Name: Katie Houston
Age: 21
Current City/State: Asheville, NC
Hometown: Asheville, NC
Education: Environmental Studies: Earth Science
Trail Represented: Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Federal Agency/Nonprofit Employer: Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Internship Title: National Service Coordinator
Scope of Internship: Alivia Acosta works with the trail maintaining clubs on the northern half of the AT, learning about volunteer stewardship opportunities they are hosting, and posting that information to the ATC’s website. After successfully posting events, she and her southern counterpart, Katie Houston, work to promote their posts, as well as track the data that they collect from each volunteer who registers. Their analysis of this data will then be presented to all of the trail maintaining clubs along the AT at the end of the summer.
Favorite moment/Biggest Achievement of internship: Having almost 100 people express interest in stewardship on the A.T.
Future Career Aspirations: Working in the mining industry to make the field more sustainable and environmentally conscious.
How has the internship prepared you for the future: It deepened my appreciation for volunteerism and stewardship, and it broadened my roots in the A.T. community.