Straying from the usual SkillsUSA and robotics competition banners Whitmore usually displays, local and national representatives from the Air and Space Forces Association (AFA) presented him with a Teacher of the Year award from the nonprofit organization.
Initially, Whitmore thought it was a mistake, that there are “other folks who are out there probably just as deserving, or more so,” but after a bit of research, and a conversation with the chapter’s Vice President for Aerospace Education Diane Bartels, he realized it was the real deal.
“They talked about what they stood for and I’m like, ‘OK, yeah, that sounds really great,’” Whitmore said.
The AFA is a nonprofit organization the mission of which is to “promote dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support our Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect our enduring Heritage,” according to the AFA website.
The AFA has chapters in every state, plus South Korea, Japan, Italy, Germany and England. One teacher in each state is awarded the teacher of the year award for their efforts in showing students what a future in STEM careers would look like. There is also a national level award.
Whitmore was nominated for the award by CHS Principal Dave Hiebner and former Principal Steven Woodside. His experience in engineering, electronics, mechatronics and robotics over the last 18 years has impressed not only staff, but students and parents.
“They spoke of his professionalism, excellence for the students, knowing that he is willing to support and help them to realize what their future might be like,” Bartels said.
A former student also put in a good word for Whitmore, saying she likely wouldn’t have even taken an electronics class were it not for him. After taking six more classes in that field before graduating, she is now an electrical engineer in the Omaha area.
Another kind word came from a student’s parents, who said Whitmore helped their student(s) to learn lifelong skills and find career paths, applauding the many hours he has spent in and out of the classroom with SkillsUSA.
Maj. Gen. Mark Musick, secretary of the AFA’s Lincoln chapter, gave a brief speech, outlining how important it was for students to have access to the subjects Whitmore teaches, particularly in Nebraska as robotics and mechatronics are almost everywhere in ag production these days.
The ability for them to carry some of the credits they earn in Whitmore’s classes to schools like Central Community College when they graduate is also something he likes to see.
“That is absolutely a tremendous thing that you can do for your future,” Musick said. “I am really utterly impressed with your life and what you’ve done and what you’ve done here in the school for these students.”
AFA state President Chris Canada added that the real winners with this award are Whitmore’s students, because while there are a lot of classes they can take and a lot of teachers they can have, they know they have one that wants them to succeed and go out into the world with the skills they need to find a career and be innovators and builders.
“That’s one thing that (this award) recognizes, because for us as a nation to maintain an edge in technology and innovation, having better ideas starts here, in high school, college, trade schools,” Canada said. “It’s taking young minds like yours and inspiring them.”
During the award presentation, Whitmore was gifted an AFA jacket, pin and a check to support his classes, which he said will be used for power tools. Whitmore admits that his background is a little different than most teachers. His degrees are in electronics technology, information systems and mechatronics. He has a lot of experience in those fields from working his family’s farm.
What drove him to teaching and continues to drive him, Whitmore said, is giving students the opportunities he might not have had when he was in school.
“I come from a smaller school and we didn’t have just a ton of opportunities, and I’m always looking for opportunities to propel our students into that next level, and career and technical education is a great way to do it,” Whitmore said. While robotics and mechatronics are his specialty, Whitmore said his focus is to find those opportunities for students and then seeing them capitalize on them.
Whitmore’s students have won many awards over the years, but it’s not about that, he said. It’s about getting students to try.
“That’s the reason that we have students show up even when it gets hard,” Whitmore said. “Especially in the robotics program. Things can get hard, but ... I still have students capitalize on those opportunities. They may not always be first place, may not even place, but they take that opportunity to grow and start to achieve themselves.”
© 2025 the Columbus Telegram (Columbus, Neb.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
