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/.
It’s not too late to register for AIM Institute’s Infotec! Set for May 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kiewit Luminarium on Omaha’s Riverfront. Infotec’s theme, “Harnessing Technology for Business Growth & Innovation,” underscores how technology is changing the way we do business and live.
Keynote speaker is Sam Sapp, Founder and CEO of LockBaud, a Kansas City-based IT and cybersecurity firm. Sapp works with organizations across the Midwest to build secure, resilient, and future-ready systems. His keynote will address the intersection of artificial intelligence and human creativity, exploring how AI is becoming a catalyst, not a competitor, for human imagination.
Infotec attendees can expect a transformative experience featuring breakout sessions led by local and nationally recognized leaders:
There will be two panels, one with CEOs and CIOs and the second panel will focus on data insights.
Interested college students can attend for free using their school email.
Participating in the inaugural Women In Tech Summit are AIM Institute’s Monika Philp and Executive Director of Nebraska Tech Collaborative – Shonna Dorsey, and Summit Attendees.
On March 7, AIM was a partner and in-kind sponsor at the Inaugural 2025 Nebraska Women In Tech Summit, an event spotlighting technological achievements from women in Nebraska. The daylong event featured networking sessions, a community resource fair and panel discussions designed to foster collaboration and innovation across the state’s tech community.
Dala Alphonso, President and CEO of AIM, presented the Tech Mentor of the Year award to Dr. Yuliya Lierler, a computer science professor at UNO, recognizing her outstanding contributions to mentorship in tech. Additionally, Brett Berkebile, Director of AIM Code School and Technical Training, represented AIM with a dedicated Code School presentation booth, engaging attendees and sharing insights about our programs.
We’re honored to support and celebrate the incredible women shaping the future of technology!
