The Dr. Robert E. Sweeney AIM Achiever Scholarship of $5,000 was awarded to a metro-area 8th-grade student who shows strong academic ability and exhibits an interest in the area of Information Technology. This scholarship was created by the AIM Institute's Board of Directors and employees in honor of Dr. Sweeney's retirement as founder, president and CEO of AIM. This scholarship will be held in trust and made available upon enrollment in a two- or four-year college at $1,250 per year. Learn more about AIM Achiever Scholarship opportunities...

Isela Lopez
Student
Bryan Middle School

Isela Lopez is the recipient of the Dr. Robert E. Sweeny AIM Achiever Scholarship. She is an honor roll student at Bryan Middle School in Omaha and is the oldest child of Humberto and Manuela Lopez. Isela is pictured here with her school principal, Susan Colvin, and Dr Sweeney. This was said about Isela by one of her teachers, "Isela is a hard worker; she is very interested in her education. Isela is very nice and polite; she always wants to do the right thing, and she enjoys helping others." 

Isela participates in the Bryan Middle School TRiO Talent Search after-school program, where she voluntarily devoted 25 hours to practicing IT skills that will help her achieve in high school and go on to attend college. Isela has a computer at home and says that she has always been interested in computers. 

At TRiO Talent Search Isela participated in the technology program “Lights, Camera, Action”. This course studies the aspects of film making such as directing, lighting and editing. Students learn how basic movie elements such as images and sound come together to tell a story or set a mood. Students also learn the basics of producing their own digital movie and learn proper techniques in video-shooting.  

"It was really cool getting to use the computer and digital camera to make my own movie," Isela says. "I showed it to my parents when I got finished with it."  Isela’s movie is about student life at Bryan Middle School.

Isela is not exactly sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but she is interested in becoming an orthodontist or a physical therapist. She states that technology will play an important role for her during her education and for her future career plans.

Isela will attend Bellevue West High School in the fall of 2007 and is currently registered for three technology classes next year.