WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – Virgil Hawkins was recently selected as the 2009 Project/Program Manager of the Year by the National Association of County Engineers (NACE), an honor that he wasn’t expecting to receive.

“I didn’t know that I had won,” he said. “It was really special and humbling.”

The award was based on “outstanding application of efficient and effective management principles and standards in the execution of projects/programs.”

Hawkins has been Wright County’s civil engineer for the past 15 years.

“I’ve been so blessed to be able to do this work for the benefit of others, as I believe is the Lord’s plans for me,” Hawkins said. “The work is very challenging and fun, because there is a lot of variety in working with different agencies and transportation partners.”

Hawkins won the award for his service as project manager for a $4 million project to reconstruct Wright County State Aid Highway 19 within the City of St. Michael.

Look for a full article about Virgil Hawkins in the Monday, May 31 issue of the Delano Herald Journal.