Congratulations to Lillian Frazee, daughter of Springfield Project Engineer Joe Frazee, on winning this year's HLR Scholarship!
Lillian is a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she will be studying agricultural and environmental engineering. Throughout high school, Lillian has been active in band, the Scholarship Bowl, Key Club, and 4-H where she has been elected to the offices of Recreation Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and President. She was inducted into the National Honor Society in 2022 and this year was a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
Lillian gives back by volunteering at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center where she has spent over 150 hours preparing disaster relief, education, and heath supplies for distribution. She also hopes that her career in environmental engineering will provide opportunities for her to give back to communities. By focusing on sustainable agriculture to help fight climate change, she understands how this can help prevent food insecurity as taking care of the soil leads to more productive farming producing higher yields and a greater food supply.
Lillian says,
"This scholarship will help me learn how our actions impact the environment and how we can develop solutions that serve societal needs while minimizing damage and preserving the environment for future generations. I know that there is a lot of work to be done to realize the goal of a sustainable relationship with our environment, and I am willing to work hard to achieve this goal."
Congratulations and good luck Lillian!
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Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR), in partnership with the Village of Elk Grove Village, is proud to announce that the Elk Grove Business Park Drainage Management project has earned two industry awards in 2026 , recognizing its innovative approach to public works management, environmental restoration, and stakeholder engagement. The project received a 2026 Engineering Excellence Special Achievement Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-Illinois) and a 2026 Public Works Project of the Year Award in the Management Innovation category from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Chicago Metro Chapter – Suburban Branch . Reimagining Drainage Management at an Unprecedented Scale Elk Grove Village is home to one of the nation’s largest contiguous business and technology parks, serving more than 5,600 businesses and over 100,000 daily commuters. Maintaining the park’s 30 miles of open-channel drainage ditches, many located on private property, has long posed logistical, environmental, and communication challenges. When the Village partnered with HLR in 2024 to relaunch the drainage management program, the goal extended beyond infrastructure maintenance. The mission was clear: deliver effective stormwater management while building trust with hundreds of adjacent businesses, without disrupting daily operations. Engineering Transparency Through Innovation HLR responded by designing a first-of-its-kind, GIS-based public engagement and management platform. Using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Field Maps, and customized ArcGIS Dashboards, the team created a real-time digital ecosystem connecting Village staff, contractors, and the business community through a single, transparent source of information. Three tailored dashboards, serving Village staff, contractors, and businesses, allowed users to track work locations, view progress, receive updates, and submit concerns in real time. This innovative approach transformed routine maintenance data into a powerful communication tool, replacing years of fragmented outreach with clarity, responsiveness, and accountability. Delivering Results Without Disruption The program delivered measurable results. During the 2024 season, crews completed four invasive species herbicide treatments across the entire system, totaling approximately 120 miles of maintenance activity. More than seven miles of ditches underwent woody vegetation removal, followed by the installation of 2,650 pounds of native seed to improve drainage performance, stabilize soils, and enhance ecological resilience. Equally important, the project was complet ed on time and within budget, with no reported business shutdowns or operational delays; a critical success factor within one of the country’s busiest industrial corridors. A Model for the Future of Public Works The dual recognition from ACEC-Illinois and APWA highlights the project’s success in redefining how complex public works programs are managed and communicated. By engineering transparency alongside infrastructure, HLR and the Village of Elk Grove Village set a new standard for stormwater management, public engagement, and municipal partnership. As the program continues throug h 2026, the Elk Grove Business Park Drainage Management project stands as a replicable model for municipalities nationwide, demonstrating that in novation, environmental stewardship, and trust-building can work hand in hand. We look forward to celebrating these achievements with the Village of Elk Grove Village at the upcoming ACEC-Illinois Engineering Excellence Awards Gala and the APWA Chicago Metro – Suburban Branch Awards Luncheon.
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) was proud to once again take part in the School District U-46 Explore event at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on October 1–2. This annual career and curriculum expo gives students an early look at a wide range of professions—from engineering and manufacturing to healthcare, information technology, business, and more—and our team was thrilled to help bring those possibilities to life. Hosted by School District U-46 in partnership with the Alignment Collaborative for Education , the Explore event welcomes more than 2,500 eighth-grade students from eight local middle schools. Through interactive exhibits and demonstrations, students get hands-on exposure to career pathways that match their interests and skills. The Alignment Collaborative, a local nonprofit, plays a key role in connecting community partners and supporting the district’s educational initiatives. Before attending, students use SchooLinks—a digital college and career planning platform—to identify the pathways that align with their personal strengths. With guidance from counselors, they select specific areas to focus on during the event, ensuring each student’s experience is both intentional and engaging. Representing the Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades pathway, HLR joined more than 60 local businesses, industries, government agencies, and nonprofits. Our booth featured a crowd favorite—the augmented reality (AR) sandbox. This interactive 3D tool lets students shape and mold the sand to create their own topographic maps, which are instantly projected in vivid color. When they simulate rainfall, they can watch how water flows through the elevations they’ve built—making concepts like mapping, topography, and watershed behavior come alive. The HLR team had a great time sharing our passion for engineering and connecting with students, parents, and U-46 staff throughout the event. We’re grateful for opportunities like Explore that help young minds see how creativity, technology, and problem-solving come together in engineering—and we look forward to inspiring even more future engineers in the years to come.
We are proud to recognize Addison Ridgely , daughter of Vice President Austin Ridgely , as the recipient of this year’s HLR Scholarship! Addison recently graduate d from Richland County High School with outstanding achievements. She earned the distinction of valedictorian, was named an Illinois State Scholar, and received the College Board National Rural & Small Town Award. Throughout all four years, she maintained the highest academic honors, a testament to her dedication and hard work. In addition to her academic excellence, Addison was deeply involved in extracurricular activities. She participated in ILMEA, Tri-M, Scholar Bowl, and student council, while also sharing her musical talents through marching band, pep band, jazz band, and honors wind ensemble. Outside of school, she demonstrated her versatility by competing in taekwondo and on the swim team. Her wide range of hobbies includes 3D modeling and printing, sewing, reading, cooking, botany, and snow skiing. This fall, Addison will take the next step in her academic journey by pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. Reflecting on this milestone, Addison shared: “I am very thankful for the role modeling I have received and feel blessed that my family has encouraged me to work hard, have fun, and give back. There is no doubt these words will live within me for the rest of my life and for that I am thankful.” Please join us in congratulating Addison on her many accomplishments. We are excited to see all that she will achieve in the years ahead!
