AITP 9th Annual National Collegiate Conference Highlights and Winner Circle

The recent AITP National Collegiate Conference, which continues to be the single largest annual event produced by AITP, was a huge success! The event experienced an increase of 13 percent in paid registrations, totaling 635, and a 17 percent increase in the total attendance of 762 when compared to the 2003 event held in West Lafayette, Indiana and Purdue University. The 2004 attendance figures match the total attendance of the 2002 event in Kansas City, and we are positioned for a strong attendance gain next year when the event moves to Atlanta, Georgia on April 7-9.

The conference delivers true value and opportunities to the AITP student and faculty attendees along with our conference sponsors, which include Robert Half Technology, Microsoft, AITP Education Foundation, MicroFocus, The AIM Institute, State Farm, Wal-Mart, ICCP Education Foundation, PresentersPlus, Creighton University, Metropolitan Community College and the AITP Omaha professional chapter.

The AITP student chapters/members at Metropolitan Community College, Creighton University and the AITP Omaha professional chapter combined their resources to create a team of local volunteers to supplement the conference committee and AITP headquarters. This cooperative effort resulted in a successful conference.

The conference officially opened at the brand new, beautiful and luxurious Omaha Hilton Hotel, though we also enjoyed the new modern facilities of the Qwest Center Omaha where all the conference meals and sessions were held. The conference kicked off with an exciting welcome reception complete with story telling and Native American dancers and drumming, which proved a challenge for the group meeting next door to us that night!

Keynoters Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, and Jim LeValley, director of Microsoft Learning, did superb jobs in getting our conference kicked off each day with key insights to success for everyone in the IT industry. An outstanding lineup of breakout speakers, contest events, ICCP exams, a wired and wireless internet café, scavenger hunt, student banner contest and tons of fun networking was also enjoyed by everyone in attendance, along with strolls to the nearby Omaha Old Market area for shopping, dining and entertainment.

In fact, claims continue to be made declaring the 2004 event as the "best AITP National Collegiate Conference ever." The conference concluded with the awards banquet, where a crowd of 677 enjoyed a wonderful meal while awaiting the announcement of the contest winners and other award recipients, including the first ever Robert Half Technology/AITP scholarship recipients.

Planning has already started for the 10th annual AITP National Collegiate Conference to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 7-9, 2005. It will be co-hosted by Chattahoochee Technical College and the Atlanta AITP professional chapter. Bids are also being accepted for future AITP National Collegiate Conferences for the year 2006 and beyond, but start making your plans to be in Atlanta April 5-6, 2005!

AITP 9th Annual National Collegiate Conference Highlights and Winner Circle

Attendance
635 Total registered student and faculty attendees
75 Exhibitors, speakers, special guests and banquet guests
52 Committee, AITP officers, EF/EDSIG board and volunteers
762 Total "pre-audited" attendance
85 Colleges and universities represented

Diamond Sponsor
Robert Half Technology

Gold Sponsors
Microsoft
AITP Education Foundation
The AIM Institute

Silver Sponsors
State Farm
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
MicroFocus

Bronze Sponsors
AITP Omana
Creighton University
ICCP Education Foundation
Metropolitan Community College
PresentersPlus, Incorporated

2002-2003 Faculty Advisor of the Year Award
Jim Capell, Ph.D. Central Michigan University

Exhibitors
AITP
AITP Omaha Chapter & Infotec 2004
FBI
ICCP
Microsoft
Chattahoochee Technical College (2005 AITP NCC)
AITP Region 3 Student Conferences
Creighton University
PresentersPlus, Incorporated
Human Resources Association of the Midwest
Robert Half Technology
State Farm
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.