Student Spotlight: Amy Nicholas

Update April 09: Amy has been accepted to the law school of Indiana University for next year.

Most of you haven’t met Amy Nicholas yet. You’re in for a treat.  Amy dropped out of what was the Broadcasting Division in 1985.  She came back this summer and anticipates finishing her degree at the end of winter quarter.

Amy is confined to a wheel chair and has lost much motor function in her fingers and hands. She has had a progressive neuromuscular disease since childhood, but it doesn’t slow her down.

Amy commutes to UC from Indianapolis! She has a Toyota van, which has been converted to accommodate her wheelchair.  A button opens the door and deploys a ramp.  “Once I’m in the van my wheelchair locks into a mechanism on the floor. I then transfer into a captain’s chair that swivels 180-degrees so I can drive. I use hand controls to apply the brakes and gas.”

Amy lives with her two children, 11 year old Shelby and eight year old Luke.

 “My children take up most of my free time and I wouldn’t have it any other way. When I do get a chance, I enjoy listening to live music. I am going white water rafting and sky-diving in the fall.”

Amy dropped out of school more than 20 years ago because she got a job at a radio station in Virginia Beach.

“I didn’t think I needed a degree because I had my dream job.”
 
She went on to other radio jobs including work as an on air personality at WWNK in Cincinnati. She moved to Indianapolis in 1990 and worked 10 years as a vacation counselor for Resorts Condominiums International.

Amy advises her 21st century classmates to stay in school, even if they get their dream job. “You never know what the future holds and a degree can open up many more employment opportunities.”

Incoming E-Media student Sarah Knigga got to know Amy well as her notetaker in summer classes.   Sarah found Amy to be brave and inspiring.

“We also went downtown for a few happy hours when we both had free time. Amy is not only an amazingly disciplined person, she can also have a great time,” Sarah said.

“My attitude towards my disability”, Amy said, “is that there is always somebody out there who has it worse than you. I have two wonderful children, a network of friends and a family who have never said ‘you can’t do it.’”

Amy Nicholas is finishing her degree so she can go to law school. She hopes to start that phase of her life next fall.

Written September 08