Through decades of service to the local community and Kishwaukee College, Steve and T.J. Irving have made an impact on generations of Kish students. For their efforts, Kishwaukee College recognized the Irvings with the John C. Roberts Community Service Award on Saturday, May 16, at Kish's Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies.
Established in 2009, the John C. Roberts Community Service Award recognizes the importance of community members in Kishwaukee College's success. Roberts served on the Kish Board of Trustees from 1971 to 1997 and made a lasting impact on the Kish community.
"It is a real honor to be acknowledged with this award. We knew Mr. Roberts personally, and he was a super guy," Steve said. "For us, it has been really fun and satisfying to be able to give back to our community. It is truly touching when you run into someone who thanks you for helping make a difference in their lives. That is the best feeling about giving back."
The Irvings have been generous contributors to the Kishwaukee College Foundation. The couple established the Irving Family Scholarship through the Foundation in 1999, helping generations of students meet their educational goals. Their generosity in paying a student's full tuition even inspired the creation of the Pay It Forward Scholarship, which supports students overcoming life challenges. The Irvings both served on the Kishwaukee College Foundation Board of Directors — Steve from 2004-2013 and T.J. from 2017-2021. Geri-Dee Hayden, Kishwaukee College Board Trustee, presented the award to the Irvings at the ceremony.
"The Irvings' commitment to Kishwaukee College and our community has had a profound impact for generations of students. They represent the same selfless dedication to learning and student success that John Roberts embodied during his leadership of Kishwaukee College, making them an excellent choice for the 2026 John C. Roberts Community Service Award," Dr. Laurie Borowicz, President of Kishwaukee College, said.
Steve is a 1971 Kish graduate who served as President of Kish's Student Senate. During his time at Kish, Steve and his peers led a project — with the Board of Trustees' permission — to remodel an old barn on the College campus into a theater with a stage, dance space, and an art gallery. He later earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University in 1973. T.J. is a Sycamore High School graduate and earned a bachelor's degree from Drake University in 1974.
Outside of Kish, the Irvings own and operate Irving Construction Co., a company that has been serving the area's building needs since 1974. Irving Construction employs more than 30 local tradespeople and has built projects throughout the Kishwaukee College district, including schools, park facilities, fire departments, libraries, courthouses, commercial buildings and more. In addition to their business, the Irvings have been generous benefactors to numerous community initiatives, including major renovations and donations to the Egyptian Theatre, contributions to the Family Service Agency and Voluntary Action Center chapters of DeKalb County, and many more.
Steve and T.J. Irving's dedication to supporting and improving local communities has had a profound impact on Kishwaukee College and the region it serves. Learn more about the John C. Roberts Community Service Award at kish.edu/johnroberts.
There is virtually no limit to what you can achieve at Kish, and we will be here for you every step of the way.