2025 Students of Distinction

Jamison Nielsen: Designing his future, one blueprint at a time

Gig Harbor Now is posting profiles featuring the Students of Distinction being honored by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Peers, teachers or parents nominate students, who must be a graduating senior at a Peninsula School District school. A panel of community leaders selects students to be honored in one of seven categories: academics; athletics; career and technical excellence; community service; music, arts and drama; overcoming adversity; and science and technology.

These students will be celebrated during a banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.

School: Gig Harbor High School

Category: Career & Technical Excellence

Jamison Nielsen has always been drawn to structure, space, and creativity – three forces that converge in the field of architecture. At Gig Harbor High School, he turned that curiosity into a passion through hands-on learning in career and technical education courses like Architecture & Interior Design, Engineering Design, and Manufacturing. Each class gave him not only practical knowledge, but the inspiration to pursue a future in the field.

Jamison credits his CTE experiences, especially his involvement in the Technology Student Association (TSA), for solidifying his decision to major in Architecture. Competing at both the state and national level, he refined key skills like CAD drafting and architectural design, and he’s especially proud of placing in the top five in Architectural Design at the 2024 TSA State Competition. These moments, combined with the creative problem-solving required in his classes, helped him see architecture as more than a dream – it became a plan.

Jamison Nielsen

This fall, Jamison will attend Northeastern University with the goal of earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture. He plans to participate in Army or Navy ROTC during his college years, blending leadership with his academic pursuits.

One person who’s played a pivotal role in Jamison’s journey is Mr. Joe Marten, his teacher and STEAM club advisor. “His mentorship and work in these areas has allowed me to learn more about the fields I am interested in,” Jamison says. “He has been a key part of my growth and success.”

From classroom models to real-world goals, Jamison is building a future with vision, integrity, and purpose – one design at a time.