In June, AIM’s Youth Academy student Bernadine Ambatobe attended the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) National Student Leadership Congress program in Washington D.C.
AIM celebrates AIM Youth Academy’s Bryan High School student Bernadine Ambatobe, who applied for acceptance into the prestigious Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) National Student Leadership Congress program in Washington D.C. in June.
She attended this hard-to-get-into program, which brings together 100 Upward Bound TRIO students from across the country to engage in hands-on civic leadership experiences. During her week in the nation’s capital, Bernadine advocated for TRIO programs with Nebraska’s elected officials, debated policy issues, led a mock congress session and participated in a community service project.
“Never did I imagine this opportunity would land in my favor—but to my surprise, it did,” Bernadine said. “I spent the best week of my life in Washington, D.C., flying solo for the very first time and stepping into a whole new state of possibility. Together, we stood for something bigger than ourselves, advocating for TRIO programs like AIM Upward Bound. AIM provided me an experience I’ll never forget, and when it came time to give back, I was truly honored to stand up and do my part to make sure it continues for others like me.”
The experience is designed to empower students through public speaking, teamwork and civic engagement while building lifelong connections with TRIO peers from across the country. We are so proud of Bernadine for representing AIM’s Upward Bound program and Nebraska on a national stage!
AIM representatives, Jessie Rowe (left) and Gretchen Brosman, display AIM resources at the Adams County Fair. This outreach is imperative to assist high school students in western Nebraska.
This summer, AIM Institute furthered its connection with communities across the state, hosting outreach booths at local celebration days to highlight its impactful programs and services.
At Carter Lake Days, AIM sparked curiosity and creativity with hands-on activities. Youth had the chance to code using a Dash robot, while attendees of all ages spun the prize wheel for a chance to win AIM swag and more. A raffle for a Google Chromebook added to the excitement and drew strong interest in AIM’s mission.
Meanwhile, at the Adams County Fair, AIM focused on college and tech access, providing valuable information about educational pathways and resources. AIM represenatives also spotlighted the work of AIM’s Educational Outreach Centers in Scottsbluff and Hastings, which offer free services to help students navigate college admissions, explore tech careers and access financial aid.
Both events allowed AIM to strengthen community ties and expand awareness of its year-round initiatives and events to build a stronger, more inclusive tech talent pipeline.
Students fly drones at Avenue Scholars Summer Boot Camp. This was part of the AIM Institute IT session students took part in for the camp.
The AIM Institute was honored to participate in the Avenue Scholars of Southwest Iowa Summer Career Boot Camp, hosted by partners at Iowa Western Community College.
Throughout June, students from school districts along the I-29 corridor engaged in a series of hands-on career boot camps focused on high-demand, high-skill trades. The camp offered five various career tracks for students to explore, and AIM served as the lead service provider for the IT Boot Camp.
During the IT sessions, students explored front-end web development, 3D printing, drones and robotics. Thanks to support from the AIM’s grant partner, Google Code Next, nine high school students earned certifications in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, gaining valuable skills that set the foundation for future careers in tech.
AIM Institute is excited to announce its Elevate Academy, a new modern and practical leadership path designed to grow both emerging and experienced leaders. AIM is partnering with Bellevue University on this initiative, which will cultivate soft skills, encourage innovation and empower the next wave of technology and business leaders.
There are two different pathways: Foundations of Leadership and Impact Leadership. Foundations of Leadership is a new dynamic leadership development program designed for professionals across various industries who are ready to step into leadership roles or enhance their existing skills. The AIM Institute’s Impact Leadership is an annual management course for technology professionals. The program consists of one full day of training each month for seven months. Each session focuses on a common on-the-job issue faced by tech managers.
Foundations of Leadership will be led by Dr. Mike Freel, PhD, who has spent the last 16 years at Bellevue University doing doctoral work in leadership and organizational change. Mike is passionate about leadership and will teach participants effective leadership skills that can immediately be applied to the workplace.
Program Highlights
The first session of Foundations of Leadership starts August 14 and concludes on November 20. If you are interested in learning more, visit this link to start your leadership journey. https://aiminstitute.org/programs/elevate-academy/.
AIM Institute’s Infotec 2025 conference was a great success! Close to 300 people, joined by representatives from over 20 companies and small businesses, attended the event at the Kiewit Luminarium on Omaha’s riverfront.
Infotec bridges the gap between business and technology leaders. Participants had positive responses about the speakers and sessions, which covered a range of topics including AI automation, emerging technologies, cyber security and risk management, workforce development and data and business analysis.
AIM’s events connect the region’s technology professionals for networking, workshops and continued education. Save the date for AIM’s Heartland Developers Conference (HDC), a mainstay in the Silicon Prairie developer community for more than 15 years. HDC is September 30-October 1, 2025, at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. For two days, experts share the latest knowledge, demonstrate new techniques and build understanding.
