feat: add optional student nickname for informal display

Keep legal first and last names for formal lists; show DisplayFirstName on teams, calendars, and import matching so two Josiahs can be told apart.

Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>

Core/Entities/Student.cs

@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ public class Student : IEquatable<Student>
     [Display(Name = "Last Name")]
     public string LastName { get; set; } = null!;
 
+    [StringLength(50)]
+    [Display(Name = "Nickname")]
+    public string? Nickname { get; set; }
+
     [Range(5,12)]
     [Display(Name = "Grade")]
     public int Grade { get; set;  }
@@ -55,6 +59,17 @@ public class Student : IEquatable<Student>
 
     public string FirstNameLastName => $"{FirstName} {LastName}";
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Nickname when set, otherwise <see cref="FirstName"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string DisplayFirstName =>
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Nickname) ? FirstName : Nickname.Trim();
+
+    public void NormalizeNickname()
+    {
+        Nickname = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Nickname) ? null : Nickname.Trim();
+    }
+
     public static Tuple<string, string> ParseNameParts(string fullName)
     {
         var match = Match(fullName, @"(.*),\s*(.*)");
@@ -67,10 +82,7 @@ public class Student : IEquatable<Student>
                 : new Tuple<string, string>(fullName, string.Empty);
     }
 
-    public override string ToString()
-    {
-	    return FirstName;
-    }
+    public override string ToString() => DisplayFirstName;
 
     public bool VotingDelegate => OfficerRole is Entities.OfficerRole.President or Entities.OfficerRole.VicePresident;
 

Core/Parsers/AssignmentRequirementParser.cs

@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ public class AssignmentRequirementParser : CsvParserBase
 	{
 	}
 
+	public AssignmentRequirementParser(StreamReader reader, bool ignoreBlankLines = true) : base(reader, ignoreBlankLines)
+	{
+	}
+
 	public AssignmentRequirement[] Parse(ICollection<EventDefinition> events, ICollection<Student> students)
 	{
 		var assumptions = new List<AssignmentRequirement>();
@@ -20,7 +24,11 @@ public class AssignmentRequirementParser : CsvParserBase
 
 		var studentArray = 
             studentColumns
-                .Select(c => students.FirstOrDefault(s => s.FirstName == c)).ToArray();
+                .Select(c => students.FirstOrDefault(s =>
+                    string.Equals(s.DisplayFirstName, c, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                    || string.Equals(s.Nickname, c, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                    || string.Equals(s.FirstName, c, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)))
+                .ToArray();
 
 		while (CsvReader.Read())
 		{

Core/Parsers/FuzzyStudentMatcher.cs

@@ -23,7 +23,14 @@ public static class FuzzyStudentMatcher
 
     public static int Score(Student student, string name)
     {
-        var candidates = new[] { student.Name, student.FirstNameLastName, student.LastNameFirstName };
+        var candidates = new[]
+        {
+            student.Name,
+            student.FirstNameLastName,
+            student.LastNameFirstName,
+            student.DisplayFirstName,
+            student.Nickname
+        }.Where(c => !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(c));
         return candidates.Max(candidate => Math.Max(Fuzz.Ratio(candidate, name), Fuzz.TokenSetRatio(candidate, name)));
     }
 }

Core/Parsers/TeamParser.cs

@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ namespace Core.Parsers
 		{
 		}
 
+		public TeamParser(StreamReader reader, bool ignoreBlankLines = true) : base(reader, ignoreBlankLines)
+		{
+		}
+
 		public Team[] Parse(ICollection<EventDefinition> events, ICollection<Student> students)
 		{
 			var teams = new List<Team>();
@@ -118,7 +122,9 @@ namespace Core.Parsers
 						{
 							Fuzz.Ratio(s.Name, studentName),
 							Fuzz.Ratio(s.FirstNameLastName, studentName),
-							Fuzz.Ratio(s.FirstName, studentName)
+							Fuzz.Ratio(s.FirstName, studentName),
+							Fuzz.Ratio(s.DisplayFirstName, studentName),
+							string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(s.Nickname) ? 0 : Fuzz.Ratio(s.Nickname, studentName)
 						}.Max()
 						where rat > 90
 						orderby rat descending

Core/Utility/StudentNameFormatter.cs

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public static class StudentNameFormatter
         if (student == null)
             return string.Empty;
 
-        var name = student.FirstName;
+        var name = student.DisplayFirstName;
 
         // Add overlap marker
         if (options.HasOverlap)

Core/Utility/TeamStudentNameFormatter.cs

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public static class TeamStudentNameFormatter
         if (student == null)
             return string.Empty;
 
-        var name = student.FirstName;
+        var name = student.DisplayFirstName;
 
         // Add captain indicator (before overlap/absent markers)
         if (options.CaptainIndicator != CaptainIndicatorStyle.None && team != null && team.Captain != null && team.Captain.Equals(student))
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ public static class TeamStudentNameFormatter
 
         // Get the suffix from StudentNameFormatter (overlap/absent markers)
         var baseFormatted = StudentNameFormatter.FormatStudentName(student, studentNameOptions);
-        var suffix = baseFormatted.Substring(student.FirstName.Length);
+        var suffix = baseFormatted.Substring(student.DisplayFirstName.Length);
 
         return name + suffix;
     }
@@ -214,10 +214,10 @@ public static class TeamStudentNameFormatter
         {
             OrderingStyle.CaptainFirst => studentsWithCaptainInfo
                 .OrderBy(x => !x.IsCaptain)
-                .ThenBy(x => x.Student.FirstName)
+                .ThenBy(x => x.Student.DisplayFirstName)
                 .Select(x => x.Student),
             OrderingStyle.Alphabetical => studentsWithCaptainInfo
-                .OrderBy(x => x.Student.FirstName)
+                .OrderBy(x => x.Student.DisplayFirstName)
                 .Select(x => x.Student),
             OrderingStyle.GradeDescending => studentsWithCaptainInfo
                 .OrderByDescending(x => x.Student.Grade + x.Student.TsaYear)
@@ -252,8 +252,8 @@ public static class TeamStudentNameFormatter
         {
             OrderingStyle.CaptainFirst => students
                 .OrderBy(s => team.Captain == null || !team.Captain.Equals(s))
-                .ThenBy(s => s.FirstName),
-            OrderingStyle.Alphabetical => students.OrderBy(s => s.FirstName),
+                .ThenBy(s => s.DisplayFirstName),
+            OrderingStyle.Alphabetical => students.OrderBy(s => s.DisplayFirstName),
             OrderingStyle.GradeDescending => students.OrderByDescending(s => s.Grade + s.TsaYear),
             _ => students
         };

Core/YearTransition/YearTransitionPlanner.cs

@@ -242,7 +242,9 @@ public static class YearTransitionPlanner
         // Exact full-name matches first
         var fullMatches = students.Where(s =>
             comparer.Equals(s.FirstNameLastName, line) ||
-            comparer.Equals(s.LastNameFirstName, line)).ToList();
+            comparer.Equals(s.LastNameFirstName, line) ||
+            comparer.Equals($"{s.DisplayFirstName} {s.LastName}", line) ||
+            comparer.Equals($"{s.LastName}, {s.DisplayFirstName}", line)).ToList();
         if (fullMatches.Count > 0)
             return fullMatches;
 
@@ -251,8 +253,10 @@ public static class YearTransitionPlanner
             return [];
 
         return students.Where(s =>
-            comparer.Equals(s.FirstName.Trim(), first) &&
-            comparer.Equals(s.LastName.Trim(), last));
+            comparer.Equals(s.LastName.Trim(), last) &&
+            (comparer.Equals(s.FirstName.Trim(), first)
+             || comparer.Equals(s.DisplayFirstName, first)
+             || comparer.Equals(s.Nickname?.Trim(), first)));
     }
 
     /// <summary>

Data/Configurations/StudentConfiguration.cs

@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ namespace Data.Configurations
                 .IsRequired()
                 .HasMaxLength(100);
 
+            builder.Property(s => s.Nickname)
+                .HasMaxLength(100);
+
             builder.Property(s => s.Email)
                 .HasMaxLength(255);
 

Data/Migrations/20260911190000_AddStudentNickname.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+using Data;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Infrastructure;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Migrations;
+
+#nullable disable
+
+namespace Data.Migrations
+{
+    /// <inheritdoc />
+    [DbContext(typeof(AppDbContext))]
+    [Migration("20260911190000_AddStudentNickname")]
+    public partial class AddStudentNickname : Migration
+    {
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        protected override void Up(MigrationBuilder migrationBuilder)
+        {
+            migrationBuilder.AddColumn<string>(
+                name: "Nickname",
+                table: "Students",
+                type: "TEXT",
+                maxLength: 100,
+                nullable: true);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        protected override void Down(MigrationBuilder migrationBuilder)
+        {
+            migrationBuilder.DropColumn(
+                name: "Nickname",
+                table: "Students");
+        }
+    }
+}

Data/Migrations/AppDbContextModelSnapshot.cs

@@ -322,6 +322,10 @@ namespace Data.Migrations
                         .HasMaxLength(100)
                         .HasColumnType("TEXT");
 
+                    b.Property<string>("Nickname")
+                        .HasMaxLength(100)
+                        .HasColumnType("TEXT");
+
                     b.Property<string>("NationalId")
                         .HasMaxLength(50)
                         .HasColumnType("TEXT");

Tests/Builders/StudentBuilder.cs

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ public class StudentBuilder
     private int _id = _idCounter++;
     private string _firstName = "Test";
     private string _lastName = "Student";
+    private string? _nickname = null;
     private int _grade = 9;
     private string? _email = null;
     private string? _phoneNumber = null;
@@ -41,6 +42,12 @@ public class StudentBuilder
         return this;
     }
 
+    public StudentBuilder WithNickname(string? nickname)
+    {
+        _nickname = nickname;
+        return this;
+    }
+
     public StudentBuilder WithGrade(int grade)
     {
         _grade = grade;
@@ -126,6 +133,7 @@ public class StudentBuilder
             Id = _id,
             FirstName = _firstName,
             LastName = _lastName,
+            Nickname = _nickname,
             Grade = _grade,
             Email = _email,
             PhoneNumber = _phoneNumber,

Tests/Entities/Student_Tests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+using Tests.Builders;
+
+namespace Tests.Entities;
+
+[TestFixture]
+public class Student_Tests
+{
+    [Test]
+    public void DisplayFirstName_FallsBackToFirstName()
+    {
+        var student = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").Build();
+
+        Assert.That(student.DisplayFirstName, Is.EqualTo("Josiah"));
+        Assert.That(student.ToString(), Is.EqualTo("Josiah"));
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void DisplayFirstName_UsesTrimmedNickname()
+    {
+        var student = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("  Jo  ").Build();
+
+        Assert.That(student.DisplayFirstName, Is.EqualTo("Jo"));
+        Assert.That(student.ToString(), Is.EqualTo("Jo"));
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void LegalNameProperties_IgnoreNickname()
+    {
+        var student = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+
+        Assert.That(student.FirstName, Is.EqualTo("Josiah"));
+        Assert.That(student.LastName, Is.EqualTo("Brown"));
+        Assert.That(student.Name, Is.EqualTo("Josiah Brown"));
+        Assert.That(student.FirstNameLastName, Is.EqualTo("Josiah Brown"));
+        Assert.That(student.LastNameFirstName, Is.EqualTo("Brown, Josiah"));
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void DisplayFirstName_TreatsWhitespaceAsUnset()
+    {
+        var student = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("   ").Build();
+
+        Assert.That(student.DisplayFirstName, Is.EqualTo("Josiah"));
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void NormalizeNickname_ClearsBlankAndTrims()
+    {
+        var blank = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("  ").Build();
+        blank.NormalizeNickname();
+        Assert.That(blank.Nickname, Is.Null);
+
+        var nick = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("  Jo  ").Build();
+        nick.NormalizeNickname();
+        Assert.That(nick.Nickname, Is.EqualTo("Jo"));
+    }
+}

Tests/Parsers/AssignmentRequirement_Tests.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+using System.Text;
+using Core.Entities;
+using Core.Models;
+using Core.Parsers;
+using Tests.Builders;
+
 namespace Tests.Parsers;
 
 public class AssignmentRequirement_Tests
@@ -16,4 +22,53 @@ public class AssignmentRequirement_Tests
 
 		Assert.Pass();
 	}
+
+	[Test]
+	public void Parse_MatchesNicknameColumnsForTwoJosiahs()
+	{
+		StudentBuilder.ResetIdCounter();
+		var jo = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+		var josiahB = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Green").WithNickname("Josiah B").Build();
+		var coding = EventDefinitionBuilder.Individual("Coding").WithShortName("Coding").Build();
+
+		const string csv = """
+			,Jo,josiah b
+			Coding,i,x
+			""";
+
+		var requirements = ParseCsv(csv, [coding], [jo, josiahB]);
+
+		Assert.That(requirements, Has.Length.EqualTo(2));
+		Assert.That(requirements.Single(r => r.Student.Id == jo.Id).Requirement, Is.EqualTo(Requirement.Include));
+		Assert.That(requirements.Single(r => r.Student.Id == josiahB.Id).Requirement, Is.EqualTo(Requirement.Exclude));
+	}
+
+	[Test]
+	public void Parse_SharedLegalFirstName_TakesFirstStudent()
+	{
+		StudentBuilder.ResetIdCounter();
+		var first = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+		var second = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Green").WithNickname("Josiah B").Build();
+		var coding = EventDefinitionBuilder.Individual("Coding").WithShortName("Coding").Build();
+
+		const string csv = """
+			,Josiah
+			Coding,i
+			""";
+
+		var requirements = ParseCsv(csv, [coding], [first, second]);
+
+		Assert.That(requirements, Has.Length.EqualTo(1));
+		Assert.That(requirements[0].Student.Id, Is.EqualTo(first.Id));
+	}
+
+	private static AssignmentRequirement[] ParseCsv(
+		string csv,
+		ICollection<EventDefinition> events,
+		ICollection<Student> students)
+	{
+		using var reader = new StreamReader(new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(csv)));
+		using var parser = new AssignmentRequirementParser(reader);
+		return parser.Parse(events, students);
+	}
 }

Tests/Parsers/FuzzyStudentMatcher_Tests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+using Core.Parsers;
+using Tests.Builders;
+
+namespace Tests.Parsers;
+
+[TestFixture]
+public class FuzzyStudentMatcher_Tests
+{
+    [SetUp]
+    public void SetUp() => StudentBuilder.ResetIdCounter();
+
+    [Test]
+    public void Find_MatchesNicknameAmongTwoJosiahs()
+    {
+        var jo = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+        var josiahB = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Green").WithNickname("Josiah B").Build();
+
+        var match = FuzzyStudentMatcher.Find([jo, josiahB], "Jo");
+
+        Assert.That(match, Is.Not.Null);
+        Assert.That(match!.Value.Student.Id, Is.EqualTo(jo.Id));
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void Score_LegalNameStillMatchesWhenNicknameSet()
+    {
+        var jo = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+
+        Assert.That(FuzzyStudentMatcher.Score(jo, "Josiah Brown"), Is.GreaterThanOrEqualTo(FuzzyStudentMatcher.MatchThreshold));
+        Assert.That(FuzzyStudentMatcher.Score(jo, "Brown, Josiah"), Is.GreaterThanOrEqualTo(FuzzyStudentMatcher.MatchThreshold));
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void Score_NullNicknameDoesNotThrow()
+    {
+        var student = StudentBuilder.Create("Aria", "Cole").Build();
+
+        Assert.That(FuzzyStudentMatcher.Score(student, "Aria Cole"), Is.GreaterThanOrEqualTo(FuzzyStudentMatcher.MatchThreshold));
+        Assert.That(FuzzyStudentMatcher.Find([student], "Nobody"), Is.Null);
+    }
+}

Tests/Parsers/StudentEventRankingParser_Tests.cs

@@ -68,6 +68,21 @@ public class StudentEventRankingParser_Tests
         Assert.That(result.Matches[0].Ranking.Student, Is.SameAs(_aria));
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public void Parse_NicknamePlusLastName_MatchesStudent()
+    {
+        var jo = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+
+        var result = ParseCsv("""
+            Student Name,1
+            Jo Brown,Coding
+            """, [jo], _events);
+
+        Assert.That(result.IsSuccess, Is.True);
+        Assert.That(result.Matches, Has.Count.EqualTo(1));
+        Assert.That(result.Matches[0].Ranking.Student, Is.SameAs(jo));
+    }
+
     [Test]
     public void Parse_ShortName_MatchesEvent()
     {

Tests/Parsers/StudentNotesFieldParser_Tests.cs

@@ -34,6 +34,22 @@ public class StudentNotesFieldParser_Tests
         Assert.That(result.Issues[0].RawStudentName, Is.EqualTo("Nobody Here"));
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public void Parse_MatchesNicknamePlusLastName()
+    {
+        var jo = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+        const string csv = """
+            Student Name,Interview Time
+            Jo Brown,3:20-3:35
+            """;
+
+        var result = Parse(csv, [jo]);
+
+        Assert.That(result.IsSuccess, Is.True);
+        Assert.That(result.Matches, Has.Count.EqualTo(1));
+        Assert.That(result.Matches[0].Student, Is.SameAs(jo));
+    }
+
     [Test]
     public void Parse_SameExistingNote_HasNoChanges()
     {

Tests/Parsers/TeamParser_Tests.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+using System.Text;
+using Core.Parsers;
+using Tests.Builders;
+
 namespace Tests.Parsers;
 
 public class TeamParser_Tests
@@ -37,4 +41,26 @@ public class TeamParser_Tests
 		}
 	}
 
+	[Test]
+	public void Parse_MatchesNicknameAndLegalStudentColumns()
+	{
+		StudentBuilder.ResetIdCounter();
+		var jo = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+		var josiahB = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Green").WithNickname("Josiah B").Build();
+		var coding = EventDefinitionBuilder.Team("Coding", 2, 2).Build();
+
+		const string csv = """
+			Team Name,Event Name,Regional Time Slot,Student 1,Student 2
+			A,Coding,,Jo,Josiah Green
+			""";
+
+		using var reader = new StreamReader(new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(csv)));
+		using var parser = new TeamParser(reader);
+		var teams = parser.Parse([coding], [jo, josiahB]);
+
+		Assert.That(teams, Has.Length.EqualTo(1));
+		Assert.That(teams[0].Students.Select(s => s.Id), Is.EquivalentTo(new[] { jo.Id, josiahB.Id }));
+		Assert.That(teams[0].Captain!.Id, Is.EqualTo(jo.Id));
+	}
+
 }

Tests/Printing/NoteTemplateMerger_Tests.cs

@@ -17,6 +17,22 @@ public class NoteTemplateMerger_Tests
         Assert.That(result, Is.EqualTo("Hello Aria Cole"));
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public void Merge_FirstNameStaysLegalWhenDisplayFirstNameIsNickname()
+    {
+        var tokens = PrintTokenMap.Create();
+        tokens["FirstName"] = "Josiah";
+        tokens["Nickname"] = "Jo";
+        tokens["DisplayFirstName"] = "Jo";
+        tokens["LastName"] = "Brown";
+
+        var result = NoteTemplateMerger.Merge(
+            "{{FirstName}} {{LastName}} / {{DisplayFirstName}} ({{Nickname}})",
+            tokens);
+
+        Assert.That(result, Is.EqualTo("Josiah Brown / Jo (Jo)"));
+    }
+
     [Test]
     public void Merge_SupportsDottedAndSpacedNames()
     {

Tests/Utility/StudentNameFormatter_Tests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+using Core.Utility;
+using Tests.Builders;
+
+namespace Tests.Utility;
+
+[TestFixture]
+public class StudentNameFormatter_Tests
+{
+    [Test]
+    public void FormatStudentName_UsesDisplayFirstNameAndSuffixes()
+    {
+        var student = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+
+        var formatted = StudentNameFormatter.FormatStudentName(student, new StudentNameFormatter.FormatOptions
+        {
+            HasOverlap = true,
+            IsAbsent = true
+        });
+
+        Assert.That(formatted, Is.EqualTo("Jo* (absent)"));
+    }
+}
+
+[TestFixture]
+public class TeamStudentNameFormatter_Tests
+{
+    [Test]
+    public void FormatStudentName_KeepsCaptainAndOverlapMarkersOnNickname()
+    {
+        var captain = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+        var teammate = StudentBuilder.Create("Aria", "Cole").Build();
+        var evt = EventDefinitionBuilder.Team("Flight Endurance", 2, 2).Build();
+        var team = TeamBuilder.Create(evt)
+            .WithStudent(captain, isCaptain: true)
+            .WithStudent(teammate)
+            .Build();
+
+        var formatted = TeamStudentNameFormatter.FormatStudentName(
+            captain,
+            team,
+            new TeamStudentNameFormatter.FormatOptions
+            {
+                CaptainIndicator = TeamStudentNameFormatter.CaptainIndicatorStyle.Captain,
+                MarkOverlaps = true,
+                HasOverlaps = _ => true
+            });
+
+        Assert.That(formatted, Is.EqualTo("Jo(Cpt)*"));
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void FormatStudentList_AlphabeticalUsesDisplayFirstName()
+    {
+        var jo = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").Build();
+        var josiahB = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Green").WithNickname("Josiah B").Build();
+        var aria = StudentBuilder.Create("Aria", "Cole").Build();
+        var evt = EventDefinitionBuilder.Team("Flight Endurance", 3, 3).Build();
+        var team = TeamBuilder.Create(evt)
+            .WithStudent(josiahB)
+            .WithStudent(aria)
+            .WithStudent(jo, isCaptain: true)
+            .Build();
+
+        var list = TeamStudentNameFormatter.FormatStudentList(
+            team,
+            new TeamStudentNameFormatter.FormatOptions
+            {
+                Ordering = TeamStudentNameFormatter.OrderingStyle.Alphabetical
+            });
+
+        Assert.That(list, Is.EqualTo("Aria, Jo, Josiah B"));
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void FormatStudentName_FallsBackToFirstName()
+    {
+        var student = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Green").Build();
+        var evt = EventDefinitionBuilder.Team("Flight Endurance", 2, 2).Build();
+        var team = TeamBuilder.Create(evt).WithStudent(student).Build();
+
+        var formatted = TeamStudentNameFormatter.FormatStudentName(
+            student,
+            team,
+            new TeamStudentNameFormatter.FormatOptions());
+
+        Assert.That(formatted, Is.EqualTo("Josiah"));
+    }
+}

Tests/YearTransition/YearTransitionPlanner_Tests.cs

@@ -196,6 +196,32 @@ public class YearTransitionPlanner_Tests
         Assert.That(result.UnmatchedNames, Is.EquivalentTo(new[] { "Nobody Here" }));
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public void MatchPastedNames_MatchesNicknamePlusLastName()
+    {
+        var josiah = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").WithGrade(7).Build();
+
+        var result = YearTransitionPlanner.MatchPastedNames(
+            [josiah],
+            ["Jo Brown", "Brown, Jo"]);
+
+        Assert.That(result.MatchedStudentIds, Is.EquivalentTo(new[] { josiah.Id }));
+        Assert.That(result.UnmatchedNames, Is.Empty);
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void MatchPastedNames_LegalNameStillMatchesWhenNicknameSet()
+    {
+        var josiah = StudentBuilder.Create("Josiah", "Brown").WithNickname("Jo").WithGrade(7).Build();
+
+        var result = YearTransitionPlanner.MatchPastedNames(
+            [josiah],
+            ["Josiah Brown", "Brown, Josiah"]);
+
+        Assert.That(result.MatchedStudentIds, Is.EquivalentTo(new[] { josiah.Id }));
+        Assert.That(result.UnmatchedNames, Is.Empty);
+    }
+
     [Test]
     public void MatchPastedNames_AmbiguousWhenDuplicateNames()
     {

WebApp/Components/Features/Calendar/StateScheduleHandout.razor

@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ else
             .ThenInclude(t => t!.Captain)
             .Include(s => s.Teams)
             .ThenInclude(t => t!.Students)
-            .OrderBy(s => s.FirstName)
+            .OrderBy(s => s.Nickname ?? s.FirstName)
             .ThenBy(s => s.LastName)
             .ToArrayAsync();
     }
@@ -391,15 +391,15 @@ else
 
         if (isIndividual)
         {
-            var ordered = students.OrderBy(s => s.FirstName, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+            var ordered = students.OrderBy(s => s.DisplayFirstName, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
             return string.Join(", ", ordered.Select(s => FormatCombinedScheduleStudentSegment(s, team, isIndividual)));
         }
 
         var cap = team.Captain;
         var capInRoster = cap != null && students.Exists(s => s.Id == cap.Id);
         IEnumerable<Student> orderedTeam = capInRoster
-            ? students.Where(s => s.Id != cap!.Id).OrderBy(s => s.FirstName, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase).Prepend(cap!)
-            : students.OrderBy(s => s.FirstName, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+            ? students.Where(s => s.Id != cap!.Id).OrderBy(s => s.DisplayFirstName, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase).Prepend(cap!)
+            : students.OrderBy(s => s.DisplayFirstName, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
 
         return string.Join(", ", orderedTeam.Select(s => FormatCombinedScheduleStudentSegment(s, team, isIndividual)));
     }
@@ -410,12 +410,12 @@ else
         {
             var sid = student.StateId?.Trim();
             return !string.IsNullOrEmpty(sid)
-                ? $"{student.FirstName} ({sid})"
-                : student.FirstName;
+                ? $"{student.DisplayFirstName} ({sid})"
+                : student.DisplayFirstName;
         }
 
         var isCpt = team.Captain?.Id == student.Id;
-        return isCpt ? $"{student.FirstName} (Cpt.)" : student.FirstName;
+        return isCpt ? $"{student.DisplayFirstName} (Cpt.)" : student.DisplayFirstName;
     }
 
     private sealed record EventSummaryRow(string StateRegistrationId, string EventName, string Activity);

WebApp/Components/Features/MeetingSchedule/MeetingHistoryDetailDialog.razor

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
                             <MudStack Row="true" Spacing="1" Wrap="Wrap.Wrap">
                                 @{
                                     var presentStudentIds = _meetingHistory.Students.Select(s => s.Id).ToHashSet();
-                                    var allStudents = GetAllStudentsFromTeams().OrderBy(s => s.FirstName);
+                                    var allStudents = GetAllStudentsFromTeams().OrderBy(s => s.DisplayFirstName);
                                 }
                                 @foreach (var student in allStudents)
                                 {

WebApp/Components/Features/Students/Components/StudentTextBoxSelector.razor

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
                  Label="@Label"
                  @bind-Value="_currentStudent"
                  SearchFunc="@SearchStudents"
-                 ToStringFunc="@(s => ShowFullName ? s?.FirstNameLastName : s?.FirstName)"
+                 ToStringFunc="@(s => ShowFullName ? s?.FirstNameLastName : s?.DisplayFirstName)"
                  Immediate="true"
                  ResetValueOnEmptyText="true"
                  CoerceText="false"
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
         }
         else
         {
-            @student.FirstName
+            @student.DisplayFirstName
         }
         @if (ShowGrade)
         {
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@
 @if (SelectedStudents.Any())
 {
     <MudChipSet T="Student" AllClosable="true" Class="mt-2">
-        @foreach (var student in SelectedStudents.OrderBy(s => s.FirstName))
+        @foreach (var student in SelectedStudents.OrderBy(s => s.DisplayFirstName))
         {
             <MudChip T="Student"
                      Value="@student"
-                     Text="@(ShowFullName ? student.FirstNameLastName : student.FirstName)"
+                     Text="@(ShowFullName ? student.FirstNameLastName : student.DisplayFirstName)"
                      OnClose="@(() => RemoveStudent(student))" />
         }
     </MudChipSet>
@@ -91,8 +91,9 @@
         return Task.FromResult<IEnumerable<Student>>(Students
             .Where(s => !SelectedStudents.Contains(s))
             .Where(s => s.FirstName.ToLower().Contains(search) ||
-                       s.LastName.ToLower().Contains(search))
-            .OrderBy(s => s.FirstName));
+                       s.LastName.ToLower().Contains(search) ||
+                       (s.Nickname != null && s.Nickname.ToLower().Contains(search)))
+            .OrderBy(s => s.DisplayFirstName));
     }
 
     private void RemoveStudent(Student student)

WebApp/Components/Features/Students/Components/StudentToggleSelector.razor

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
                 ValuesChanged="@OnSelectedStudentsChanged"
                 Vertical="true"
                 CheckMark>
-    @foreach (var student in Students.OrderBy(e => e.FirstName))
+    @foreach (var student in Students.OrderBy(e => e.DisplayFirstName))
     {
         <MudToggleItem Value="@student" Style="font-size: .75rem;">
             @if (ShowFullName)
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
             }
             else
             {
-                @student.FirstName
+                @student.DisplayFirstName
             }
         </MudToggleItem>
     }

WebApp/Components/Features/Students/Create.razor

@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@
             <MudItem xs="12" sm="6">
                 <MudTextField T="string" Label="Last Name" @bind-Value="Student.LastName" For="@(() => Student.LastName)" Variant="Variant.Outlined"></MudTextField>
             </MudItem>
+            <MudItem xs="12" sm="6">
+                <MudTextField T="string" Label="Nickname" @bind-Value="Student.Nickname" For="@(() => Student.Nickname)" Variant="Variant.Outlined" HelperText="Shown instead of first name on teams, rankings, and printouts"></MudTextField>
+            </MudItem>
             <MudItem xs="12" sm="6">
                 <MudTextField T="string" Label="Email Address" @bind-Value="Student.Email" For="@(() => Student.Email)" Variant="Variant.Outlined"></MudTextField>
             </MudItem>
@@ -80,6 +83,7 @@
 
         try
         {
+            Student.NormalizeNickname();
             Context.Students.Add(Student);
             await Context.SaveChangesAsync();
             

WebApp/Components/Features/Students/Details.razor

@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@
             <MudText Typo="Typo.subtitle2" Class="mud-text-secondary">Last Name</MudText>
             <MudText Typo="Typo.body1">@student.LastName</MudText>
         </MudItem>
+        <MudItem xs="12" sm="6" md="4">
+            <MudText Typo="Typo.subtitle2" Class="mud-text-secondary">Nickname</MudText>
+            <MudText Typo="Typo.body1">@(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(student.Nickname) ? "—" : student.Nickname)</MudText>
+        </MudItem>
         <MudItem xs="12" sm="6" md="4">
             <MudText Typo="Typo.subtitle2" Class="mud-text-secondary">Grade</MudText>
             <MudText Typo="Typo.body1">@student.Grade</MudText>

WebApp/Components/Features/Students/Edit.razor

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
                 <MudPaper Elevation="2" Class="pa-3 pa-md-6">
                     <MudTextField T="string" Label="First Name" @bind-Value="Student.FirstName" For="@(() => Student.FirstName)"></MudTextField>
                     <MudTextField T="string" Label="Last Name" @bind-Value="Student.LastName" For="@(() => Student.LastName)"></MudTextField>
+                    <MudTextField T="string" Label="Nickname" @bind-Value="Student.Nickname" For="@(() => Student.Nickname)" HelperText="Shown instead of first name on teams, rankings, and printouts"></MudTextField>
                     <MudTextField T="string" Label="Email Adress" @bind-Value="Student.Email" For="@(() => Student.Email)"></MudTextField>
                     <MudTextField T="string" Label="Phone Number" @bind-Value="Student.PhoneNumber" For="@(() => Student.PhoneNumber)"></MudTextField>
                     <MudTextField T="int" Label="Grade" @bind-Value="Student.Grade" For="@(() => Student.Grade)"></MudTextField>
@@ -121,7 +122,8 @@
         if (Student?.OfficerRole == 0)
             Student.OfficerRole = null;
 
-        Context.Attach(Student!).State = EntityState.Modified;
+        Student!.NormalizeNickname();
+        Context.Attach(Student).State = EntityState.Modified;
 
         try
         {

WebApp/Components/Features/Students/Index.razor

@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@
                                      Color="Color.Primary">
                                 @context.Item.LastNameFirstName
                             </MudLink>
+                            @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(context.Item.Nickname))
+                            {
+                                <MudText Typo="Typo.caption" Class="mud-text-secondary">@context.Item.Nickname</MudText>
+                            }
                             @if (context.Item.OfficerRole != null)
                             {
                                 <MudChip T="string" Size="Size.Small" Icon="@(AppIcons.OfficerRoleIcon(context.Item.OfficerRole.Value))">@context.Item.OfficerRole</MudChip>

WebApp/Components/Features/Teams/Components/TeamCaptainSelector.razor

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
                 Value="@SelectedCaptain"
                 ValueChanged="@OnSelectedCaptainChanged"
                 CheckMark>
-    @foreach (var student in Students.OrderBy(e => e.FirstName))
+    @foreach (var student in Students.OrderBy(e => e.DisplayFirstName))
     {
         <MudToggleItem Value="@student" Text="@student.Name" />
     }

WebApp/Components/Features/Teams/Create.razor

@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
             {
                 // For individual events, use student's first name as identifier
                 var student = _selectedStudents.First();
-                Team.Identifier = student.FirstName;
+                Team.Identifier = student.DisplayFirstName;
                 Team.Captain = student;
             }
             else if (existingTeamCount == 1)

WebApp/Components/Features/Teams/Edit.razor

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
             {
                 case EventFormat.Individual when Team.Students.Count == 1:
                     Team.Captain ??= Team.Students[0];
-                    Team.Identifier ??= Team.Captain.FirstName;
+                    Team.Identifier ??= Team.Captain.DisplayFirstName;
                     break;
                 case EventFormat.Team:
                     break;
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
         if (Team is { Event.EventFormat: EventFormat.Individual, Students.Count: 1 })
         {
             Team.Captain ??= Team.Students[0];
-            Team.Identifier = Team.Captain.FirstName;
+            Team.Identifier = Team.Captain.DisplayFirstName;
         }
 
         try

WebApp/Components/Features/Teams/Goals.razor

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ else
                 .ThenInclude(e => e.Event)
                 .Include(e => e.Teams)
                 .ThenInclude(e => e.Students)
-                .OrderBy(e => e.FirstName)
+                .OrderBy(e => e.Nickname ?? e.FirstName)
                 .ToArrayAsync();
     }
 }

WebApp/Components/Features/Teams/Handout.razor

@@ -124,6 +124,6 @@ else
                 .ThenInclude(e => e.Captain)
                 .Include(e => e.EventRankings)
                 .ThenInclude(e => e.EventDefinition)
-                .OrderBy(e => e.FirstName).ToArrayAsync();
+                .OrderBy(e => e.Nickname ?? e.FirstName).ToArrayAsync();
     }
 }

WebApp/Services/MeetingScheduleDataService.cs

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public class MeetingScheduleDataService : IMeetingScheduleDataService
                 .ThenInclude(t => t.Captain)
             .Include(e => e.EventRankings)
                 .ThenInclude(e => e.EventDefinition)
-            .OrderBy(e => e.FirstName)
+            .OrderBy(e => e.Nickname ?? e.FirstName)
             .ToArrayAsync();
     }
 }

docs/plans/student-nickname.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Student nicknames
+
+**Created:** 2026-09-11  
+**Last updated:** 2026-09-11  
+**Description:** Optional nickname used as the display first name on informal surfaces.
+
+## Behavior
+
+- **First Name** and **Last Name** stay the official name (`Name`, `FirstNameLastName`, `LastNameFirstName`).
+- Optional **Nickname** on `Student`. Blank or whitespace is stored as null.
+- `DisplayFirstName` is the trimmed nickname when set, otherwise first name.
+- Informal UI (teams, event rankings, calendars, meeting lists, rank badges, team member print tokens) uses `DisplayFirstName`.
+- `{{FirstName}}` stays legal. New tokens: `{{Nickname}}` (empty when unset) and `{{DisplayFirstName}}`.
+
+## Data
+
+Migration `AddStudentNickname` adds nullable `Students.Nickname` (max 100). Applied on next app start via `MigrateAsync`.
+
+## Testing
+
+Unit tests stay in the Core `Tests` project (no Blazor/bUnit). They lock the two-Josiahs contract:
+
+| Layer | What we assert |
+| --- | --- |
+| Entity | `DisplayFirstName` / `ToString` / `NormalizeNickname`; legal `Name` / `FirstNameLastName` / `LastNameFirstName` ignore nickname |
+| Display | Formatters and alphabetical team lists use nickname; suffix markers still attach; no nickname falls back to first name |
+| Matching | Fuzzy matcher, year-rollover paste, assignment CSV columns, team import, notes import, and ranking import distinguish `Jo` vs `Josiah B` |
+| Collision | Assignment header `Josiah` still binds the first Josiah (requirement files must use display names) |
+| Print | Catalog includes `Nickname` and `DisplayFirstName`; merge keeps `{{FirstName}}` legal |
+
+Not covered by unit tests: Blazor create/edit/index captions, `NotePrintService` token map (same keys as the catalog/merger contract), and rewriting stored team identifiers.
+
+## Follow-up
+
+After setting nicknames on students who share a first name, rename any team identifiers that still collide (identifiers are stored, not recomputed).