[MUSIC] >> Coming up on the impact report.

>> And I think this is just a great space that fans and everybody will be excited to use.

We'll use it in recruiting.

>> Transformation at Saluki Stadium.

How the generosity of a passionate Saluki football fan became a game changer.

Plus.

>> Look girl.

>> I'm happy that I can help give her the life she deserves.

>> A Saluki in need of rescue finds a home with one of SIU's very own.

A heartwarming story of second chances and Salukis.

Sticking together.

And this month in the lab.

>> Hey, I'm Jeff Gleim and I'm diving in with the Saluki swim team.

[MUSIC] >> But first.

>> Good evening Salukis.

Good evening.

I hear we have some Salukis here in Georgia.

What do you think?

>> SIU is back on the road welcoming alumni at Saluki takeover tour stops around the country.

We'll have more from Salukis who came to the latest event in Atlanta.

The impact report starts right now.

[MUSIC] Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of the Impact Report brought to you from inside the Tedrick Welcome Center, home of the SIU Foundation at Southern Illinois University.

I'm your host, Anna Twomey.

We've got lots to get to on the show today, starting with an exciting Saluki Takeover Tour kickoff in Atlanta.

The Saluki Takeover Tour is a series of alumni events across the country that are hosted by the SIU Foundation in Atlanta.

More than 150 SIU alumni, friends and supporters gathered at Sweetwater Brewing Company to catch up with fellow Salukis and hear directly from Chancellor Austin Lane about new developments at S-I-U.

>> Well, we're excited to be in the great state of Georgia.

Thank you so much for being here this evening.

But we have been targeting Georgia for quite some time, uh, just like we did Texas a few years ago.

We knew that we could come down to Georgia and compete.

>> SIU Foundation Chief marketing officer Britni Bateman was at the event and has more from alumni who are excited to see their alma mater on the road.

>> We've had an amazing turnout tonight here in Atlanta, and it's been a wonderful evening getting to see so many Salukis interact and get to reconnect with each other.

And tonight we got to interview some amazing alumni.

>> I was actually so excited.

I saw on Facebook, I saw like a targeted ad that there was a gathering here and I was like, oh my God, what?

SIU is going to be in Atlanta?

>> What's going on here tonight?

Uh, met the chancellor, Austin Lane, and getting to meet a lot of the current, uh, uh, administration at saw Carbondale and renewing friendships with a lot of, uh, former friends.

And the big part is got to say hi to Mike Glenn.

I haven't seen him in a number of years.

>> These are people I graduated with all my friends, so I haven't seen him in years.

So it's good to, you know, touch base and catch up with people I've never seen since graduation.

The Saluki takeover is at an excellent venue, and it's an excellent event, and we'll be back every time SIU sets foot in ATL.

>> Thank you to all the Salukis who came out tonight.

It's been an incredible evening.

Reporting from Atlanta.

I'm Britni Bateman go Dawgs.

>> The takeover tour in Atlanta is just the first stop of several coming up this fall.

The SIU Foundation will host takeover tour stops in Champaign, Illinois at the end of September.

Chicago in late October and Houston and Dallas in mid November.

If we're stopping in a city near you, we'd love to see you there.

You can find more information about the Saluki Takeover Tour online at SIUF.org dot org slash over there.

An incredible upgrade to the Saluki football experience is now complete.

Head coach Nick Hill and dozens of Saluki supporters gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the newly renovated Jim Hayes Stadium Club at Saluki Stadium.

This transformation was made possible by a generous gift from SIU alumnus Jamie Hayes and his wife, Netta, in honor of Jamie's father, Jim Hayes.

Jim Hayes was a former Saluki football player.

The new renovations feature refurbished Saluki decor and seating, including premium all inclusive seating with a bird's eye view of the stadium.

We had the chance to speak with Jamie Hayes about the impact he hopes this gift will have on the future of Saluki football.

>> I mean, it's really exceeded everyone's expectations.

I've been around for a long time and I remember the old McAndrew Stadium days, okay.

I thought the space that was up here prior to this, it did its job, but it felt like it was just a space that they utilized for something.

Now it seems like a designated space, more fan friendly.

And I know that the university will be able to use it for other things and recruiting.

That's every son's dream.

To be able to do something to honor his dad, you know, or a parent.

We had a great relationship.

You know, everything, everything that I wanted to do in my life was to make him proud.

>> A huge thank you to the Hayes family for their longtime support of SIU Saluki fans will really enjoy watching the game from such a fantastic stadium club.

The unveiling of the Jim Hayes Stadium Club comes just in time for football season, and Saluki fans are fired up.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Dean Athans, father of Saluki football running back Jimmy Athans, to the Tedrick Welcome Center.

Dean is a passionate Saluki fan and a huge supporter of the football program.

He travels down to Southern Illinois for every game possible and encourages Salukis to come out and support the team this fall.

>> Hey, come out, have a great time and you're going to see some fantastic new things going on on game day.

Plus, we're going to win.

People like me love to build the energy and the excitement about building this, building this school in so many different ways.

I want to be a part of it.

You've got tremendous people here.

>> A huge thank you to Dean for his support of Saluki football and the enthusiasm he brings to the field.

We're looking forward to a fantastic season.

Students and staff at SIU Student Health Center gathered to officially dedicate the Giesen Family achieved student hub.

This space is headquarters for the Achieve program, an academic support service designed for students with learning differences.

Dave Giesen and his family recently endowed the Giesen Family Achieve Program scholarship to support students in the Achieve program who need help with costs.

Achieve provides a wide range of services including academic support, career building, and social opportunities.

Dave says he was inspired to give back by his two children who came to see you.

Because of the Achieve program and the incredible support it provides.

>> Achieve is the best program in the country for what it does that nobody's ever heard of.

Frankly, it gives people who might not otherwise have a chance to go to college the ability to master their skill set.

Both of our children had learning differences that required a little bit of focus, a little bit of attention.

And in evaluating the different programs that we saw, we were most impressed with the Achieve program.

We were able to write the check to make sure that our children were able to do this.

And in turn, we we felt that it was important so that other people weren't as blessed as we were able to do it.

>> A huge thank you to the Giesen family for their support of students in the Achieve program.

Their scholarship will help generations of future students secure the assistance they need to succeed.

SIU is proud to have earned a Carnegie designation as an Opportunity University.

The Achieve program is a great example of that distinction in action.

>> Every gift, and especially those reflected on the wall, allow us to further the mission of our law school.

>> Five decades of history and generosity celebrated at the SIU Simmons Law School faculty, staff and former law students gathered to unveil the Wall of Philanthropy, a new display honoring donors who have supported legal education at S-I-U.

The wall also includes a special tribute to the very first class at the law school, whose members spearheaded the funding for this project.

The Simmons Law School was founded in 1972, with the first class starting in 1973.

Several members of that first class were present for the Wall of Philanthropy unveiling, and spoke with us about what SIU has meant to them.

>> I wanted to get better and better.

And I guess it's just a good feeling to know that you're giving to something that you really care about.

And maybe it's an example for those who come along after you.

>> Nice to see other people who are in the same position we were that are now coming to S-I-U.

And I think that there's a wonderful student body down here and the way the law schools develop.

We're just so proud of it.

>> The wall of philanthropy also includes a digital display where visitors can explore SIU Simmons Law School history.

A huge thank you to those who have given back to the school.

Your support creates new opportunities for law students every year.

Longtime public servant and SIU professor, Doctor Linda Baker has been named interim director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU.

Doctor Baker takes on this role after more than a decade of teaching at the institute and managing signature mentorship programs, including the Youth Leadership Mentorship Program.

The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is focused on the nonpartisan promotion of smarter government and preparing students for careers in public service.

Doctor Baker brings a wealth of Illinois legislative experience to the director role.

We had the opportunity to speak with her about her vision for the future.

>> Well, one of the things that Paul Simon often said, the late Senator Simon would say is we are a do tank.

There are lots of think tanks around that think about things.

But we really do things.

We do things in terms of working with students.

We work on serious public policy issues.

We bring in individuals to talk about those issues, and then we like to help work on solutions.

I want to be inclusive of individuals across the campus.

I want to be inclusive of people from the community, making sure that there is a debate and a conversation, and then what can we do to impact change?

>> A huge thank you to Doctor Baker for her service to SIU.

We're so excited about what's ahead for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

Students now have a brand new spot to relax and hang out with friends inside the Mae Smith Tower.

The space, known as the Hamilton Hangout, is named after Salukis alumni Chuck and Tracy Hamilton.

In honor of their gift to the College of Health and Human Sciences.

Dozens gathered to celebrate the opening of this new space, which includes opportunities to play video games, pool Pac-Man, and just hang out with friends.

The Mae Smith Building is home to the College of Health and Human Sciences living and learning community, allowing students with similar majors to live together.

We had the chance to speak with Chuck and Tracy Hamilton about their gift.

Chuck and Tracy met at S-I-U and lived in the towers as students.

They tell us they hope the Hamilton Hangout will encourage students to branch out and build a community.

>> We've used the word surreal a couple times, right?

A little surreal feeling.

Certainly nothing we would have imagined as an 18 year old college student, to think you'd be back here later in life.

>> We have so many friends that we made here that are still family at our weddings, with their weddings or their kids graduation, and that was from where we lived and especially in the dorms.

And now that there was times I wish I had the ability to live with the people that were in the same major and ask questions and talk about what we talked about in class, but yet at the same time just chill and relax.

>> SIU set us off on the right foot, so hopefully this will be one small thing that sets future generations of Salukis off on the right foot too.

>> A huge thank you to Chuck and Tracy for their generosity.

Their donation has helped transform the lobby of Mae Smith into a fantastic spot to hang out and a recruitment tool for future Salukis coming up.

[MUSIC] SIU Foundation Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gleim dives in head first with the Salukis swimming and diving team.

Does he stand a chance?

Swimming laps with the pros.

Stay tuned.

[MUSIC] >> Southern Illinois University has a rich history and much more renowned for cutting edge research.

Ranking among the top 4% in the country.

Salukis achieved pride and glory competing at the highest level.

World famous alumni across the globe united in our mission with unstoppable momentum igniting a bright future.

This is a university ascending.

We are southern.

>> Welcome back and we hope you're enjoying the show.

SIU swimming and diving team is suiting up for the fall semester.

The team practices inside the Shea Natatorium at SIU's Rec Center, an Olympic sized pool with a diving board and a platform.

These accomplished swimmers make laps look easy, but the skill and practice that it actually takes go much deeper.

We wanted to learn more, so SIU Foundation Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gleim is heading into the lab with Salukis swimming and diving.

>> Thanks, Anna.

I'm here at the SIU Rec Center and with me is Coach Jeff Hansen, head coach of the men's and women's Salukis swim team.

So coach, thanks for taking some time to be with us here.

Thanks for having me.

You're coaching swimming and diving.

How does that all come together?

>> Well, I don't pretend to know the diving part of it.

My diving coach, Joy Zhao, has been now she's in her 24th year at SIU.

I rely on her for the diving expertise I've been a part of.

Combined swimming men's women's programs for close to 30 years now.

They are different.

You got to coach individuals differently.

Men and women differently.

We have a great chemistry and great assistant coaches that help us do that.

>> Okay, well, I think it's time to put me in the water and find out what these young men and women are all about.

Guess we're going to find out what I'm all about, too.

Okay, so I'm here with Tia, who's captain of the swim team.

I've got a million questions to ask you about this.

This is a sport that I'm just not familiar with.

So do you always put your foot in the water to see if it's warm?

>> No.

>> Okay.

Question one.

>> Usually we just jump in.

You just jump in.

Okay.

>> My question is, do these flags mean anything to you?

>> Yes, absolutely.

So the flags are five meters from the wall.

So as a backstroker, they're really important for me to know where I am in the water.

So I know how many strokes I need to take before I have to flip over to turn.

>> You're turning your head sideways to try to get air, which I could never get right.

Did somebody teach you that?

>> Uh, definitely.

Like developmental things.

You learn it right from the start of swimming.

>> So we're going to show you what it's like to come off the blocks by a pro and what it's like to come off the blocks by.

Not so much, Pro.

Let's do it.

All right, let's go.

>> And you can put your one on the foot.

Perfect.

And then your other foot back here.

And your ball of your foot should be up here.

So even further back, even further.

There you go.

Bring your hips up a little bit and take your marks.

Go.

All right.

We're about to race.

Let's see how Jeff does.

>> Thanks for doing this.

Absolutely good sport.

I hope you guys enjoyed that.

Now on to diving.

Joining me now is Lucas.

Lucas is also captain of the dive team.

So Lucas thank you.

What does it take to be a diver?

>> It takes a lot of guts.

Honestly, I know it doesn't look like much from here, but once you're up there, it.

It feels like pretty high form posture.

>> Is that is that important?

>> It's everything.

>> Tell me.

Define everything for me.

>> From the hurdle.

So how we walk on the board to get to the end of the board, the take off.

So when you have to set up and jump as high as you can, the mid air position in the dive as tight as possible.

And then the entry.

>> Well, I think I have just enough to go give this a shot.

So are you ready to teach me?

Yes.

All right.

Let's get wet.

All right.

So we're going to add a jump now right.

So same formation.

>> Exact same thing.

Except you're going to push your legs and pop it up.

Oh oh.

>> Folks, I got news for you.

It's harder than it looks.

Thank you for your time.

We really appreciate this.

Good luck with the season.

Thank you.

Go, dawgs!

>> Go, dawgs!

>> The Salukis swimming and diving team is truly incredible.

Jeff Gleim is joining us on set today.

Jeff, I got to say, I mean you went all out for this one.

You did the speedo the swim cap you committed.

>> I did commit to this, but I'm still sore.

And it's a couple of days later.

I have a newfound respect for what swimmers and divers go through.

That was just incredible.

And I just want to give a shout out to Coach Hansen.

He does a magnificent job with those student athletes, and Tia and Lucas were they were good sports about the entire thing.

But what an experience.

And, um, there are a lot of things about it that I can't believe I did, especially the the swimsuit.

Uh, hopefully.

Hey, I can't say.

>> You don't commit and go all for it.

>> For our audience, there's nothing off limits for you.

So but it was a lot of fun.

>> Good, good.

Jeff.

Well, can't wait to see what you get up to next.

We'll be right back after this short break.

[MUSIC] Welcome back and thanks for watching the Impact Report.

SIU is making progress on long awaited facility upgrades to the communications building.

Roughly $80 million in state funding will help SIU's facilities and Energy Management Department make significant improvements to the building, including modernizing classrooms, media production facilities, performance spaces and infrastructure.

SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec is in our East Lobby studio with more on how these renovations will shape the future of the College of Arts and Media.

Matt.

>> Thanks, Anna.

We are so thrilled to have with us today the Dean of the College of Arts and Media here at Southern Illinois University.

We've got Dean Hong Cheng.

Dean, welcome.

>> Thank you.

>> Excited about you joining us today.

We've got a lot.

You've got a lot to talk about, including you've got a huge renovation project coming up.

Tell us about it.

>> Well, this is a tremendous, unique and special project for the College of Arts and Media.

More than $90 million project in total and with 80 million for bidding to contractors.

About 10 million for equipment and furniture.

That's a tremendous project and also a rare opportunity.

>> A huge 111 zero zero zero square foot.

So there's a lot of renovation.

There's some additions going on right now.

What what will it do to the College of Arts and Media.

>> For campus units here?

And literally that were a directly affect our teaching and our faculty and students research and creative activity.

And with all the renovations we are going to have, and also all the new facility and and new equipment when we could have.

>> So we've been expecting this project's been in the works for a long time, but we're looking at maybe about a two and a half years to completion.

And I understand some satellites have already come down over the over the station.

>> Yes, that happened recently.

And those landmark satellite dishes.

And they are and most of them already came down recently and so many Salukis, especially so many, what we call cam Salukis have a very mixed feelings about that, and they have a lot of special fond memories.

So that's a that's very emotional and sentimental, but at the same time, everyone is so excited.

And the college, as part of the university is moving forward into today and into getting to the future.

>> Everybody's got to be really fired up about what's going on within the college.

>> I'm so excited.

Literally.

I'm thrilled.

I'm enjoying every day here working with our colleagues, faculty, staff, alumni, and the university peers, and also, of course, our students.

>> Any final thoughts for for the Saluki Nation out there?

>> Um, we have the most, uh, engaged, Educated and generous alumni and among so many universities.

And we are grateful to them and the thanks for them for all kinds of support they have been given to us.

>> Thank you.

That we see it at our takeover events.

The alums from cam come out with such enthusiasm and passion for the place.

Great testament to your leadership.

Thank you for your wonderful job.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Good luck with this incredible project.

>> We're looking forward to this to start.

>> Absolutely.

We're going to go back to you, Anna.

>> Thanks, Matt.

Such a great update on the exciting renovations and new construction happening at the communications building.

Can't wait to see the final result.

We'll be right back after this short break.

Every day Salukis make a difference in classrooms, hospitals, farms, boardrooms, laboratories, and communities around the world.

Together, they represent Southern Illinois University as one of only 21 universities out of 4000 in the nation.

Recognized as both a research one and an opportunity University.

SIU is driving discovery, expanding opportunity, and preparing the next generation of leaders.

On one day, we come together, help paint the map maroon by representing your state or country with a gift.

Together, we'll celebrate the worldwide impact of the Saluki family.

We ask you to join us by making a gift during the 11th SIU Day of Giving at SIU day dot S-I-U dot edu.

[MUSIC] Welcome back.

Let's check out a moment from this month in SIU history, courtesy of our friends over at Morris Library Special Collections.

Check out these photos from September 20th, 1952, when SIU partnered with the City of Carbondale to celebrate the city's centennial, or 100 years since it was founded.

Festivities included a parade through downtown Carbondale and a pageant at the former McAndrew Stadium, highlighting a century of progress.

Morris Library Archived footage from the pageant, which you're seeing on your screen now.

The pageant was written by Archibald and Charlotte McLeod, with help from Mae Trevillian Smith and other faculty members.

Those are some familiar names there.

Former SIU president Delyte Morris served as a narrator for the pageant.

We'll wrap up this show with a very special story of resilience and compassion from one Saluki to another.

When this precious Saluki was rescued from a tough situation and needed someone to take her in, SIU alumna Andy Lee Warner opened her doors.

It wasn't just a new home, but a new life for sis the Saluki.

And it all started with a post on Facebook.

>> Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be able to have a Salukis.

>> SIU alumna Andy Lee Warner was at the right place at the right time while scrolling on Facebook.

A post in the Carbondale in the 80s, and 90s group, also known as The Beer Group, caught her eye.

It read neglected Saluki needs Foster or Adopter ASAP.

>> Somebody had posted if.

If there's anybody that can adopt this Saluki, it's there's got to be somebody in this group.

>> It didn't take long for Andy Lee to take action.

She applied and was approved for adoption within days.

A Saluki who was afraid and abandoned found sanctuary with a fellow Saluki on her beautiful property in Tennessee.

Andy Lee named her sis after one of the first living Salukis brought to campus back in the early 1950s.

>> The first time she ran at me, literally after I stopped recording, I kind of cried a little.

I'm like, oh.

>> Andy Lee says.

The camaraderie of SIU alumni inspired her.

>> The beers group, which I think is hilarious and I love it.

Um, I mean, it's just yeah, I got you, I got you.

What do you need?

I got you.

>> I just love this story.

Salukis always have each other's back.

Our alumni are truly amazing and make us proud each and every day.

Thank you for watching the impact report hosted inside the Tedrick Welcome Center.

You can find all the stories we covered and more at SIUF.org.

We'll air a new report once a month, and if you miss it, you can find it on the SIU Foundation's YouTube channel.

Take care and we'll see you next month.

Go, dawgs!

[MUSIC]