Front row, from left, Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Mike Mendenhall and Mat Fletcher; Ana Barros, head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC); and Hanson’s Chairman and CEO Sergio “Satch” Pecori stand with faculty and students of UIUC’s Rail Transportation and Engineering Center outside the university’s Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory on Oct. 28 after Hanson pledged $150,000 to the center.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 12, 2022
Contact: Darrel Berry, Corporate Communications Manager
Hanson Professional Services Inc.
(217) 747-9291
dberry@hanson-inc.com
Hanson renews $150K pledge to University of Illinois’ rail center
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) has received another $150,000 pledge from Hanson Professional Services Inc. This gift, to be issued over five years, renews the company’s continued commitment to railroad engineering and the University of Illinois.
“We are deeply grateful to Hanson Professional Services for this recent pledge and the company’s longstanding commitment to our Rail Transportation and Engineering Center,” said Ana Barros, head of UIUC’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. “For decades, Hanson’s support has benefitted countless students and helped the University of Illinois maintain its leadership in railroad engineering education.”
Hanson, founded by UIUC alumnus and former civil engineering faculty member Walter Hanson, has been a longtime supporter of the program and has given five-year pledges for many years.
“Through our continued commitment to RailTEC, we proudly support the center, its research and its students,” said Hanson’s Chairman and CEO, Sergio “Satch” Pecori, who is an alumnus of UIUC’s civil engineering program.
RailTEC, recognized in the rail industry as North America’s premier railroad engineering program, has the largest selection of courses and broadest array of rail-related research of any North American university, providing leadership in research and curriculum development and encouraging students to pursue careers in rail engineering, transportation planning and operations.
Hanson’s pledge, which was presented Oct. 28 at the university, supports RailTEC’s advanced rail engineering courses and research on rail technologies that could improve safety, efficiency and reliability. It will help students secure internships and jobs in the rail industry and back Hanson’s recruitment efforts for UIUC students. And it assists with advocating the importance of freight’s impact, advanced rail technology and rail safety through outreach efforts, including Hanson’s participation in the Engineering Open House and fostering minority students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.
Hanson is a national, employee-owned consulting firm providing engineering, planning and allied services. The firm’s corporate headquarters is located at 1525 S. Sixth St., Springfield, IL 62703. The office may be reached by phone at (217) 788-2450.
For more information about Hanson, visit http://www.hanson-inc.com. For more information about RailTEC, visit https://railtec.illinois.edu.
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