.<\/p>\n The couple\u2019s own story started on campus. Carol initially declined a friend\u2019s invitation to go on a blind date with Omar \u2014 and so did every other girl in her residence hall.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen my friend came back down the hall asking again, I just said, \u2018Okay,\u2019\u201d Carol said, laughing. The date was on a Thursday, and the next day she saw Omar walking through the Student Center. \u201cHe asked if I\u2019d buy him a Coke,\u201d she said. \u201cI did \u2014 and he decided not to transfer anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n The two recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.<\/p>\n As a student, Carol helped establish the Gamma Kappa chapter of Sigma Kappa and served as its first president.<\/p>\n \u201cOur group of women became so close in Woody Hall that we all joined together,\u201d she said. \u201cThat sisterhood is still alive today.\u201d<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n \u201cSIU gave us both so much,\u201d Carol said. \u201cTo see this program continue to thrive, and to know that it\u2019s helping so many young people succeed, is deeply rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe SSIF will long be a learning success \u2014 not just financially, but in teamwork, discipline and confidence,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a wonderful ride, and we\u2019re proud to know it continues to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n As the SSIF celebrates its 25th anniversary, the Winters\u2019 legacy stands as a testament to the power of one idea \u2014 and one couple\u2019s belief in the potential of Salukis.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a unique way to give back,\u201d Omar said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s made a lasting difference for more than 500 students \u2014 and counting.\u201d<\/p>\n SSIF 25th Anniversary Celebration<\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Support the Next Generation of Saluki Investors<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s global finance industry.<\/p>\n To make a gift and help strengthen this nationally recognized program, visit give.siu.edu\/ssif<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Britni Bateman When Omar and Carol Winter made a $25,000 gift to Southern Illinois University Carbondale\u2019s 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 … Continue reading Omar and Carol Winter\u2019s Vision Turns $25,000 Into a $4 Million Legacy at SIU<\/span> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/OC-5x7-1-214x300.jpeg\")
That \u201csomething special\u201d 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\u2019s premier student investment programs, giving hundreds of Salukis the skills and confidence to compete on Wall Street and beyond.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/news-corp-300x225.jpg\")