September 28, 2009
Property auction to help SIUC, Kaskaskia students
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Tim and Valerie Hood are participating in Homecoming festivities at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and attending the Kaskaskia College Alumni Family Reunion in October. As part of their participation in these fall events, the Hoods are striving to generate scholarship opportunities for deserving students.
The Hoods are auctioning 68 acres of property located three miles northeast of Carbondale on Reed Station Road. The auction is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, in Ballroom A of the SIUC Student Center. It begins at approximately 5 p.m., following the Saluki football game against Illinois State. A portion of the proceeds will support scholarships administered by the SIU Alumni Association and by the Kaskaskia College Alumni and Friends Association.
Tim Hood, vice president of instructional services at Kaskaskia College in Centralia, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech communication from Southern in 1981 and 1987, respectively. He is also a former speech communication instructor at SIUC, and presently, a doctoral student at SIU Carbondale.
“We have a real love for SIU and Kaskaskia College and wanted to give something back,” Hood says. “This is our way of helping those who may not have the financial means to pursue a college education. Hopefully, others will continue to give, and donating a percentage of assets is an easy way to do so.”
Hood, a member of the SIU Alumni Association and the Kaskaskia College Alumni and Friends Association, originally purchased the property in 1987. It includes four tracts ranging from five to 40 acres in size. The SIUC alumnus says the 68-acre area features farmland, tillable acreage and hardwoods, two homes, and a six-acre lake well stocked with trophy bass, redear and bluegill.
He also points out that utilities and services are in place to accommodate up to four more homes on the property; mostly near the lake. The location, just seven minutes from Carbondale, is also an attraction.
“It was nice to know that I could be at SIU in 10 minutes,” he says. “The land was a sanctuary for not only my family, but friends, too. It’s ideal for an outdoors enthusiast who enjoys wildlife, farm life, and especially, fishing.
“We will always enjoy visiting the Carbondale community, the SIU campus … and cheering on the Salukis. We’re now expanding interests and work in the Kaskaskia College District. This has led us to select how we could best maximize our resources in a fashion that allows us to pursue our personal goals in addition to creating opportunities for others. Having a strong connection to both Kaskaskia College and SIU, we thought this would be a small token of our appreciation.”
Appointments to view the land prior to the Oct. 10 auction can be made by calling 618/924-1747, or 800/443-1998.
Photos and details of the auction are available at: buyafarm.com.