John C. Roberts Community Service Award

With long-time ties to the area, Linda Mason earned a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in 1968 and later cofounded Mason Properties, a property management company serving DeKalb and Sycamore.

In 1997, when John C. Roberts retired from the Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees, he asked Mason to serve the remainder of his term. Mason served for 26 years on Kish’s Board, serving under four different College presidents and helping guide Kish through multiple transformative eras. Advancements include transitioning to online learning, maintaining a strong financial outlook and major construction projects, including the Conference Center and Student Center. When starting on the Board, she served as the Illinois Community College Trustees Association representative and later served as the Board’s Vice Chair for several years.

Outside of Kish, Mason has a long history of volunteer service in the area. For approximately 25 years, she volunteered for the Kishwaukee Hospital Auxiliary, serving as president for several years while helping fundraise for local health care. Additionally, she served as a board member on the Ben Gordon Center Foundation Board of Directors and the Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center Board of Trustees for several years. In 2014, Mason was an organizing member of the 100+ Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Area Chapter, which has raised more than $550,000 for DeKalb County charities and organizations. As a donor, she has significantly contributed to the Kishwaukee College Foundation, the KishHealth System and the Northern Illinois University Foundation.

Mason’s dedication to Kishwaukee College and the local community has profoundly impacted local education, health care and more, benefiting past, present, and future generations.

From Oakmont, Pa., Dr. Bill Nicklas arrived in Illinois in 1970 to attend Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he completed a master’s and doctoral degree in American History. After working for the Ben Gordon Center and as a self-employed union contractor, Dr. Nicklas entered local government in 1986. He was appointed DeKalb’s City Manager in 1992 and later served as Sycamore’s City Manager from 1998-2011. Following his tenure in city manager roles, Dr. Nicklas held various positions in public education, including Vice President titles at NIU from 2011-2014 and as the Special Assistant to the President at Kishwaukee College from 2016-2018. In January 2019, he returned to the DeKalb City Manager role, where he continues to serve today. 

Dr. Nicklas’s leadership has helped drive economic growth for the Kish district over the past four decades, including infrastructure improvements at NIU and impactful economic developments for companies like Facebook, Kraft Heinz, Ferrara Candy and Amazon. At Kish, Dr. Nicklas was imperative in building relationships with local businesses and helping strengthen the College as a community resource.

As a volunteer, Dr. Nicklas served as the long-term recovery coordinator for the Fairdale community, which was devastated by a tornado in April 2015. He has served on the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, the DeKalb County Community Foundation, the NIU Foundation, the City of Sycamore Economic Development Commission, the Sycamore Rotary and the Kishwaukee College Foundation. Through the Foundation, Dr. Nicklas created a scholarship honoring his late wife, Joyce A. Nicklas, which supports scholarships for nursing students.

Dr. Nicklas’s career-long dedication to improving the local community has had a profound impact on Kishwaukee College and the region.

Yvonne A. Johnson’s journey as an educator started in DeKalb Township’s one-room Love School in 1951, where she taught all eight grade levels. In 1953, she began working at West Elementary School in Sycamore as a teacher from 1953-2002 and as coordinator for the Media and Learning Center from 2002-2011. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University (formerly Northern Illinois State Teachers College) in 1951 and a Master of Science in Education from NIU in 1960.

However, Johnson’s exceptional work as a teacher was not limited to her Sycamore classroom. During her teaching career, she also conducted more than 250 Elementary Teacher Science Workshops throughout Illinois and participated in National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Science Conventions from 1985 until 1999. She served as secretary and president of the Sycamore Education Association, helping establish scholarship programs. Johnson secured grants from the National Science Foundation to bolster physics, biology, geology, meteorology and other scientific endeavors for her students. She also worked with NASA on multiple occasions through the Lewis Research Center’s programs for educators.

Outside of public education, Johnson has served on the Sycamore Public Library Board of Directors, the Family Service Agency of DeKalb County Board of Directors, the Midwest Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees, and as a volunteer for KishHealth System’s Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital.

As a lifelong education advocate, Johnson is a committed partner to Kishwaukee College. Each year, the Yvonne A. Johnson Endowment for Community Education supports programmatic needs for Fine Arts, Communications, Science and Horticulture programs at Kish. In February 2015, the College dedicated its newly renovated science wing as the Yvonne A. Johnson Science Wing to honor her work as a conservationist, environmentalist, biologist, philanthropist and educator.

Johnson has an extensive list of honors, including Outstanding Science Teacher in Illinois by the National Science Foundation, DeKalb County Conservation Teacher of the Year, Clifford Danielson Outstanding Citizen Award by the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, and many more. Johnson passed away in 2023 before officially receiving the John C. Roberts Community Service Award, but Kishwaukee College would like to honor her as a recipient, highlighting her exceptional efforts in the classroom and her profound impact on the community.

After graduating from Sycamore High School in 1964, Ken Mundy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 at the height of the Vietnam War. He served in combat and was honorably discharged in 1970.

Following his enlistment, he returned to Sycamore and began his college education, earning an associate degree in business from Kishwaukee College in 1972. After his time at Kish, he transferred to Northern Illinois University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance.

Mundy’s service to the City of Sycamore began in 1972 when he worked as treasurer for the Sycamore Library and later for the Sycamore Fire and Police Pension Boards of Trustees. He was elected as Sycamore’s treasurer in 1981, and Mundy served in that role until he was elected mayor in 2005. He served as mayor until his retirement in 2017.

Mundy received the award posthumously after passing away in 2019. His lifetime of dedication to making improvements for the local community has had a profound impact on Kishwaukee College and the region it serves. 

Dr. Jenkins and Dr. McNeilly spent the majority of their careers in the pursuit of excellence in education.

Dr. Jenkins joined the College before doors officially opened in Fall 1968. He helped establish the initial organization of the College, including serving as Director of Student Services from 1968-1970. The following eight years, he was Executive Dean before accepting the position of President in 1978.

Dr. McNeilly began in Spring 1969 as an Instructor and Chair for the newly formed Physical Education division. She worked extensively to build the Athletics department, even serving as Athletic Director and Head Coach for baseball. By the late 1970s, Dr. McNeilly accepted the role of Dean and then devoted her last 15 years at the College as Vice President of Instruction.

The couple retired in 2000. During their tenure, they developed several new administrative and academic programs and the College experienced tremendous growth. They utilized the continuous quality improvement (CQI) management philosophy and believed it was imperative to the College’s improvement in its services, processes and outcomes. Even in retirement, Dr. Jenkins and Dr. McNeilly continue to give generously to the College. Dr. Jenkins serves on the Foundation Board, and the couple established an endowment. Their dedication and service to the Kishwaukee College district and their passion for education has had a profound impact on the direction of the College and the local community.

Bob Pritchard has served as a state representative since 2003 in a district that now includes portions of DeKalb, Kane and Boone Counties. He grew up on a farm near Maple Park and continues to participate in the 168-year family business with his son.

During his career, Bob was a radio-TV farm broadcaster, university consultant, and communications director for DeKalb Genetics/Monsanto international seed business. His entry into politics included serving on the Hinckley-Big Rock School Board, DeKalb County Farm Bureau Board and DeKalb County Board, where he was chairman.

As a legislator, Bob served as a Republican spokesman on three House committees and specialized in educational issues. He was a member of the PK-20 Education Council, a 12-member bipartisan, bicameral legislator working group on Higher Education Reform and served on the Governor’s school finance reform commission. Bob was a leading negotiator in the new school funding law, a passionate advocate for higher education and MAP grants for students, and an involved participant in ending the two-year State of Illinois budget impasse.

Bob and his wife Mary, a retired university educator, have two sons and four grandchildren. They live near Hinckley on the family farm. From growing up on his family’s farm through his exemplary service to the 70th District as a Representative in the Illinois General Assembly, Bob Pritchard has been a strong supporter of education and has particularly championed higher education.

Bob Wildenradt grew up in Sycamore and graduated from Sycamore High School. After serving in the U.S. Air Force for four years, he returned to Sycamore, married Norma and entered the University of Illinois, where he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering.

His early career was in manufacturing, and he eventually returned to Sycamore and became involved in construction and real estate, owning a successful real estate company for more than 30 years.

Serving his community has always been a top priority over the years, having served on the board of directors of many community organizations including the Kishwaukee College Foundation, Northern Illinois University Foundation, DeKalb County Community Foundation, DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, DeKalb County Residential Development, Sycamore Hospital, Kishwaukee Community Hospital, Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, and many others.

As a member of the Sycamore Rotary for more than 53 years, he has always championed the goal of “Service Above Self” to fuel his passion for making our community and area even greater than it already is. He and Norma feel truly blessed to have three children, seven grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Richard Ohlinger has been an active businessman and community member in Rochelle for nearly his entire life. He grew up on a farm and studied Agricultural Business at the University of Illinois.

Richard married his college sweetheart the same year he graduated from Illinois and returned to his hometown to work with Del Monte. The position required frequent moves to Del Monte facilities in the Midwest. With a growing family of four children, he looked for a role that would let the young family establish roots. Convinced by a friend to join a new financial institution in Rochelle — First Federal Savings and Loan — Richard was unsure. He had no background in banking, but his strength was in knowing and connecting to people. He decided to take a chance and jumped on board to run the savings and loan. He never looked back. He had found the career he was destined to have. In 2015, he retired from Lincoln State Bank, of which he was Founder and President.

As a successful member of the same Rochelle community he had grown up in, he felt a responsibility to give back and create an environment where the new generation could have the same opportunity for a vibrant and successful future.

Over the years, he has served on the boards of the Rochelle Elementary School District, Park District, Rochelle Community Foundation, Rochelle Community Hospital, Utility Advisory for Rochelle, and Rotary International and has held officer positions on many of them. He has also served as a member of the Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees, overseeing the passage of the 2010 referendum to expand and enhance facilities on campus.

Bruce Griffith is a native of Sycamore. He has a degree in Agriculture Education from Illinois State University and has been an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor in Brainerd, Minn. and Sycamore High School. He successfully ran Punk’s Tire and Auto in Sycamore for 30 years before changing careers and becoming the Special Program Consultant with the Kishwaukee Education Consortium (KEC).

Mr. Griffith is responsible for developing the Aviation Program at KEC and overseeing the development of many other programs. In his role at KEC, he guided and mentored hundreds of local young people from across the district to find their career paths and become well-rounded, hard-working members of our community.

Jerry and Ging Palma Smith have been active and integral members of the local community for many years. Jerry Smith began his professional career in DeKalb in 1969 as an Editor for the DeKalb County Journal, which became the Daily Chronicle in 1971. Jerry was named Editorial Director of TV Time/TV Daily. When the business was sold in 1983, he was named President of Castle-PrinTech, later becoming the company’s Chief Executive Officer. In 1999, Jerry was named Executive Director of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. He retired from DCCF in 2008.

Ging Palma Smith’s career also began in journalism. She was a faculty member at Kishwaukee College for Journalism and Technical Report Writing and the advisor to the student newspaper, The Kaleidoscope, as well as adviser to the literary/arts magazine, The Kamelian. In 1994, she was named Dean of Development and College Relations, overseeing the marketing and public relations of the College and the foundation/development activities. Under her leadership, two building bond referenda were passed by voters to expand and enhance College facilities. After retiring from Kishwaukee in 2002, Ging served as the Senior Gift and Estate Planning Officer for the Northern Illinois University Libraries until 2006.

Individually and together, Jerry and Ging Palma Smith have served the local community in meaningful ways for almost five decades. Their support and assistance have made an impact through their service to DeKalb County Community Foundation, DeKalb County Housing Authority, Main Street DeKalb, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, DeKalb United Way, Kishwaukee Kiwanis, Family Service Agency, Kishwaukee Symphony Associates, St. Mary’s Parish Council and many more local agencies, committees and programs. Through their years of service, their dedication to the mission of Kishwaukee College and the students and community members it serves remained at the forefront.

Terry and Sherrie Martin have a long history with Kishwaukee College. Terry was a member of the original faculty when Kishwaukee College first opened its doors in the Fall of 1968, teaching Biology until his retirement.

Terry was a gifted and popular instructor, sharing his love of nature and biology with students for more than 30 years. During that time, he taught classes for Kishwaukee College students and area children in the summer as part of the Kids College program, as well as at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. He is a member of the local chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society and the National Association of Biology Teachers.

Sherrie also placed a high value on education and became active in the Waterman and general DeKalb County area. She taught Sunday School classes and was a Church Youth Group Sponsor for the Methodist Church in Waterman. She has worked cataloging historical materials for the Waterman Area Heritage Society, Malta Historical Society, and the Waterman Library.

Together, Terry and Sherrie have served with the DeKalb County Historical Genealogical Society, DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association, DeKalb County Farm Bureau, Waterman Area Heritage Society, Membership Chairs of DeKalb County Historical-Genealogical Society, and Coauthors of the education chapter of Acres of Change: A History of DeKalb County, Illinois 1963-2012. They volunteer for prairie management and restorations and also with summer educational programs for school children at local libraries.

Micki Chulick played an integral role for those just starting their learning journey — children. By focusing her considerable energy on the youngest members of the learning spectrum, Micki advocates for the entire community.

Micki was for many years been the Executive Director of Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), a private, not-for-profit social service agency that for more than 35 years has helped families and child care providers by offering services and resources to families in the community who are in need. Under her leadership, 4-C has become an integral part of the community’s child care centers, including the Early Childhood Center at Kishwaukee College. 4-C provided resources and assistance to efficiently and effectively run the Early Childhood Center, including the much-needed Child Care Financial Assistance Program. Without this program, many Kishwaukee College students would have been unable to afford child care for their young children or continue their education.

Throughout the years, Micki has served on several Gubernatorial Committees. She represented our community and served on the Illinois Department of Human Services Child Care and Development Advisory Council, the Chair of the Department of Children and Family Service Statewide Advisory Council, and the Board of Directors of Illinois Action For Children. Locally, Micki has served on the Kishwaukee Health System Board of Directors, DeKalb County Community Foundation Board of Directors, and the United Way Advisory Council. Micki is also active in her faith community, co-chairing the Annual Fundraiser for Christ the Teacher University Parish.

David and Suzanne Juday met while serving on the Illinois State Board of Education in the mid-1980s and make their home in Sycamore, where they are well known in the business community as the driving force behind IDEAL Industries and as vital members of the community as a whole. Their service to Sycamore and all of DeKalb County includes charitable organizations, social service agencies and educational institutions. As strong proponents of the value of higher education and the community college system, they individually and together have been involved with Kishwaukee College for many years. Suzanne served as a member of the Board of Trustees, including Vice-Chair and then Chair of the Board, from 1997 to 2009. 

In the summer and fall of 2010, David and Suzanne volunteered to co-chair the referendum committee, Friends of Kishwaukee College. Under their dedicated and inspiring leadership, the referendum passed with a definitive majority across the district. Their belief in the mission of Kishwaukee College to offer opportunities to all residents in the district, and their tireless efforts to secure that mission for future generations demonstrate a sense of community service most deserving of the John C. Roberts Community Service Award. 

Joe Bussone spent many hours helping many organizations in the local community by giving both his time and talent.

Born in Roanoke, Ill., Bussone joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in the South Pacific from 1944 to 1947. Following his enlistment, Bussone graduated from Bradley University and took a job with General Electric, where he would eventually settle in DeKalb. He would later start his own business — Bussone Engineering Sales Co. — which served the local community for many years.

Through the Kishwaukee College Foundation, Bussone and his wife Evelyn established a scholarship in memory of their son Mark, a graduate of the Radiology program. The scholarship benefits Kish students in the Radiology program.

Bussone was also a member of the Sycamore VFW, Knights of Columbus, Sycamore Rotary, Sycamore Kiwanis, the National Society of Professional Engineers and numerous others. He served on multiple boards, including serving as the first President of the Ben Gordon Center. His fundraising efforts benefitted countless local charities.

Bussone lived a life centered on love for family, service to community and compassion for all.

One of the founders of Kishwaukee College, John C. Roberts valued service and worked tirelessly for both the College and the greater community. For all his efforts, he is the namesake of the College’s community service award.

Born in Marion, Ohio, Roberts attended Dartmouth College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1944. He then joined the U.S. Navy, serving as an officer in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Following his enlistment, Roberts worked for DeKalb Agricultural Association in various locations before settling in DeKalb in 1964.  

Roberts joined the Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees in 1971 and would serve on the Board for 26 years before stepping down in 1997. For 25 of those years, Roberts acted as Board Chair. Kishwaukee College grew exponentially during Roberts’ tenure, undergoing numerous construction projects to meet the demands of an increasing student population, including the additions of the gymnasium, greenhouse facilities, Early Childhood Center, technology center and more.

Additionally, Roberts was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and served in many leadership roles in the church as it grew in size and outreach to the community. He was instrumental in the development of the Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center and a member of the Board of Directors for more than 20 years, receiving the Good Samaritan Award from Oak Crest in 2003 and the Illinois Outstanding Trustee Award from Illinois Life Services Network in April 2008.

Roberts inspired the award and was recognized posthumously at the Spring 2009 Commencement Ceremony after passing away in 2008.