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Aims Community College is making headlines. From student achievements and faculty innovations to groundbreaking programs and community impact, Aims is a driving force for education and opportunity in Northern Colorado.
This page features curated news stories, articles, podcasts, and other media coverage highlighting the incredible work happening at Aims. Check back often as we update this page with the latest coverage.
Get more news stories, student features and blog posts on the main Aims News page.
Andrea DeCosmo has been named vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Aims Community College. DeCosmo, who joined Aims in 2022, brings more than 25 years of higher-education experience.
Aims air traffic controller Professor Patti Phillips spent 30 years as an FAA air traffic controller. She began her shift at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center in Longmont not long after the first plane hit in New York. When the second plane hit the other tower, Phillips and her co-workers knew the situation was serious.
If you’d like to know how music icon Dolly Parton touched families in Weld County’s farms and oil fields, you can ask Aims Community College English professor Megan Friesen. When Colorado partnered with Dolly’s Imagination Library in 2020, Friesen wanted to see whether Weld County had a program. It did not. So, she stepped up.
Aims Community College CEO and President picked up an award in August, recognizing the school’s efforts to provide health care to its students. Dr. Leah Bornstein received the 2026 Community Health Champions award from Sunrise Community Health
Leah Bornstein, CEO and president of Aims, will be one of 13 women from Northern Colorado to be recognized with this year’s Women of Distinction awards, a program to acknowledge the contributions of female leaders in the region. Selected in the Education category, Bornstein is the sixth person to take the helm at Aims.
Throughout his high school career, Andrew Schmunk worked toward a Career Academy program, an initiative through the local community college designed to bridge the gap between high school academics and trade-focused careers. By his senior year, Schmunk’s commitment led to his enrollment in the intensive Automotive Technology pathway at Aims Community College.
Move the needle on your organizational and leadership goals with the Aims Nonprofit Leadership Academy. Our practical, job-applied professional development courses deliver immediate workplace value and stack toward a Nonprofit Leadership Academy Certificate.
PPG and the PPG Foundation funded more than $40,000 in scholarships, distributed among 14 students. Tristen Jeffrey, an Aims Community College student, was awarded a $1,230 PPG MVP Scholarship.
Aims is inviting healthcare professionals, educators, and students to the 2026 Northern Colorado Allied Health Collaborative Summit. The summit offers professional development, collaboration, and networking for attendees.
Leaders from Aims and other colleges spoke at BizWest’s inaugural Northern Colorado Mid-Year Economic Forum. Larry Pakowski, vice president of academic affairs at Aims Community College, said economic conditions mean that higher-ed institutions must take on non-traditional roles to ensure that students receive all the resources they need.
Aims graduates 25-30 paramedics each year, yet it is struggling to keep up with the increased industry demand for emergency responders. Students who complete the paramedic programs at Aims will earn an associate degree and be eligible and prepared to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Paramedic exam.
Thirteen women from Northern Colorado will be recognized with this year’s Women of Distinction awards, including Dr. Leah Bornstein, CEO and President, Aims Community College.
