{"id":5102,"date":"2026-04-17T18:31:55","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T18:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=5102"},"modified":"2026-04-17T18:31:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T18:31:55","slug":"saluki-takeover-tour-draws-more-than-50-to-mt-vernon-chancellors-reception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=5102","title":{"rendered":"Saluki Takeover Tour draws more than 50 to Mt. Vernon Chancellor\u2019s Reception"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"SIU<\/p>\n

More than 50 alumni and community members gathered Thursday, April 16, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Mt. Vernon for a Chancellor\u2019s Reception as part of the 3rd Annual Saluki Takeover Tour Southern Illinois.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The event brought Saluki Nation together for an evening of connection,\u00a0conversation\u00a0and university updates, as Chancellor Austin A. Lane and SIU leadership highlighted the continued momentum at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lane emphasized the university\u2019s commitment to connecting with communities across the region and strengthening its presence in Southern Illinois.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been all over Southern Illinois. Our commitment five, almost six years ago, was to\u00a0maroon carpet\u00a0the region,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That effort is rooted in ensuring students understand they have access to a high-quality education close to home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought we\u2019d better make sure our students know they can stay right here at home at a first-class Research 1\u00a0and\u00a0Opportunity University in their own backyard,\u201d Lane said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He also highlighted SIU\u2019s broader mission to expand access and create\u00a0opportunity\u00a0for students across the region.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe give students an opportunity, no matter where they come from, and we help them change their lives and go on to do great things,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This special stop was made possible through the generosity of SIU\u00a0alumnus\u00a0and former Saluki football student-athlete Mike Carbonaro \u201989 and his wife, Hope \u201989, who provided the venue in support of the Saluki community. Mike Carbonaro is president of the DoubleTree by Hilton Mt. Vernon and its on-site restaurant, Double Overtime Grill, while Hope Carbonaro serves as chief program officer for Caritas Family Solutions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAs an alum, I really enjoyed my time at Southern Illinois, and it means a lot to be able to bring Salukis together here in Mt. Vernon,\u201d Mike Carbonaro said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had an amazing experience there,\u201d Hope Carbonaro added. \u201cIt\u2019s where\u00a0Mike and I\u00a0met, and it\u2019s special to be part of something that continues to bring people together.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the evening, alumni and community members shared personal stories of how SIU shaped their lives,\u00a0careers\u00a0and families, underscoring the university\u2019s deep ties to Southern Illinois. Many reflected on the relationships,\u00a0opportunities\u00a0and sense of belonging that continue long after graduation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the SIU Foundation, the takeover tours\u00a0provide\u00a0an opportunity to connect with donors as the record-breaking Imagine SIU 2030 campaign continues. The campaign aims to raise $500 million by June 2028 and has already surpassed $464 million.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Saluki Takeover Tour Southern Illinois continues through April 23 with stops designed to bring together alumni, donors, prospective\u00a0students\u00a0and community members across the region. The tour launched with a strong turnout March 31 at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, where\u00a0nearly 300\u00a0gathered to kick off this year\u2019s events.\u00a0Nearly 150\u00a0attended the Chancellor\u2019s Reception at Pyramid Acres Marina at Lake of Egypt.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remaining stops include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n