Youth Leadership Asheville Begins Fourth Year with Promising New Participants

UNC Asheville’s Youth Leadership Asheville (YLA) Program held its opening retreat in October for the 21 members of the Youth Leadership Asheville 4 class. The retreat at Bent Creek Experimental Forest kicked off the yearlong program which helps high school students in Buncombe County develop personal leadership skills for current and future community involvement.

“Youth Leadership Asheville seeks to develop positive leadership skills and to educate, inspire and empower our region’s young leaders,” said Laura Shiver, UNC Asheville’s Youth Leadership Coordinator. “I’m excited about this upcoming program year. We have a group of students who speak up and are committed to contributing to our community.”

YLA 4 class includes students from 10 local schools. These are:

• Asheville Christian Academy: Lauren Locke

• Asheville High: Caroline Allen, Startricia Bethea, Marye Chambers, Apryl Littlejohn, Madeline McCauley, Lafeion McDowell and Anna McKinsey

• Christ School: Robert “Stokes” Volatile and Thomas Ryan Volatile

• Enka High: Andrew Buchanan

• C.A. Erwin High: Dina Arsenovich, Lyubon Korolchuk and Amber Worley

• North Buncombe High: Heather Clinton

• C.D. Owen High: Jess Hannigan and Ben Turman

•  A.C. Reynolds High: Tim Hughes and Dakota Williams

• T.C. Roberson High: Rebekah Grella

• Veritas Christian Academy: Michael Gilpim

For information, call Shiver at 828/250-3869 or e-mail at lshiver@unca.edu.

Media Contacts:

• Laura Shiver, UNC Asheville Leadership Programs Coordinator, 828/250-3869
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526