HLR Inspires Future Engineers at U-46 Explore Event

Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) had an incredible time participating in the School District U-46 Explore event at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on September 25-26. We were thrilled to take part in this event, designed to give students the opportunity to explore various career paths and technical fields, including engineering, science, and surveying.

Explore is an annual curriculum and career expo organized by School District U-46 in partnership with the Alignment Collaborative for Education. This event offers over 2,500 eighth graders from eight local middle schools a unique opportunity to explore various career paths and technical fields. The Alignment Collaborative, a local nonprofit, brings together community resources to support District U-46’s educational initiatives.

The event kicked off with a Family Showcase on Wednesday, September 25, followed by a full day of exploration for students on Thursday, September 26. Prior to Explore, students used SchooLinks, a digital college and career planning system, to identify the career clusters that aligned with their interests and aptitudes. With this information, students worked with school counselors to choose which career pathways to explore at the event.

HLR was proud to represent the Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades pathway. Alongside 40+ local businesses, industries, government agencies, and nonprofits, we set up an interactive exhibit designed to give students a hands-on introduction to what we do.

Our exhibit featured an augmented reality sandbox—a 3D, interactive tool that helps students understand concepts like mapping, topography, and watersheds. By shaping the sand in the box, students could see a real-time color-coded topographic map appear, and they could even simulate a rain event to see how water would flow based on the elevations they created. It was an engaging, visual way to teach important engineering concepts in a fun, accessible format.

The HLR team truly enjoyed connecting with students, parents, and U-46 staff throughout the event. We’re excited to continue supporting Explore and other opportunities to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and surveyors.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Share This Post

Congratulations to Our 2026 HLR Scholarship Recipient, Christopher Hickey

By HLR • August 7, 2026

We are proud to recognize Christopher Hickey, son of Senior Environmental Scientist Patrick Hickey, as the recipient of this year’s HLR Scholarship! Christopher is entering his second year at Kishwaukee College, where he is pursuing an associate degree and is considering accounting as his area of study. He is also exploring a future in firefighting and is currently taking a certification class for Basic Operations Firefighter. Looking ahead, Christopher hopes to build a career that will allow him to support himself and his future family while continuing his education and seeing more of the world. Throughout high school, Christopher demonstrated a commitment to both academics and extracurricular activities. He earned Honor Roll or High Honor Roll recognition every semester and received his school’s Academic “R.” He participated in track for all four years, competing at the varsity level each year, along with two years each of cross country and golf. He was also involved in Interact and International Club and spent four years participating in Rochelle Christian Fellowship/Fellowship of Christian Athletes, including two years as a club leader. In addition to his studies, Christopher has developed a strong work ethic through a variety of jobs. He currently works on a summer maintenance crew for local elementary schools and serves as an Audio/Video Tech at First Presbyterian Church, helping with livestreams, services, retreats, and other events. His previous experience includes working at Casey’s General Store and serving as a kitchen shift lead at Little Caesars, where his responsibilities included supervising crew members, closing the store, training new employees, and assisting with opening and food shipments. Outside of work and school, Christopher enjoys spending time with friends and family, working out, hiking, and playing golf. Giving back to his community is also important to him. Through his work at his church and participation in Christian retreats, he has seen firsthand the difference that serving others can make and hopes to continue making community service part of his life. Reflecting on the HLR values of “Work Hard | Have Fun | Give Back,” Christopher shared: “As I go into school, I will work hard to be the best that I can be, and I will have fun with friends and family, and I will give back to those around me.” Christopher credits his parents as two of his greatest role models. Watching their dedication to their careers while still making time for family has helped shape his own approach to hard work, enjoying life, and serving others. Please join us in congratulating Christopher on being selected as this year’s HLR Scholarship recipient. We are excited to see where his continued education, hard work, and commitment to giving back take him in the years ahead!