SIU Alumni Hit $25,000 Endowment Goal for St. Louis Scholarship, Securing Lasting Aid for Future Salukis
The SIU Alumni Association's St. Louis Scholarship Fund has reached its $25,000 endowment goal, creating a permanent source of financial aid for future students from the St. Louis area attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
$25,000 is the number that changes everything for high school students in the greater St. Louis area who dream of attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale. That is the endowment goal the SIU Alumni Association just reached, and it means scholarships for area students are now permanent.
The association announced the milestone on May 29. The St. Louis Scholarship Fund now sits alongside the Chicagoland endowed scholarship, which hit its own $25,000 target in 2025. Both funds will generate annual scholarships moving forward, easing the financial burden for deserving students from two of the largest metropolitan areas feeding into SIU.
A network of more than 20,000 graduates
The greater St. Louis region is home to more than 20,000 SIU graduates, according to the alumni association. That network has been one of the most active chapters in the country for years. Alumni show up for events and fundraising efforts throughout the year, including an annual trivia night each winter held at the Shrewsbury City Center.
That trivia night is where the scholarship money comes from.
"We're thrilled to announce our St. Louis area alumni have reached this endowment goal," said Molly Hudgins, executive director of the SIU Alumni Association. "This is a milestone accomplishment and means students from St. Louis have a lasting resource to help them pursue an education at SIU."
Why an endowment matters
An endowment is not a one-time donation. It is invested, and the returns fund scholarships year after year. The association said it continues to raise money to grow the fund further, which would increase the size or the number of annual scholarships available.
For students from St. Louis who might not otherwise afford SIU, that creates a permanent safety net.
"So many of us have benefited from our experiences at the university, and we want future generations to know what it means to develop and foster that Saluki pride," said Laura Soucy, a 1987 graduate and incoming president of the SIU Alumni Association National Board of Directors.
Alumni who lead
Leslie Patterson, a 2003 graduate and longtime leader of the St. Louis alumni group, said the achievement is deeply rewarding for the community.
"We have so many alumni who are always proud to show up and support their alma mater," Patterson said. "I know reaching this goal is only going to energize them further, knowing high school students from the St. Louis area will always have a resource to help them become Salukis for life."
The fund is managed through the SIU Alumni Association. Students interested in learning more about the scholarship and other support initiatives can visit siualumni.com and select the "Support Your Association" section.
For Carbondale, the story is simple. More students from St. Louis can afford to come to campus. And the people who came before them made sure the money keeps flowing long after the last trivia question is answered.