Name: Amy Nelson
UNCW Swimming & Diving Class of ____ ‘96
Events: 200 Fly and a little bit of this and that.
Degree: BA Spanish
Profession: Business Aviation and Travel
Current residence: Norwalk CT
What is your favorite memory of being part of UNCW’s Swimming & Diving program?
The best thing about being ona team was knowing you were never alone…from Freshman year living in Galloway with Wendy, Fathom, Christina, Aimee. to biking around campus and always seeing someone crossing paths…eating at Wagoner Hall… there was always a teammate around and you never had to do it alone. Saturday evening exhausted from the pier to pier swim…. and going to the house. Freshman study hall in the library. But it was being able to spend so much time together that when we walked on to the pool deck.. the noise and banging on the boards it made your heart skip a beat and beam with pride. And being the home of the Seahawks was something special. It was a family affair. It was and is always a Great Day to be a Seahawk.
How has your experience as part of UNCW’s Swimming & Diving program impacted or influenced your life?
I swam Freshman and Sophomore year and wanted to go abroad my Junior year… so I didn’t swim that year and wow how I missed it. but when I came back my senior year I realized how important swimming was to me… Coach Allen supported me throughout it all and how the team accepted me as well upon my return . And even taking a year off and it took the entire season but I peaked at EC AC’s my last swim of my college career. It was one of those times that you learn don’t give up and Teammates are for life. So I have learned don’t give up even when it’s hard .. the pay off is worth it and know that you can always always count on a Seahawk teammate/alumni in life.
What have you been up to since your days on the UNCW pool deck?
Yikes.. when you graduated as long ago as I have… the list is long but in a nutshell I have traveled the world as a Flight Attendant first for Delta Airlines and then I went into corporate Aviation as a flight attendant and a flight attendant supervisor. Since UNCW, I have lived in Los Angels, New York City, San Francisco, 3 cities in CT and then Anchorage back to CT. For a period of time I was doing triathlons, and ran a number of marathons which I loved. My husband, Frank, and I have 3 children, Francesca (8), Lucas (6) and Catrina (4), we both lived quite a bit before having kids.I’m still involved in Corporate Aviation, but recently have dived into the world of being a Travel Advisor. Since I’m not traveling as much as I used to, I love helping people plan their travel adventures anywhere in the world.
Two years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor (meningioma) and thankfully with many prayers and the skills of great surgeons it was removed. It was a short chapter, but it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It’s in these times knowing you have teammates that will always cheer and pray for you. You are never alone in good and bad and ugly times… you have a team backing you up… no matter how old you are you’ve got a team.
Favorite stomping grounds from your time at UNCW?
Riding my beach cruiser around campus. It was the best thing… being able to ride and tow someone on the handlebars from the Library to Wagoner Hall. Full speed ahead…Before they put in fancy lakes and and bridges and other things. PT’s.. The Oceanic when parents came into town for special occasions.
Favorite UNCW Swimming & Diving slogan or cheer?
Home of the SEAHAWKS!!!
Parting advice for current UNCW Swimmers and Divers and/or recent alumni?
Represent – Get the most out of your college career… become a part of the UNCW community. I LOVED being a part of the team, but I loved being involved as an Orientation Leader for a few years and was a UNCW Ambassador (gave tours back in the day). Not sure how I had time but I also worked in the Office of Student Affairs. . Being able to represent the team by being involved in the university community speaks volume to everyone. . You never know how those connections will help in your career in the future. Stay connected with this amazing Seahawk team/family. You are never alone… and always reach out for the good, the bad and ugly times in life.