University News

Derek Jones, District Director for Congressman Eric Sorensen presents WIU GIS Center Director Chad Sperry with Congressional Certificate
[Download Print-Quality Image]

WIU Geographic Information System Recognized by Congressman Eric Sorensen

October 1, 2025

Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's Geographic Information System (GIS) Center has been recognized with a Congressional Certificate by Congressman Eric Sorensen. The GIS Center has helped communities throughout Illinois by providing 9-1-1 services with critical information due to the center's detailed mapping abilities.

"It is an honor to have the WIU GIS Center recognized by Congressman Sorensen," said Chad Sperry, director of the WIU GIS Center. "The work we are doing is extremely important as we help reduce response times in critical situations."

On hand to present the Congressional Certificates was WIU alumnus Derek Jones (‘08) who serves as the district director for Congressman Sorensen.

"Congressman Sorensen likes to acknowledge groups throughout the 17th District who are good neighbors," said Jones. "Providing life saving emergency services to those in distress is a prime example of being a good neighbor."

While the Congressional recognition is coming from US Representative Sorensen, the work of the WIU GIS Center is statewide. One reason for the success of the WIU GIS Center is local emergency service directors communicating with other emergency service directors about the benefits of working with WIU. Chris Helle, Emergency Services Disaster Agency director of Fulton County, has been a strong, vocal supporter of the WIU GIS Center.

"We started out serving West-Central Illinois, but our reputation for improving 9-1-1 response times with detailed mapping has spread across Illinois," said Sperry. "From small rural counties to major metropolitan areas, the WIU GIS center put critical spatial data in the hands of first responders."

Not only is the WIU GIS Center helping first responders, but they are also ensuring the safety of our local schools by providing detailed mapping of school buildings.

"When Chris Helle first communicated the success of the WIU GIS Center, they had mapped 150 schools. To hear that they are now over 400 is a testament to the quality of work being done," said Jones. "As the husband of a school teacher and the father of an elementary school student, the work of the WIU GIS Center hits especially close to home."

To learn more about the WIU GIS Center, visit: wiu.edu/gis.

Posted By: Zachary Messersmith (ZD-Messersmith@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing