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.
Graduates from AIM Institute’s Open Door Mission Digital Skills for Career Advancement Course
In late April, AIM Institute’s Tech Access program honored the achievements of students from its Open Door Mission Digital Skills for Career Advancement course, where students learn relevant, modern skills useful to adapt to today’s workforce.
Additionally, AIM Code School, accredited by the State of Nebraska Dept of Education, graduated its Winter 2025 Foundations of Web Development and Foundations of Technology cohorts, where students gain real-world, hands-on programming skills to take the next step in their respective career fields.
AIM’s technical training programs are more than just classes, they are catalysts for transformation. Each course opens doors to new possibilities and brighter futures. We’re proud to support and celebrate our students as they take the next step in their career journeys. Congratulations to all our graduates!
AIM is proud to have Bellevue University as a part of AIM’s Membership program.
Bellevue University is committed to delivering career-focused, affordable education with unmatched care and respect for every learner. Its mission reflects a deep dedication to student success, and its vision embraces the ever-evolving needs of the global workforce.
At Bellevue University, students are the heart of everything. Every degree earned represents a powerful individual who dared to dream big and take steps toward a brighter future. As a nonprofit, open-access university, Bellevue University is designed to support those dreams, helping students transform their passion into purpose.
The AIM membership is for organizations that want to hire new tech talent, upskill their teams, help promote tech as a rewarding career path, and are passionate about leveraging tech for economic development. There are other promotional benefits for organizations that have an AIM membership. To learn more, contact Blaine Nelson, bnelson@nullaiminstitute.org.
