Eighteen-year-old Ariel Lopez isn’t waiting three more years to pursue her passion for politics and philanthropy. She’s already claimed the East Carolina University SGA freshman class presidency in 2008, and this year she’ll be busy spearheading the launch of a local non-profit organization.
Ariel Lopez, SGA freshman class president, has created a foundation to help Greenville youth develop leadership skills.
This communication major is the driving force behind an up-and-coming non-profit organization. The Escape Foundation, a non-profit organization created by Lopez, is designed to let middle and high school students receive professional development training and tutoring from ECU faculty and staff volunteers through intervention in their home environments in Greenville.
The Escape Foundation aims “to provide underprivileged youth with opportunities to enhance their talents, become effective citizens, improve their educational abilities, and discover their purpose,” its mission statement reads. “The Escape Foundation will help inner-city youth understand that there is room for achievement and a way for them to escape their current circumstances with proper direction.”
Lopez, a first-generation college student, exudes a special type of confidence. Her persona described like a recipe would consist of two parts sincerity and one part assertiveness, with just a dash of humility; an ideal formula for relationship-building success.
She has become a role model for student leadership by committing herself to helping community youth in addition to her responsibilities as a student government leader and full time student.
Lopez’s reasoning for investing herself in this project is simple. She wants to make a difference in the world and is fixated on achieving her goals. “I’ve always wanted to be involved in politics and have a direct influence on my community and country,” she says.
“I want these kids to have the opportunity to develop relationships with ECU faculty. By the professors serving as mentors to minority populations, the students will be encouraged to advance certain liberal arts skills they may already possess such as writing poetry, writing music, playing music, drawing, painting, and public speaking.”
Her goal is to prepare today’s youth to emerge and succeed as leaders of the future. Her vision is clear. “Escape is but a mere description of how I want the kids in my program to know it’s not about where you start; it’s about where you end. Here they can ‘escape’ any unfortunate circumstances they find themselves in with determination and faith.”
She hopes to start allowing youth into the program late fall 2009 or early spring 2010.
Lopez was interviewed last week by a reporter from HER magazine. An article about the Escape Foundation will appear in the fall issue. Lopez has also been awarded the Kiwanis Club of Greater Greenville scholarship, The Golden Leaf scholarship, and the First in my Family Essence scholarship all based on high academic achievement, volunteer service, and community involvement.
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