From the cafeteria to the girls’ locker room, Angie “Mama” Nelson is all over the school. She can be spotted cheering on the football team at every game, home or away, as well as directing students to the cafeteria for Pep Club on Friday mornings. In addition to all she does, she is also the director of the girls’ locker room.
Nelson began working at South in the lunchroom in 2011 when one of her daughters was a senior. Nelson later became a paraprofessional before transitioning into her current job this year.
“I thought [working in the locker room] would be a great opportunity,” Nelson said.
Nelson has two children who attend South, senior Jake Nelson and junior Hannah Nelson. According to Jake, he likes the fact that he could be at school with his mom.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Jake said. “I get a little perkage since she’s here.”
Although he says he gets all of the perks, Jake admits that his mom is like a mother to many. Angie also acknowledges her close relationship with many kids.
“In my neighborhood, I think [my house] is always the house that everybody comes to, and I have so many kids,” Angie said. “Everyone always just called me Mama, because I’m always like their mother.”
According to Angie, every day is hectic because people are always asking for something, especially Mondays, when many students forget their gym uniforms. But Angie takes it all in stride, including supervising Pep Club, which she believes is a great experience.
“One Friday I took a half a day off because my ribs were so sore from laughing,” Angie said.
Pep Club tries to attend an event for every sport, according to senior Sam DeCosmo, Pep Club co-president, but football games are their biggest events.
“Everyone is out there, leading the cheers, trying to get loud, and [Mama] is a huge help in every single way,” DeCosmo said.
According to DeCosmo, Angie drove the homecoming float for Pep Club this year, despite the fact she was allergic to the latex balloons tied to the car.
“She still drove the car with Epi-Pen in hand, and did it for everybody out there to see the Pep Club and the Titan Nation do their thing,” DeCosmo said.
DeCosmo says that Angie has gone above and beyond with Pep Club this year.
“We’re only getting started,” DeCosmo said. “We’re not even done with the first semester yet, and she’s already made a good name for herself. Everybody knows her at the school, she’s everybody’s Mama, and as I told her, she’s my second mom.”
