The AIM Higher Foundation

The AIM Higher Foundation was birthed in 2013 when it's Founder and head of AIM Educational Services, now AIM Online Academy, Nicole McLaren Campbell met Tahirah Williams, a student sponsored to AIM's SAT Prep class by a family friend. When Nicole learned of Tahirah's extraordinary and triumphant story - stellar academic performance and leadership in the midst of severe economic hardship - she decided to provide college application and prep services through AIM to Tahirah, free of cost.
 
Tahirah was admitted to Howard University, with a full-scholarship, and through advocacy from AIM was able to obtain funding for travel, visa fees, winter clothing, luggage, an on-campus job as well as even more funding from Howard. Tahirah is now a graduate, thriving in her career and life, and has altered the trajectory of her entire family's life (learn more about Tahirah). 
 
The AIM Higher Foundation, has gone on to help a handful of students, every year, to complete their high school educations with grants for everything from tuition, uniforms and books, to laptops and internet access, meals and transportation to school. The Foundation also provides pro bono SAT Prep and College Advisory and Application support through AIM Online Academy.
 
Starting in 2021, AIM Higher Scholars received mentorship and application assistance from past AIM Higher Scholars, which births lifelong relationships!
In 2022, the AIM Higher Foundation paused College Application support in order to strengthen systems around verifying need of student applicants. During this time, Nicole's vision for the Foundation expanded, and was in a sense 're-birthed'.
It's like I saw the clear role of the Foundation in supporting and nurturing Caribbean excellence - connecting Caribbean youth to each other, and with the wider community interested in supporting them ... the sky is the limit! The Caribbean is a force to be reckoned with and I see our youth development as paramount! This has been my dream since age 13, and it all just clicked! I've NEVER been more excited!"

AIM Higher Scholars, some of whom are first-generation college attendees, have been admitted to Universities including Amherst College, Columbia University, Dartmouth. Wesleyan University, Howard University, CALTech, the University of British Columbia, MIT, Princeton University, Lafayette College and the University of the West Indies.

 

The Foundation's mission is to empower high potential, low income students to access tertiary education. The vision is to develop leadership and excellence in Caribbean youth, connecting Foundation scholars with Universities, Foundations, NGO's, Government Agencies, Corporations, College Counseling Professionals and individuals who can provide assistance and support for everything including but not limited to academic support, leadership development, community service and internship opportunities, innovation and entrepreneurship training, college and test prep services, scholarship opportunities and ongoing mentorship. The 'aim' is to inspire young people to AIM Higher and realize their full potential, irrespective of their circumstances or background, and make positive contributions to the Caribbean and the world.

Nicole McLaren Campbell

Founder, AIM Online Academy and the AIM Higher Foundation
Nicole McLaren Campbell is an entrepreneur, educator, speaker, goal accelerator strategist, Amazon best-selling author and founder of AIM Educational Services.
AIM revolutionized the preparation of students for college - guiding scores of students to the most prestigious universities in the world, including Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the United Kingdom and all 8 Ivy League institutions in the United States.
Her passion for education would not be possible without the academic guidance she received from St. Andrew High School for Girls, Phillips Academy 'Andover', Princeton University and the University of London's School of Advanced Study and School of African and Oriental Studies.
At age fourteen Nicole she was featured on the Nickelodeon Channel in a documentary "Nickellenium" and chosen by Teen People Magazine as one of "twenty teenagers who would change the world," following her participation in MIT's Junior Summit in 1998.
 

Fast forward to the college graduate, Nicole entered Government, with jobs in Jamaica's public sector at the then Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce and the Ministry of Education where she served as Senior Policy Analyst to the then Minister of Education, now Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
As a volunteer for Princeton's admission office, Nicole interviewed one candidate who she felt compelled to assist and realized she wanted to to help many more! She was then inspired to start the AIM Higher Foundation with a mandate to identify and empower promising low-income students so that they too can unlock their potential through access to tertiary education. Her vision is to inspire youth globally to AIM Higher. Further to that end, she serves on the Boards of the Early Childhood Commission and the CHASE Fund in Jamaica.
Regarded as one of the most influential voices on empowerment, education, parenting and entrepreneurship, Nicole was selected to speak at the Paris Headquarters of UNESCO as part of the Give1 Foundation Emerging Global Leaders Conference and presented with their Women In Leadership Award in 2017 and recognized by the highest office in Jamaica - that of the Governor General - when she was named a 2018 recipient of the Governor General's Award for Excellence in Achievement and Leadership.

In 2019, she was appointed National Productivity Ambassador by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Jamaica, and continues to expand AIM through the Caribbean. She is also the Founder of the Goal Accelerator for high achieving women to build systems to run their lives more effectively. Nicole is stepmom to 17 year old Ally, mom to 11 year old LC and 10 year old Joshua, and wife to Jeffrey 'Agent Sasco' Campbell.