2026 SAG Award Winners

Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men and RomoGIS

Project Goal

In 2020, Principal Dr. Willie White of Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men and the Esri partners RomoGIS and OHM Advisors launched the GIS Pathway Program in Detroit. This dual-enrollment STEM track allows students to earn college credits from Eastern Michigan University and learn modern GIS skills that prepare them to be career and college ready.

The program has driven measurable school-wide impact, contributing to significant improvement with academic ratings and increased student retention. By integrating GIS analysis, FAA Part 107 drone licensing and community-focused mapping projects, the pathway equips students with in-demand technical expertise and direct access to professional internships.

Learn more about us

Business Problem Solved

The GIS Pathway at the Frederick Douglass Academy @ Northern High School (FDA) in Detroit is a powerful example of what is possible through intentional collaboration between dedicated staff, visionary leadership and committed partners. Since inception in 2020, FDA, RomoGIS and OHM Advisors have worked together to integrate high school education with real-world GIS theory and practice, grounded in a shared commitment to expanding opportunity for Detroit students.
This partnership, bringing together a driven, dedicated educator in Chad Segrist and industry leaders from RomoGIS (Frank Romo) and OHM Advisors (Michael Cousins and Ray Lillibridge) has produced a curriculum that makes complex geospatial concepts both accessible and culturally relevant to their students.

Technology Implemented

ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Pro
Storymaps
Drone to Map
Survey 123
ArcGIS Hub

Development Team Biography

Chad Segrist, GIS Pathway Lead @ Frederick Douglass Academy
Frank Romo, CEO - RomoGIS for Good, is an educator, activist and tech entrepreneur with a commitment to community empowerment. Frank is the Chair of the FDA GIS Pathways Program Advisory Board.
R. Michael Cousins, GISP, is a partner and GIS Practice Leader at ESRI Gold Partner - OHM Advisors and currently oversees a team of 20+ GIS professionals. Mike is the Vice-Chair of the FDA GIS Pathways Program Advisory Board.
Ray Lillibridge, Award-winning Surveyor at OHM Advisors.

Company Overview

FDA – Academy of Geographic Information Systems
NAF Distinguished Academy (highest level of NAF quality review) 1st Distinguished NAF Academy in the State of Michigan, opened in 2018, currently has 61 students in the program
100% of the class of 2025 from the Academy graduated and were college-bound
Students from the FDA Academy joined NAF at their annual benefit in NYC in May 2023 to showcase their program
90% of Seniors in the Class of 2025 had an internship experience

Return on Investment

Industry professionals are present and active in the classroom, co-teaching alongside FDA educators to bridge theory and practice while reinforcing high expectations. The program also prioritizes the whole student, building interview readiness and essential soft skills alongside technical training. Students benefit from clear, tangible outcomes: earning college credits through Eastern Michigan University, qualifying for FAA Part 107 licensure, and securing paid internships in the geospatial field. Beyond individual success, the Pathway serves as a scalable model for education and industry partnership. It demonstrates that closing the skills gap starts earlier—by embedding industry workflows into high school curriculum and aligning education with real career pathways. Through this approach, Frederick Douglass Academy, RomoGIS and OHM Advisors are helping cultivate a diverse, highly skilled talent pipeline while advancing its mission of building stronger communities.