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The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Meridian Society marked its fifth annual Meridian Derby on May 10 at Fairmount Park Racetrack’s Top of the Turf in Collinsville with more women and a more dazzling selection of hat fashion than ever before.

“This is the biggest SIUE Meridian Derby so far, and the best,” said Alicia Lifrak, Meridian Society president. 

Approximately 250 women, all sporting eye-catching hats, attended Tuesday’s Derby luncheon. “We have 25 more participants than last year,” said Julie Babington, Meridian Society member and director of Annual Giving at SIUE. 

“Today is not a fundraiser,” said Lifrak. “It’s a fun event that brings together influential women (and some men, too) who share an interest in doing good for the community, and gives them exposure to the Meridian Society. The fact that we also get to wear great hats is just a bonus!” 

The Meridian Society, an auxiliary organization of the SIUE Foundation, promotes women’s leadership and invests in SIUE community-based projects. Some of the special guests for this year’s festivities included: Rachel Stack, vice chancellor for University Advancement and CEO of the SIUE Foundation;  John Navin, dean of the School of Business; Curt Lox, dean of the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior; Venessa Brown, associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion; Kay Werner, SIUE First Lady emeritus and a Meridian Society founding member; Helen Damon, a Meridian Society founding member and Deborah Hunt, Meridian Society membership chair.  

“It’s nice to be around women who are philanthropic, regardless of what the project is,” said Stack. Stack has been a member of the Meridian Society for the past three years. 

“We’ve increased our membership by 33 percent,” she added. “Our goal is to have 100 members by FY17. Currently, we have 63 members.” 

“This is my second time at the Derby,” Brown said. “I thought it was a great opportunity to come out and enjoy a wonderful afternoon, see a diversity of women in a beautiful array of hats, and more importantly, celebrate the great work of the Meridian Society does. I plan to become a member.” 

“We funded six projects in April,” said Werner. “Of the donations and monies we receive, 75 percent goes to fund projects and 25 percent goes to the endowment. We are looking for more members to fund more projects and build our endowment.”

Laura McCleod, SIUE alum, said she is thinking of joining the Meridian Society. She attended the Derby for the first time and brought 12 women and one man to the event: “I think what they do is excellent. These are a group of women who are working hard to affect positive change in our communities.”

Perhaps bringing the most guests to the luncheon was Deborah Hunt, Meridian membership chair and SIUE alum. Hunt brought approximately 96 people.

The luncheon also featured the popular derby hat contest. The winners included: Jackie Smith of East St. Louis and SIUE alum (best hat award), Molly Hantla of Edwardsville (biggest hat award) and Marcy Pinnell of Edwardsville (best member hat award).

Smith, donned from head to toe in her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority colors of pink and green, said she would like to join the Meridian Society. “I just love the whole affair. The people are so nice and cordial.”

“These are a wonderful group of women with a servant’s heart,” said Pinnell.

For more information or to join the Meridian Society, contact Babington at (618) 650-2378 or jbabing@siue.edu.

Photos:

Jackie Smith of East St. Louis won the best hat award at the SIUE Meridian Derby.

Molly Hantla of Edwardsville receives her award for the biggest hat in the Derby contest.

Marcy Pinnell is congratulated for winning the best Meridian Society member hat award. She is shown with Julie Babington (left) Meridian Society member and director of Annual Giving at SIUE and Alicia Lifrak, SIUE Meridian Society president.

Many SIUE alum came out to enjoy the fifth annual SIUE Meridian Derby.