Nehemiah Armstrong, a robotics major at Columbus State University, is making an impact outside the traditional university setting by mentoring fifth-grade students at Dimon Magnet Academy in Columbus. His involvement is part of the Professional Development Lab School partnership between Columbus State and the Muscogee County School District, which began earlier this year. The program aims to support K-12 students, their families, and aspiring teachers by integrating university resources into local schools.
Dimon Magnet Academy stands out as the district’s only STEM-certified school recognized by the Georgia Department of Education. Armstrong is one of 50 Columbus State students participating in the initiative, with backgrounds not only in education but also in fields such as robotics, arts, and nursing. These students bring knowledge from their college courses to inspire younger learners.
Armstrong’s path to this role has included earning a business administration degree from Clark Atlanta University and serving six years in the Army National Guard as a combat medic, including deployment to Afghanistan. He has worked as an electrician apprentice and currently holds a full-time position as a die technician at Oneda Corporation while pursuing his studies.
“Juggling work, school and community service has taught me the importance of discipline, time management and perseverance,” Armstrong said. “These are qualities that I strive to model for the students I mentor at Dimon.”
He cited personal motivations for his service: his wife is studying medicine at Mercer University and they are expecting their first child. For Armstrong, working with local children is an investment in his own family’s future.
At Dimon Magnet Academy, Armstrong provides academic support in mathematics for fifth graders and offers one-on-one mentoring to those who need positive role models. He is also developing “Dimon’s LitLab,” an after-school program focused on literacy and social-emotional learning that will launch in January 2026.
“Literacy is the foundation for all learning,” he explained. “Research tells us that students who are not reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.”
Armstrong believes that building strong literacy skills enables students to succeed across subjects—including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Through targeted interventions based on research about reading instruction, he hopes Dimon’s students will meet state proficiency standards.
His work highlights how Columbus State University leverages partnerships like these to serve its community—a goal outlined on its official website, which emphasizes ethical leadership and community collaboration. The university operates within the University System of Georgia and supports regional education through various initiatives.
“I am deeply committed to serving our community so that we are setting ourselves up for success now and in the future,” Armstrong said. His goal: “to give students the tools and confidence to become productive citizens who will, in turn, pay it forward.”
As he prepares for a career as a Department of Defense robotics engineer after graduation from Columbus State—an institution known for servant leadership values and engagement with its region—Armstrong continues serving young people locally through mentorship programs like LitLab.
