{"id":4995,"date":"2026-02-15T21:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T21:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4995"},"modified":"2026-02-16T03:12:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T03:12:54","slug":"4th-annual-saluki-takeover-tour-florida-unites-alumni-expands-student-recruitment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4995","title":{"rendered":"4th Annual Saluki Takeover Tour Florida Unites Alumni, Expands Student Recruitment"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Britni Bateman<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 4th Annual Saluki Takeover Tour Florida energized alumni and friends across the state Feb. 10-12 as Southern Illinois University Carbondale leaders stopped in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Naples to reconnect with Salukis and recruit future students.<\/p>\n

\"SIU
Left to right: SIU Chancellor Austin Lane, Dr. Phil Pfeffer, Dr. Pam Pfeffer, James Jannetides and SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec stand together on a marina dock at night in front of a lit yacht during the Saluki Takeover Tour Florida kickoff event in St. Petersburg.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Florida tour opened in St. Petersburg with an evening aboard La Dolce Vita, where dozens of alumni and friends gathered to launch the three-city\u00a0tour. SIU\u00a0alumnus\u00a0James\u00a0Jannetides,\u00a0class of 1989, hosted the kickoff and shared the origin story of his business.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"SIU
SIU alumnus James Jannetides speaks to fellow alumni aboard a yacht at sunset in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Chancellor Austin Lane and attendees applaud, with the city skyline illuminated in the background during the Saluki Takeover Tour Florida kickoff event.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI started my company in my dorm room,\u201d\u00a0Jannetides\u00a0told the group, recalling how a simple idea to redesign campus furniture grew into University Loft Co., now ULOFT.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chancellor Austin A. Lane used the receptions to highlight SIU\u2019s momentum and encourage alumni to carry the message home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCarnegie has classified our institution as a top-tier Research 1 university,\u201d Lane told attendees. \u201cWe are also designated as an Opportunity University.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is one of only 21 universities nationwide, out of more than 4,000 institutions, to hold both the Research 1 and Opportunity University designations from the Carnegie Classification.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"SIU
SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane speaks to alumni and friends during the Chancellor\u2019s Reception in Tampa as attendees seated at round tables applaud, with SIU flags on the tables and a city view visible through the windows behind him.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Tampa,\u00a0nearly 100\u00a0alumni and friends filled Jackson\u2019s Bistro for a Chancellor\u2019s Reception that felt like a reunion, with introductions and campus stories flowing across the room. Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and SIU Foundation CEO,\u00a0pointed to the university\u2019s energy and pace of progress.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne out of five students right now receives a scholarship because of the generosity of our donors like you,\u201d said Kupec.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The tour also included a full slate of recruitment stops across the region. Chancellor Lane and members of the SIU admissions team visited Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School for a college fair, then traveled to Howard W. Blake High School, Durant High\u00a0School\u00a0and Armwood High School in the Tampa area. On the Naples leg, they visited North Fort Myers High School, Fort Myers High\u00a0School\u00a0and Port Charlotte High School.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Michaela
Michaela Hall, a mortuary science major from Durant High School in Plant City, Florida, stands with her parents, SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane, SIU admissions staff and Durant High School leaders as she holds her Saluki Silver Scholarship certificate, valued at $2,500 per year; during the visit, Dr. Robert Morgan, dean of the SIU College of Health and Human Sciences, called to personally congratulate her and offer an additional $3,000 annual scholarship.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At several stops, Lane and the admissions team surprised newly admitted students by presenting scholarship awards in person. At Durant High School in Plant City, Florida, they recognized Michaela Hall with the Saluki Silver Scholarship, valued at $2,500 per year. Hall plans to major in mortuary science at SIU.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the presentation, Dr. Robert Morgan, dean of the SIU College of Health and Human Sciences, called Hall to personally congratulate her and offer an\u00a0additional\u00a0$3,000 scholarship per year to support her education.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lane described the strategy as personal and hands-on, built on relationships with students and the educators who guide them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"SIU
SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane addresses alumni and friends during the Chancellor\u2019s Reception in Naples as attendees sit at round tables inside Windstar on Naples Bay, listening and dining during the 4th Annual Saluki Takeover Tour Florida.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Naples reception at Windstar on Naples Bay served as the tour\u2019s finale.\u00a0SIU\u00a0alumnus\u00a0Ollie Dorn, class of 1967, and Candi Dorn hosted the event.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is special because this is the last leg of the Saluki Florida Takeover tour tonight in Naples,\u201d Lane told the crowd.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Organizers again leaned into storytelling, inviting alumni to share their names, graduation\u00a0years\u00a0and where they live today. Lane said the Naples stop consistently delivers meaningful connections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we come here, we get some really good stories and connections,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gianni
Gianni Torres, a newly admitted Florida student and softball catcher who has committed to SIU, speaks to alumni and friends during the Chancellor\u2019s Reception in Naples, sharing that she toured campus in January and quickly knew she wanted to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Naples reception also included a recruiting moment, as Lane introduced Gianni Torres, a newly admitted Florida student and softball catcher who has committed to SIU.\u00a0She told the audience she toured campus\u00a0in January\u00a0and knew quickly where she wanted to be.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just absolutely fell in love with the school,\u201d\u00a0Torres\u00a0said. \u201cIt just felt like home.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her mother,\u00a0Leslie Torres, said the attention and care SIU showed during the recruiting process stood out.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody has been absolutely wonderful, from the coaches to the staff,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cKnowing that you guys do this for the communities, that is amazing because I\u2019ve never heard that before.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lane closed the evening by\u00a0tying\u00a0the tour\u2019s alumni energy to the university\u2019s broader goals, including student success, research\u00a0growth\u00a0and long-term momentum.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of work to do,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we\u2019re committed to doing that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About the Tour<\/span><\/b>
\nThe Saluki Takeover Tour is part of SIU\u2019s ongoing efforts to strengthen alumni engagement and build support for the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has approximately 2\u00bd years remaining. To date, the campaign has raised more than $460 million toward its $500 million goal, making it the fifth-largest fundraising effort in Illinois higher education. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17% of the student body.<\/p>\n

The tour continues with stops across the country, bringing SIU\u2019s mission,\u00a0momentum\u00a0and Saluki spirit directly to alumni and communities nationwide.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Upcoming Saluki Takeover Tour stops:<\/span>
\nMar. 4\u20136 \u2013 St. Louis<\/a><\/span>
\nMar. 23\u201327 \u2013 Central Illinois (Peoria<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Springfield<\/a>)<\/span>
\nMar. 31\u2013Apr. 21 \u2013 Southern Illinois (Makanda, Nashville, Goreville, Herrin, Red Bud, Carmi)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Britni Bateman\u00a0 The 4th Annual Saluki Takeover Tour Florida energized alumni and friends across the state Feb. 10-12 as Southern Illinois University Carbondale leaders stopped in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Naples to reconnect with Salukis and recruit future students. The Florida tour opened in St. Petersburg with an evening aboard La Dolce Vita, where … Continue reading 4th Annual Saluki Takeover Tour Florida Unites Alumni, Expands Student Recruitment<\/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":[16,3,4,15,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-events-engagement","category-higher-education","category-illinois-higher-education","category-saluki-takeover-tours","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4995","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=4995"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5005,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4995\/revisions\/5005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}