Prairie Branch 2026 Student Scholarship Applications Now Open!
The Prairie Branch of the American Public Works Association is awarding two (2) separate $2,000 Scholarships in recognition of scholastic achievement and participation in scholastic and extracurricular activities. These scholarships are eligible to be used for either spring or fall semesters. The applications are due on April 1, 2026.
Click here to download a PDF of the Prairie Branch 2026 Student Scholarship Application.
Upcoming Meetings
April 2026 – Champaign/Urbana (Date TBD)
June 2026 – Decatur (Date TBD)
August 2026 – Scholarship Outing (Date TBD)
October 2026 – Effingham (Date TBD)
December 2026 – Danville (Date TBD)
Meeting Minutes
December 13, 2024
February 21, 2025
June 20, 2025
April 11, 2025
October 17, 2025
Branch Officers
Past President
David Whitworth
Construction Engineer
City of Springfield
300 S. 7th Street, Room 203
Springfield, IL 62701
217-789-2255 x5227
david.whitworth@springfield.il.us
President
Ryan Staley
Director of Public Works
City of Casey
101 West Alabama Avenue
Casey, IL 62420
217-932-2700
PWDirector@cityofcaseyil.org
Vice President
Heidi Thomas, PE
Project Liaison
Lochmueller Group
319 East Madison Street, Suite 2E
Springfield, IL 62701
224.588.3703
HThomas@lochgroup.com
Treasurer
Tyler Borski
Public Works – Engineering
City of Springfield
Rm 203, Municipal Center West
Springfield, IL 62701
Office: 217-789-2255 x5231
tyler.borski@springfield.il.us
Secretary
Travis Wendt
Civil Design, Inc.
twendt@civildesigninc.com
Directors
TJ Heavisides
City Traffic Engineer
City of Springfield, IL
300 S. 7th Street, Room 203
Springfield, IL 6270
217-789-22255
thomas.heavisides@springfield.il.us
Eric Childers
Assistant City Engineer
City of Danville
1155 East Voorhees Street
Danville, IL 61832
217-431-2321
echilders@cityofdanville.org
Paul Caswell
City Engineer
City of Decatur
1 Gary K Anderson Plaza
Decatur, IL 62523
217-424-2747
pcaswell@decaturil.gov
Gary LaForge
President
LaForge & Associates
1329 County Rd 1300 N
Lincoln, IL 62656
217-621-1036
618-345-2200
gary@LFAssociates.net