
One of Ms. Nicols’ other interests is history. Between 1994 and 2015, she has held titles like chairman of technology and grants, vice president, president, curator, and chairman of the preservation advisory council of the Apopka Historical Society. She also served as a member of the board of directors of the Henry Nehrling Society, and as the author of “Tangerine’s Historic Buildings,” the “Northwest Orange County Register of Historic Places,” and “Zellwood’s Historic Buildings.”In recognition of her efforts, Ms. Nicols was honored with an eponymous day by the city of Apopka, Fla., in 2015, the Judah P. Benjamin Award from United Daughters of the Confederacy in 2012, and the Restoration/Rehabilitation Award and the Statewide Preservation Award from the Florida Trust Historical Preservation in 2006. She also won the Martin Marietta Recognition Award. Her achievements were highlighted in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, Who’s Who in Finance and Business, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, and Who’s Who of American Women.When Ms. Nicols wasn’t working, she was very active in her community. She was a member of the St. Francis Disabilities Committee, the pastoral council and the social action committee of the St. Francis of Assisi Church, and the Council of Catholic Women, and was the chair of helping hands through the Errol Estates Property Owners Association. Further, Ms. Nichols was a volunteer of the Apopka High School Advisory Council and the secretary of the Board of Education for Bishop Moore High School. She has remained the executive vice president of the Golfside Village Homeowners Association since 1999.
Ms. Nicols’ prepared for her endeavors by earning a Master of Science in math and computer science from Adelphi University in 1985 and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Hofstra University in 1979. She also joined prominent organizations like the IEEE Computer Society, the Mathematics Association of America, the American Mathematics Society, and Kappa Mu Epsilon.