Oregon State University – Cascades will honor Central Oregon community, higher education and family advocate, Loren Irving during its 15th annual commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 12.
Irving will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the university. The award honors individuals, businesses or organizations who have made exceptional contributions to OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon, the State of Oregon or the world.
Irving has played both formal and informal roles in bringing higher education to the Central Oregon region. In 1998 he was appointed by past OSU President Paul Risser to serve as a member of an initial advisory committee to support the establishment of OSU-Cascades. Over the years Irving’s support for the campus has included testifying to state legislators to advocate for the expansion of OSU-Cascades to a four-year university and for funding for its development. He currently serves on the OSU-Cascades board of advisors.
Irving’s work in support of families in Central Oregon began in 1991 when he was one of the co-founders of the Family Resource Center of Central Oregon, previously known as PACT, to help parents care for teens. The organization has evolved to support parents of children of all ages. A photographer, Irving both donated his photographs and engaged area photographers to contribute their works in support of the Center. Irving serves on the organization’s board as director emeritus.
He served on the Central Oregon Leadership Council of the Oregon Community Foundation from 1995 to 2008, and also served on the board of trustees of the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon*.
He is a past president of the Greater Bend Rotary and was named Bend Citizen of the Year in 1997.
Irving is a 1966 graduate of Oregon State. After fulfilling his military service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam in 1969, and working with Brooks Scanlon, Inc., Irving co-founded a wholesale lumber company, Deschutes Pine Sales in 1974.
Irving currently serves on the board of the Deschutes Historical Museum and is the curator of "Finding Fremont, Pathfinder of the West," an exhibit that traces the 1843 travels of John C. Frémont.
The commencement ceremony begins at 12 p.m. at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend.
The commencement ceremony will take place at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in the Old Mill District on at 12:00 p.m. For additional information visit http://www.osucascades.edu/commencement.
* Not included in original release: Irving served on the board of the Children's Trust Fund of Oregon from 1999 to 2008.
About OSU-Cascades: Oregon State University’s branch campus in Bend, Ore., features outstanding faculty in degree programs that reflect Central Oregon’s vibrant economy and abundant natural resources. Nearly 20 undergraduate majors, 30 minors and options, and four graduate programs include computer science, energy systems engineering, kinesiology, hospitality management, and tourism and outdoor leadership. The branch campus expanded to a four-year university beginning fall 2015; its new campus will open in fall 2016.