A southern Illinois banking corporation is creating a scholarship fund for local students.
Legence Bank is donating $137,500 dollars to SIU-Carbondale to help bring a Saluki education within reach of local students.
The Legence Bank Saluki Commitment Scholarship will provide tuition funds for 11 students each year as part of the Aim High/Saluki Commitment program, which covers tuition for eligible in-state students. The students will be chosen from the 11 Southern Illinois communities served by Legence Bank.
Recipients must:
· Be a first-time incoming freshman enrolling full-time on-campus this fall or later.
· Have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or higher.
· Have an annual family income less than $103,040 with assets less than $50,000 based on the FAFSA.
· Be an Illinois resident who attended an Illinois high school.
· Be a dependent student under age 24.
· Be eligible for federal financial aid.
“This partnership with Legence Bank is going to go a long way to keeping students right here in our own backyard. That is extremely important to us,” said Chancellor Austin Lane during a check presentation Tuesday, March 25, in the Student Services Building at SIU.
Kevin Beckemeyer, president and CEO of Legence Bank, noted the bank’s enthusiasm for partnering with SIU.
“At Legence Bank, we believe in the strength of our community and the importance of investing in the future. Our motto – Legence Loves Local – demonstrates our commitment to supporting local scholarships, and this reflects our dedication to empowering the next generation of leaders in Southern Illinois,” said Beckemeyer, a 1983 graduate of SIU’s College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences. “Together, we can foster growth, inspire change, and create a brighter future for all.
“This initiative is not just about funding; it’s about investing in our community’s future. By providing full-ride scholarships to students in the market areas we serve, we are empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators. We believe that education should be attainable for all, and this partnership exemplifies our dedication to making that a reality.”
The donation comes as part of the SIU Foundation’s ongoing Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has a goal of raising $500 million by June 2028. It is the fifth largest such campaign in the history of Illinois higher education. More than $390 million has been raised thus far, and corporate partners such as Legence Bank have made an enormous impact.
“The partnership between Southern Illinois University and Legence Bank represents a significant step forward in our commitment to educational accessibility,” said Tricia Overturf, vice president of marketing and communications at Legence Bank. “By collaborating on this initiative, we aim to bridge the gap between existing grants and scholarships, ensuring that students from Southern Illinois have the opportunity to pursue their educational dreams without the burden of financial stress.”
