HOLA’s 2012 Summer Interns Sherley Cordova
Sherley is an HOLA alumnus (2010) and wanted to come back to HOLA for the summer. She works on the front desk, answers phone calls, and is welcoming to the staff, students, and parents. She also helps students have a smooth transition to the lunch/camp. Sherley is a Junior at UC Santa Cruz and is studying Combined Latin American Studies and Sociology. She is really into classic rock, and music in general, and enjoys researching different bands, sounds, and musical cultures. She also really likes dancing, and the occasional soccer game.
Evelyn Cordoba
Evelyn is interning with the HOLA Athletics program this summer. She heard of HOLA through word of mouth at her high school and wanted to find out more. Evelyn will be attending Goucher College in Baltimore this fall as an incoming psychology major. She enjoys reading comedic memoirs and some of her favorite authors are Jenny McCarthy, Augusten Burroughs, and Justin Halpern. She enjoys riding her bike in search of local art and loves to try new things.
Rudy Torres
Rudy is interning with HOLA’s Bridges program. Last summer Rudy interned with YOLA and thoroughly enjoyed his experience working with the students. Rudy is a recent graduate from James A. Garfield High School in East L.A. He will be attending Brown University in Rhode Island beginning next fall. He enjoys community service because it is both a humbling and rewarding experience.
Nick Kernalyan
Nick is interning as a blogger for the Visual Arts Program at HOLA this summer. This involves documenting the classes on a Tumblr blog. Nick is a senior English major at Loyola Marymount University and is hoping to obtain a journalism certificate in addition to his bachelors. He has a passion for baseball, snowboarding, and journalism, working on both the writing and editorial teams at two student run publications.
Alexandra Rosella
Alexandra is a ROPE alumnus and found out about an internship during her class. Coincidentally she was placed as an intern with Bridges at HOLA over the summer. She is interning with Bridges during the summer. Alexandra is a senior at Hollywood High School. Her father is Argentinian and her mother is Peruvian. She has been to both places and loves visiting very much. She hopes to major in neuroscience in college and become a doctor one day.
Mercedes Conley
Mercedes is interning with HOLA’s SmartStart program. She took HOLA’s SAT class in 11th grade and is now taking the college prep class. Mercedes attends Hollywood High School. Interning at HOLA has revealed a love of working with young children. She also loves animals and hopes to become a veterinarian or work with animals. Her favorite instrument is the bass guitar and she can play (somewhat!).
Paris Coleman
Paris is interning at HOLA’s athletic program this summer. A friend’s mother recommended HOLA to her and she really liked HOLA’s mission to help the community. Paris will be a senior at Georgetown University beginning in the fall. She is a psychology major. She enjoys volleyball and played for ten years.
Liliana Rubio
Liliana is an intern with HOLA’s SmartStart program. She enjoys working with the young children. She heard about HOLA through a friend at school. Liliana attends California State University of Los Angeles and majors in Child Development. She has a strong belief that as a team we can help children grow and that we can all learn from one another.
Kymberli Miles-Lawson
Kymberli really wanted to volunteer with children over the summer and found out about HOLA online. She is interning with YOLA. Kymberli attends Grambling State University and is studying Mass Communication.
Fiona Galloway
Fiona is interning with HOLA’s volunteer department. She helps out with any administrative work needed. She heard about HOLA through a friend whose son attended HOLA and loved it. Fiona was born in Australia and decided to move to the U.S. to do some study. She is attending Los Angeles City College and is majoring in philosophy. She enjoys traveling and has ridden her bicycle over much of LA.
Miyuki Gomez
Mikyuki is interning with YOLA at HOLA and communications during the summer. Miyuki is a second year Anthropology major at San Francisco State University. She is active on campus and is a frequent volunteer with local community events and organizations. She enjoys punk music and is a freelance writer for an online punk magazine.
Victor Chavez
Victor is an HOLA alumnus and was interested in volunteering so he could give back to his community, which has helped him get through college. He enjoys working at HOLA and helping the middle school students’ transition through this time with ease. He is interning with Bridges. Victor attends the University of Redlands in San Bernardino County. He wants to become a high school teacher when he finishes university and aims to one day be a professor.
Yessenia Tostado
Yessenia is interning with HOLA’s SmartStart program where she is a teacher’s assistant. She found out about HOLA last summer when a friend invited her to volunteer. Yessenia graduated from James A. Garfield High School in June. Starting Fall, she will be moving to Pennsylvania and attending Dickinson College. She hopes to earn a degree in psychology, business, education, or law. She is looking forward to starting college and hopes to study abroad in Australia and Africa. Yessenia enjoys the out-of-doors and likes to hike, bike, swim and play sports. After college she hopes to work with a non – profit like HOLA, or even start one of her own.
Camila Sobral
Camila is interning in HOLA’s Visual Arts department. She helps out in the various classes are held and works particularly closely with the Public Art Class. She has been photographing the process which will lead to ‘We Are Talking Pyramids’, the public event at McArthur Park on August 12. Camila attends Bard College in upstate New York where she is a Film major. Her parents just recently moved to Los Angeles and she has enjoyed getting to know this part of the city through field trips. She enjoys being out of doors and is part of a roller derby team at Bard College. Camila speaks four languages.
Dianne Quiroz
Dianne is interning in HOLA’s Visual Arts department, helping out around the studio and overseeing the students. She volunteered with HOLA last summer and loves the program and opportunities it provides for the students.
Dianne is an undergrad at UC Berkeley and is majoring in Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in animal health and behavior. As a science major, Dianne has found working in the art department to be really eye opening. She has gained a different perspective on the critical thinking that goes into creating art. She hopes to continue being part of HOLA in the future.
Jesenia Salguero
Jesenia is interning with HOLA’s Development department this summer. She is helping to research various private foundations, and their criteria based on HOLA's mission to see if it would be worthwhile our pursuing them for funding. Jes attends Cal State LA and is getting her degree in social work. She intends to continue with graduate school and is working at HOLA to develop an edge on a paid internship through the school year at Dept Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Cindy Ramirez
Cindy decided to intern this summer at HOLA because she wanted to give back. As an alumnus of HOLA (2011), Cindy knew that HOLA needed some help and volunteered. She is interning with the Volunteer Department during the summer. Cindy attends the University of California, Berkeley and is studying biology. She loves the anatomy of animals and wishes to pursue a career in wild animal conservation.
Priscilla Lopez-Rios
Priscilla first came to HOLA in her senior year after a friend informed her about HOLA’s great resources. She wants to intern at HOLA to ensure other children have access to the same great programs she had. This summer she is helping Andrea with the Alumni Program. Priscilla will be returning as a sophomore to UC Santa Cruz. She is yet to decide on a major but is taking a variety of classes in order to explore her interests. She is interested in the nonprofit world and hopes to help students achieve their goals by providing resources just like HOLA. She is also interested in caring for animals and has two dogs - Max and Milo. In her spare time she likes to go on outdoor adventures and use coupons!
Jenifer Gutierrez
Jenifer is interning with College Team Support and is responsible for some of the networking classes being offered this summer to HOLA’s Alumni. She is an HOLA alumnus herself and always tries to help out at HOLA as much as she can. Jenifer attends UC, Santa Barbara and is a 4th year sociology major with a minor in feminist studies. She loves fruit and will choose it over junk food always. This coming fall she will be studying in Rome, Italy. Although her name is common, its spelling is unique having only one ‘n’.
Kevin Mendez
Kevin is an HOLA alumnus and has volunteered with HOLA in many different capacities in the past. This summer he is interning with the Athletics department and also volunteering with SmartStart. Kevin attends Pasadena City College. He is also a martial arts assistant and has a background in track and field and cross country.
Julia Flores
Julia is an HOLA alumnus and is interning in the Communications department this summer. She attends Occidental College and is majoring in Child Psychology. Julia works at the preschool at Occidental.