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
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
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 School
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 Twitter – @aiminstituteoma.