AWWA’s Steve Via recognized by Virginia Tech Civil and Environmental Engineering as distinguished alumni

(Denver, Colorado) – The Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech University recently recognized Steve Via, the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) federal relations director, among its five inductees into its Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

Via joins a select group of 156 members in the Academy of Distinguished Alumni. He was chosen from a pool of more than 12,000 civil and environmental engineering alumni.

“I found myself in the drinking water community and realized what a great mission we have, providing the public with a safe and sustainable water supply,” Via said in an interview with the school. “The profession allows me to work with people that are dedicated to that mission every day. Finding this career was a result of the professors and students at Virginia Tech.”

An employee at AWWA since 1997, Via became the director of federal relations in April 2016. In his role at AWWA, Via works in partnership with association volunteers to lead the development of programs to initiate, evaluate, respond and comment on regulatory issues within the framework of association policy.

The other four inductees are Bill Burgos of University Park, Pennsylvania; Jon B. Fripp of Arlington, Texas; James W. Patteson of Fairfax, Virginia; and Yunlong Zhang of College Station, Texas.