Dewberry, a privately held and nationally recognized professional services firm, was recently honored with a community partnership award by Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. For 20 years, Dewberry has participated in the Expanding Visions program with Luther Jackson Middle School, which is within a mile from Dewberry's headquarters office in Fairfax.

Through the Expanding Visions program, Dewberry professionals spend a day with students and teachers sharing insights about the engineering and architectural profession. Over the years, representatives from Dewberry's land development, surveying, structural engineering, water resources, transportation, site/civil, mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering, architectural, and human resources departments have participated in the program.

Presentations to the students involve interactive learning activities to help them better understand the positive impact of engineering and architectural design work on their community. This year, students learned more about Dewberry's work with the Noman M. Cole, Jr., Pollution Control Plant (NCPCP) in Lorton, Virginia, to design and build the largest water reuse project in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Six Dewberry representatives, including Jerry Strauss, training and development director, and Jack Vega, associate vice president, accepted the award from Dr. Karen Garza, superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools.

"Dewberry strives to make strong connections with the communities where we work and live," says Strauss. "We are thrilled to receive this recognition from Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest school system in Virginia and one of the most well-respected in the country."

Click here to view a photo gallery from the event.