A.I.M.
ASPIRE + INSPIRE + MOTIVATE
General Overview & Goals of A.I.M.
Rural students face distinct challenges in career and college or post-secondary readiness. Limited exposure to higher education and career options often results in lower aspirations and insufficient preparation for career and technical education or post-secondary pathways. Many rural students have never visited a college or technical school campus or had family members who pursued post-secondary education, leading some to believe that further education is not meant for them.
VREC is committed to addressing these challenges by raising student aspirations through intentional early exposure to careers and post-secondary options. Through the Aspire–Imagine–Motivate (A.I.M.) initiative, VREC engages students during the middle school years to help them explore possibilities and envision future pathways. The program’s goal is to ensure students enter high school with a clear roadmap that positions them for career pathways leading to a credential of value or a degree.
A.I.M. provides a coherent, region-wide system of career exploration and preparation that helps students understand their strengths and interests and how these connect to potential careers. The initiative includes structured activities for grades 6, 7, and 8 and ensures equitable access for all students in the Northeast Kingdom. These activities include free visits to Vermont college campuses, facilitated tours of regional Career and Technical Education Centers, and an Annual Leadership Summit hosted at VSU Lyndon, where rising eighth graders explore careers, post-secondary pathways, and goal-setting strategies.
As a result, students enter high school with a clearer understanding of graduation requirements and the educational steps needed to reach their career goals. This career readiness system ensures that each member school offers a progression of experiences, beginning with interest inventories and advancing to career-focused discussions, including exposure to high school and post-secondary programs, and participation in job shadowing, mentoring, and work-based learning opportunities.
Campus Visits
VREC is excited to host campus visits again in the 2026-27 year for 8th Grade students. These trips are provided for free thanks to the generous support of the Vermont Community Foundation and the McClure Foundation.
Registration is open for eight Spring college visits, sponsored by the VREC AIM program!
Spring 2026 Campus Visits Schedule:
March 10, Norwich University: Tour campus with a guide and eat in the dining hall.
March 11, Norwich University: Tour campus with a guide and eat in the dining hall.
April 1, Johnson State College: Students participate in a scavenger hunt of the campus and eat lunch in the dining hall.
April 2, Champlain College: Tour campus with a guide and eat in the dining hall.
April 14, St. Michael's College: Info session/campus tour with a guide and eat in the dining hall.
April 28, VSU Lyndon: Students participate in a scavenger hunt of the campus and eat lunch in the dining hall.
May 1, University of Vermont: Teachers lead their students on a self-guided tour of campus and eat in the dining hall.
May 7, Middlebury College: Info session in the athletic center, self guided tour and eat in the dining hall.
Please click here for more information or to register your students.
2025 Spring Visits:
We had over 200 students from eight schools make campus visits this spring to St. Michael's College, Middlebury College, Sterling College, VTSU-Randolph and VTSU-Lyndon.
“I had the chance to visit the department of engineering at UVM and it really helped me frame my decision and next steps.”
A.I.M. Leadership Summit 2025
VREC held an 8th Grade Leadership Summit at VSU Lyndon in October, for students to identify their strengths, explore their aspirations, and consider steps to achieving personal goals. We were fortunate to have the very capable staff from UpforLearning facilitate activities for over 120 students. Students had lunch in the college cafeteria and participated in a tour of the campus.
