Celebrating the Class of 2026: The Power of Aims Students

Over the last academic year, Aims Community College has continued to build on its momentum. We've advanced major campus projects, deepened industry partnerships and opened doors for students. It’s been a year defined by growth, opportunity and forward-thinking impact. As I look out at the class of 2026, I find myself especially proud.

Over my five years serving on the Aims Community College Board of Trustees, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing hundreds of student journeys. 

Each semester, commencement is a reminder of why this work matters. It’s inspiring to see the look of pride on graduates' faces as their name is announced and they walk across the stage in their caps and gowns. 

This May, 490 students will walk across the stage in our official ceremonies, but they represent something even bigger. In total, 1,289 students are graduating or on track to graduate, earning an incredible 2,210 credentials. That includes associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and more than 1,600 certificates. Each milestone is a story of persistence and achievement.

What makes Aims special is who our students are. This year’s graduates range in age from 15 to 72. They are high school students getting a head start, working adults changing careers, parents building a better life for their families and lifelong learners proving it’s never too late to grow. That range speaks to the heart of our mission: opportunity for everyone.

While commencement celebrates individual achievements, it also represents a larger impact. 

An Aims education doesn’t just change a student’s life in the moment; it transforms their entire future. Our latest economic impact study shows that Aims students will collectively gain about $192 million in increased lifetime earnings because of their education. In fact, for every dollar students invest in Aims, they receive nearly $8 back in higher future income.

As trustees, we often talk about access, affordability and workforce development. But at the end of the day, it comes down to people. Before I retired from UCHealth, I was always amazed at the number of our staff who got their start in healthcare at Aims. I also discovered that several of the construction professionals working on the new buildings at Aims attended school here. I hear many stories about regional fire, police and paramedics hiring so many Aims grads into their ranks. 

I could go on and on, but there isn't enough room here for me to discuss our impact in Northern Colorado, since Aims has graduated nearly 40,000 people since 1968.  

To our new graduates, this moment is yours. You have navigated competing demands, pushed through obstacles and dedicated yourselves to a purpose beyond yourselves. You’re now prepared to take on all that's ahead and you’ll contribute in ways that matter. 

These graduates represent our community’s future workforce, innovators, neighbors and leaders. 

On behalf of the Aims Board of Trustees, I could not be prouder of what you have accomplished and even more excited about what you will do next.

Congratulations, Class of 2026.