For Kevin Symons, AIA, returning to the Illinois School for the Deaf, ISD, as the Class of 2026 commencement speaker was more than a professional honor. It was a full-circle moment rooted in identity, perseverance, and the power of community.

The ISD Class of 2026 celebrates commencement, marking the beginning of a new chapter shaped by learning, community, and support.

That sense of community is central to ISD’s mission. As a statewide resource for deaf and hard of hearing students from birth to age 21, the school supports students through individualized education, diverse communication, family partnership, and a nurturing environment where each student can grow with confidence.

Kevin knows the impact of that foundation firsthand. Twenty-seven years ago, he sat where the graduates sat, preparing to begin the next chapter of his own life. This spring, he returned to the stage as an alumnus, mentor, and newly licensed architect, offering students a message shaped by experience and a deep understanding that meaningful paths do not always unfold in straight lines.

Kevin Symons graduated from ISD in 1999, beginning a path that would eventually lead him to architecture and back to ISD as commencement speaker.

In his remarks, Kevin reflected on the meaning of the word “commencement.” While graduation often feels like the end of something, he reminded students that it is truly a beginning. The lessons, friendships, challenges, and support systems built during their time at ISD are not left behind. They become part of the foundation students carry into what comes next.

Kevin Symons, AIA, addresses the ISD Class of 2026, sharing a message of persistence, communication, self-advocacy, and the importance of community.

Kevin understands that kind of beginning firsthand. After graduating from ISD, his path began in civil engineering before leading him to architecture. Along the way, he learned that careers, like life, often include turns, detours, and unexpected opportunities. What matters, he shared, is the willingness to trust what you have learned, take chances on yourself, and keep moving forward.

Kevin joined Mackey Mitchell Architects in 2009 and has been an important part of the firm ever since. After years of steady leadership as Senior Associate and BIM Manager, his recent licensure marks a meaningful next chapter as he steps into the role of Project Architect. Kevin brings technical depth, design insight, curiosity, and lived experience to the work, helping shape solutions that are thoughtful, inclusive, and responsive to the communities they serve.

Kevin Symons official licensure announcement in May 2026.

As a Deaf architect, Kevin brings a deeply valuable perspective to Mackey Mitchell’s Learning Environment Innovation practice, particularly in our work with Deaf education communities. His lived experience helps project teams think more carefully about how students, educators, and families experience space, from communication and visibility to comfort, accessibility, belonging, and daily connection. His voice strengthens design conversations by encouraging teams to ask better questions, listen more closely, and consider a wider range of needs.

As Mackey Mitchell continues to grow its Learning Environments Innovation market, Kevin’s leadership is an important part of that momentum. His experience reminds us that inclusive design is not a checklist. It is an ongoing practice of listening, learning, and bringing many perspectives into the process, so spaces not only function well, but help people feel seen, supported, and connected.

That sense of purpose made his return to ISD especially meaningful. Following commencement, a celebratory pizza party honoring the Class of 2026 reflected the kind of community Kevin emphasized in his remarks: the teachers, families, friends, mentors, and peers who help students keep moving forward. Speaking to the graduates, he shared the importance of persistence, communication, and self-advocacy, while reminding them that no meaningful path is walked alone. He spoke candidly about the challenges of becoming licensed, including moments of doubt during the Architect Registration Examination process. With support from his family, coworkers, and community, he continued forward, one exam at a time.

Following commencement, ISD graduates gathered for a celebratory pizza party honoring the Class of 2026 and the community that helped support their journey.

At Mackey Mitchell, we are grateful for the perspective Kevin brings to our practice every day. His story reflects the value of mentorship, representation, and lived experience in shaping environments where people can learn, connect, and belong. His leadership continues to strengthen our teams, deepen our work, and expand our understanding of the communities we serve.