Emily Nelson has never set foot on the football field, played a game of basketball, or hit a baseball for LZ’s team, but she has scored touchdowns, slammed dunks, and hit home runs with the school’s team.

“She wanted to do something to be more social and also support the athletic programs. She goes to all the games, she loves being there,” James Pfeifer, transitions teacher, said.

Nelson, transition student, spends her free time making rainbow loom bracelets for athletes on the football, basketball, and baseball teams. What started with bracelets for the freshman and sophomore teams has turned into the creation of over 350 bracelets in three years in her free time.

“[My favorite part is] making them,” Nelson said. “[The players] said ‘thank you,’ and they liked them.”

Students in the transition class are taught important life skills that they will use once they graduate high school, skills such as vocational training and being social. By making the bracelets, Nelson has made friendships with athletes, which makes sense as “they’re friendship bracelets,” Nelson chimed in.

“She’s developed some friendships through it and people say ‘hi’ to her more in the hallway, which has really helped her confidence,” Pfeifer said.

When Pfeifer asked Nelson who the biggest Bears fan is, she quickly and happily called out “Me!”

Nelson said, “I’m really cool for making the bracelets.”