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Grandfather Frank Avila and 11 years granddauther Thalia Avila hold her winning $200 first place essay & poster 2022

Grandfather Frank Avila and Granddaughter Thalia Avila, 5th Grade Embers Academy Student, Niles, IL; proudly hold her winning $200 First Place Essay and Poster 2022 about her Grandfather Frank which Thalia submitted to the AAAEA, Illinois Chapter who are encouraging an interest in Engineering for young people.

Her Grandfather Frank Avila received his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign, IL. Thalia was very surprised to find that not only could her Grandfather Frank help her practice piano and understand her math and science homework better; but, some of her Grandfather's Civil Engineering projects included the Carl Sandburg Village; Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago (Jail); AON Center; Harold Washington Library Center; Midway & O'Hare Airports; and the Chicago Transit Authority as well as many others that would not fit on her poster.

Thalia Avila said, "My Grandfather Frank received over 30 awards including Water Environment Federation (WEF) 2015 Public Officials Award; Little Village Environmental Justice Organization's 2015 Environmental Justice Champion Award; Illinois section of the American Society of Civil Engineers Citizen Engineer of the year 2012 Award; and the 2013 Presidents Award from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers for his work to protect the health and safety of the public and protect the quality of water in the Chicago area waterways."

Thalia added, "In 2021, when the MWRD Board honored my Civil Engineer Grandfather Frank Avila dedicating his name on a plaque on the Engineering Building at the Stickney Plant which is the largest Waste Water Plant in the World, I was very proud to be there with my family. My Grandfather Frank has always encouraged me to care about the Health and Welfare of the People, the Environment, the Planet, and he always says, 'Water is Life!'"

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