Through AIM’s partnerships with Cornerstone Staffing and the Omaha chapter of the
Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), several deserving students
have earned scholarships to pursue tech careers, thanks to financial support from
Cornerstone Staffing and AITP. The following students are either planning on attending
or continuing to attend a college, university, community college, or technical school in
Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, North Dakota, or South Dakota, with the goal of
achieving an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Information
Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.

*Austin Allen – Computer Science, Mineral Area College
*Connor Beachler – Computer Science Comprehensive, University of Nebraska at
*Kearney
*Michael Bourne – Computer Information Systems, Dakota State University
*Pawan Chaudhary – Cybersecurity, Dakota State University
*Keenan Flannery – Computer Science, University of Nebraska Lincoln
*Michael George – System and Network Security, Southeast Technical College
*Micah Harper – Computer Information Science, College of the Ozarks
*Regina Hua – Computer Science, University of Missouri – Columbia
*Linh Le – Data Analytics, Nebraska Wesleyan University
*Abe Schieuer – System and Network Security, Southeast Technical College
A big congratulations to these deserving students, and we sincerely thank Cornerstone
Staffing and AITP.

We are excited to announce that AIM Institute received a $25,000 Impact Grant from
FNBO to support our Advanced Technical Training program in Douglas and
Pottawattamie counties.
Thank you to FNBO for this funding that will help us provide individuals with the
opportunity to complete courses in our Advanced Technical Training offerings. Our
Advanced Technical Training includes AIM’s Tech Navigator services, accredited AIM Code
School and Demystifying Tech Workshops. The support allows AIM Institute to
provide course participants with laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots and transportation passes.

OMAHA, Neb. (Nov. 19, 2024) — Innovative organizations, educators and local students were honored recently at AIM Institute’s annual AIM Tech Awards, presented by Cox Business, Nov. 14, at Certified Transmission owner Peter Fink’s Private Muscle Car Museum in Omaha.

The AIM Tech Awards celebrates the achievements of industry and education visionaries. The event strengthens the region’s tech sector by showcasing the impact and result of the community’s dedicated efforts to build a strong and diverse tech ecosystem.

Children’s Nebraska was named the Technology Company of the Year. Nebraska Innovation Labs earned the Tech Start-up of the Year award.

Jeff Brady, teacher and robotics team coach with Millard North High School, was named K-12 Educator of the Year. Mike Smith, founder of The Bay, was selected as the Technology Leader of the Year. Clarkson College earned Technology Innovator of the Year. Dr. Deepak Khazanchi, the Mutual of Omaha Distinguished Chair of Information Science and Technology and Professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis with the University of Nebraska Omaha, was named the Higher Ed Tech Leader of the Year. Tech Champion of the Year was Women in Technology of the Heartland (WiTH).

Patrick Stolinski (Tech Student of the Year), Christian Essien (AIM After School Program Student of the Year), Diana Grimaldo (AIM Code School Student of the Year) and Alexis Franks (AIM Youth Academy Student of the Year) were the students honored.

This year’s AIM Tech Awards Honorary Chair was Al Lopez, CEO & Managing Partner of Let It Fly sports bars/restaurants in Omaha, Tennessee and South Dakota. Event emcee was Rick Allen, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum and lead race announcer for NBC Sports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series race coverage. AIM’s annual Tech Awards event supports the organization’s mission, which is to grow a strong and diverse tech community through education, career development and outreach.

2024 AIM Tech Awards Winners 

Technology Company of the Year: Children’s Nebraska
Jerry Vuchak, EVP,CIO, accepts on behalf of Children’s Nebraska

 

Technology Leader of the Year:  Mike Smith, The Bay

Technology Innovator of the Year: Clarkson College

 

Tech Start-up of the Year: Nebraska Innovation Labs
Dillon De Rozairo, COO, accepts on behalf of Nebraska Innovation Labs

 

Higher Ed Tech Leader of the Year: Dr. Deepak Khazanchi, Mutual of Omaha Distinguished Chair of Information Science and Technology and Professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis in the College of Information Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska Omaha 

K-12 Educator of the Year: Jeff Brady, Millard North High School

 

Tech Student of the Year: Patrick Stolinski, University of Nebraska Lincoln

 

AIM After School Program Student of the Year: Christian Essien, King Science and Technology Middle School

 

AIM Code School Student of the Year: Diana Grimaldo

 

AIM Youth Academy Student of the Year: Alexis Franks, Thomas Jefferson High 

Tech Champion of the Year: Women in Technology of the Heartland (WiTH) 

ABOUT AIM INSTITUTE 

AIM Institute’s mission is to grow a strong and diverse tech community through education, career development and outreach. As a nonprofit, AIM Institute has fostered the growth of Omaha’s tech sector for more than 30 years. AIM is an essential contributor to economic development in the Omaha area and beyond, developing, growing, and retaining local tech talent that is critical to the success of area organizations and the community at large. 

Today, AIM promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech sector by making outstanding educational opportunities and career training accessible to all, from elementary school through adulthood. AIM’s team of experts provides code school classes, leadership academies, one-on-one coaching, technical training and networking tools to ensure anyone can pursue a rewarding tech career. AIM’s engagement efforts strengthen the region’s talent pool for its members and help address the increased demand for high-skill tech jobs in the Midwest, also known as the Silicon Prairie. 

More information about AIM is available at aiminstitute.org and through social media on Facebook, Instagram – @aiminstituteomaha and X (Formerly Twitter) – @aiminstituteoma. #AIMEmpowers

This inaugural week-long celebration will focus on the startup and entrepreneurial community in Nebraska. Entrepreneurs, community members and supporters are all welcome to participate in this multi-day, multi-location event series. Meet fellow startup founders, shake hands with investors, connect with support organizations and learn more about the resources available to the community. More information can be found here.

Omaha, Neb. (September 26, 2024) AT&T* and Human I-T provided AIM Institute 200 refurbished
Chromebook computers to distribute to Omaha residents in need.
The computers are funded by an AT&T contribution. The first of the computers were given to adult
graduates of the AIM Code School, with more devices to be provided to students and adults involved in
other AIM Institute programs in the months ahead. The AIM Code School offers accelerated training
for high-demand tech skills to adults and career-changers. “These graduates of the AIM Code School have just earned certifications in tech fields, so providing this necessary equipment puts them another step closer to success,” said AIM Institute Director of Technical Training Brett Berkebile. “It’s not just about technology; it’s about giving them tools to unlock their potential.”

In Nebraska, it’s estimated that 9% of households don’t have access to the internet or connected
devices needed to fully participate in the online world, an issue known as the digital divide.
This effort is part of the AT&T Connected Learning® initiative to help address the digital divide through
internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. AT&T is committing $5 billion to help 25 million
people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030.

“AT&T is proud to collaborate with the AIM Institute to help close the digital equity gap in Omaha,”
said Dustin Blythe, External Affairs Director, AT&T Nebraska. “Access to computers is vital in helping to
bridge the digital divide and we are glad we can provide these resources to those that need them
most.”  
Learn more at att.com/connectedlearning. 

About AIM Institute
Leading tech nonprofit AIM Institute has fostered the growth of the Omaha area’s tech sector for 30 years. AIM
understands that a more diverse and inclusive tech workforce will improve the sector so AIM works to fill the growing gap
in the tech workforce by training new tech talent and upskilling existing tech workers. AIM Code School offers accelerated
training for high-demand tech skills to adults and career-changers. Led by industry experts, AIM Code School students gain
access to a professional network throughout the duration of their enrollment. Offering seven accredited courses via the
State of Nebraska Dept of Education, AIM Code School offers all participants the ability to pursue their dream of one day
holding a career within tech. AIM Code School embodies AIM’s mission of creating a more diverse tech workforce, where
anyone can have a seat at the tech table.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T  
We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and improving lives. As part
of our companywide commitment to address the digital divide, we launched AT&T Connected Learning® to invest in
connectivity and technology, digital literacy, and education solutions to help today’s learners succeed inside and outside of
the classroom. Since 2008 we’ve committed to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states, Washington D.C.
and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.