This week's top stories

  • Aurora High School provides a CNA program to train students to become certified nurses aides after completing the certification. Students who are currently taking the course include, from left, Emary Rhoades, Faith Utley and Ellie Brown.
    Aurora High School provides a CNA program to train students to become certified nurses aides after completing the certification. Students who are currently taking the course include, from left, Emary Rhoades, Faith Utley and Ellie Brown.
  • Tim Ernst sits in his guidance counselor office at Lincoln Southwest High School where he has created a bulletin board full of pictures of successful students he has worked with in the past.
    Tim Ernst sits in his guidance counselor office at Lincoln Southwest High School where he has created a bulletin board full of pictures of successful students he has worked with in the past.
  • AHS graduate Laighla Gimpel is enjoying her freshman year in Lincoln at Bryan College, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Gimpel shared how valuable time spent on applying for scholarships was in reducing her college stress.
    AHS graduate Laighla Gimpel is enjoying her freshman year in Lincoln at Bryan College, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Gimpel shared how valuable time spent on applying for scholarships was in reducing her college stress.
  • Cooper Reeson is a Giltner graduate attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying nutrition and health sciences. Through applying for scholarships earlier his senior year, he only had to pay $2,500 his first year.
    Cooper Reeson is a Giltner graduate attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying nutrition and health sciences. Through applying for scholarships earlier his senior year, he only had to pay $2,500 his first year.
  • UNL freshman journalism and broadcasting major Sam Wishman of Hampton conducts a mock interview with his academic advisor, Vannessa Killen. Wishman received enough college funding through scholarships that, in his words, “I haven’t spent a single penny yet, and that has been great!”
    UNL freshman journalism and broadcasting major Sam Wishman of Hampton conducts a mock interview with his academic advisor, Vannessa Killen. Wishman received enough college funding through scholarships that, in his words, “I haven’t spent a single penny yet, and that has been great!”
  • Ravi Singh demonstrates using one of two drones he and his wife, Gina, utilize with their new business, Innovative Drone Solutions.
    Ravi Singh demonstrates using one of two drones he and his wife, Gina, utilize with their new business, Innovative Drone Solutions.

    Aurora High School recognizes the vital role nurses play in health care and through its Certified Nurses Aide (CNA) program has helped more 30 students get a head start in training for the field. Principal Doug Kittle shared that the program first became available to students in 2019 through Aurora High School’s partnership with Central Community College’s (CCC) NA program. Read the full story on Page A4 of this week's paper. 

    When students arrive at Lincoln Southwest High School, they are assured that guidance counselors like Tim Ernst will be there to be there for them when they need a helping hand. While growing up in Aurora, Ernst said the thought of becoming a guidance counselor didn’t cross his mind. “I didn’t set out to be a school counselor,” Ernst said. “I set out to teach and coach and then just fell into it.” Ernst is the subject of this week's edition of our series Where Are They Now?” 

    While the number of American students going off to college has not rebounded to pre-COVID levels, still in 2023, 61.4 percent of recent high school graduates in the U.S. enrolled in college. That may be surprising when one considers the average cost of a college education. With that in mind, this year’s College Bound edition is focusing on college financing and features advice from the guidance counselors on strategies for making the most of a student’s high school years to apply for the many grants, scholarships and other forms of financial aid that are out there to help young people get their higher education, be it from a college or university or one of the state’s technical schools. In addition, readers will find testimonials from several area students who were successful in collecting enough scholarships and grants to cover the cost of much, if not all, of their college education. College Bound can be found starting on Page B1 of this week's ANR. 

    Having gained confidence and experience with aerial photography when he helped launch a statewide drone program for the Nebraska State Patrol, Ravi Singh has ventured into the private sector with his wife by launching a new business called Innovative Drone Solutions. The story of the Singhs aerial entrepreneurial adventure can be found on this week's Business Page, A8. 

    These stories and more plus commentary, ag news and community happenings can be found in the print or e-editions of the Aurora News-Register.