Senior Grace Nelson is a marketing genius, and she is only in high school. With multiple DECA awards and being a manager of social medias, Nelson has a history of excellence in advertising.
“I started studying marketing in DECA junior year, and through my project that year I got my first social media marketing job for Harbor Yoga Studio,” Nelson said. “I learned so much about marketing from my junior year DECA project, and I took that knowledge with me to my, now three, social media marketing jobs.”
Nelson being DECA’s Chapter President is not a shock. She has run the project The Best of 52 while being part of the program. The goal of 52 is to support Muscular Dystrophy (or MD) families through fundraisers and a summer camp. MD is a genetic disorder which leads to progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, which requires lifelong care and management.
“My favorite moment is definitely getting to know Austin Nisley and his family. Austin is in sixth grade and has been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It has been truly amazing getting to know him and his family,” Nelson said. “I am very excited to volunteer at the Ohio MDA Summer Camp this summer and see Austin there.”
One of her teammates on The Best of 52 project, Lauren Petska ‘25 has known Nelson for years. Petska is the Public Relations Coordinator for DECA and works with Nelson on a daily basis.
“Grace is such a sweet person who cares for everyone. I appreciate who she is as our DECA chapter president as she is always keeping us in line toward our goals,” Petska said.
Nelson is not only a talented marketing and businesswoman, she is also a fantastic tennis player. She played for all four years of high school and was the team captain her senior year.
“Being on the high school tennis team was such an important part of my high school experience. It allowed me to push myself in something other than academics, and meet so many friends in the process,” Nelson said. “Being captain of the tennis team, my senior year allowed me to lead such an amazing group of young women and learn so much about being a leader in the process.”
For three years she played with junior Sabah Ahmed. Not only were they teammates, but they are also close friends.
“I look up to Grace in more ways than she knows. Having three jobs and being successful at all of them, along with being an amazing friend is not something anyone can do,” Ahmed said. “She’s someone that will always be there for you, even if she has a lot on her plate, and being by her side since we were kids, I know that she’s always been like that. I strive to have the work ethic and dedication that she has one day, and if I ever get to that position, I hope she knows that it is all thanks to her.”
In her future, Nelson hopes to major in marketing at Indiana University and own her own advertising and marketing agency. Nelson has a strong work ethic but manages to balance it all in a graceful manner.
