Dogwood Alliance is lucky to partner with the CAYLA (City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy) program each year TO welcome a new youth leader as an intern. This year, we have the privilege to work with Kimberly Vargas.

Kimberly will be going into the 12th grade this fall at Asheville High School. She is in the SILSA (School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville) program there.

Kimberly’s favorite subject is math, “I like numbers,” she explains. Kimberly wants to go into forensics and is planning on going to Western University because of their forensic program. She says,“I want to do forensics because I like puzzles and mysteries.”

In her spare time she likes to read and look at nature. Her favorite kinds of books are mysteries, and she is currently reading Winesburg, Ohio, a collection of short stories by Sherwood Anderson. She likes looking at nature because she finds it calming.

Kimberly was a part of the Ecology Club at school. She became interested in Dogwood Alliance because she was interested in learning more about conservation. Kimberly admires how Dogwood works together with other organizations to accomplish goals.

Kimberly got involved with the CAYLA program through AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). From the CAYLA website they explain that CAYLA is:

“The City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) is committed to providing its students with a) a meaningful summer work experience, b) leadership development through seminars and community service, and c) college preparatory activities, including yearlong academic support. Since its inception in 2007, CAYLA has been nationally-recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In 2011, CAYLA was honored with the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service.”

We are very excited to work with Kimberly and the CAYLA program this year!