By Jodi Farrell, Adrienne Arsht Center staff

Khandis Merritt was a shy girl from Ada Merritt K-8 Center in East Little Havana when she became an AileyCamp Miami camper at the Adrienne Arsht Center four years ago. Today, she’s a confident, outgoing sophomore at Miami’s esteemed New World School of the Arts – and the community is rallying behind her for the artistic chance of a lifetime.

In her two years at the Arsht Center’s dance camp, Khandis, now 16, developed her love of the stage. She grew poise and passion. In 2012, she aced her audition for a spot in the New World School’s competitive theater program. This summer, Khandis was one of 16 teenagers chosen from 700 applications for the Summer High School for Drama program at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, one of the top training grounds for artists in the nation.

But Khandis and her mother can’t afford the six-week program’s $10,000 tuition and costs. When CBS Miami-Channel 4 heard that Khandis’ mother was going to take out a bank loan so her daughter wouldn’t miss out on this opportunity, they decided to launch a “Neighbors 4 Neighbors” campaign in her honor through the TV station’s non-profit community organization. Khandis’ story aired on CBS-Miami on Tuesday, May 13.

That station is accepting donations of $25 and up at http://neighbors4neighbors.org/. Donors can click on the “Donate Here” button on the left side of the website. Donations can be designated in the “I want my donation to be dedicated” portion of the site by typing in “Khandis Merritt.” The Arsht Center also is accepting designated donations on Khandis’ behalf. (Contact Jodi Farrell, [email protected].)

“AileyCamp Miami gave her more confidence,” said Khandis’ mom, Ava Pinckney, a single mom of two who is a communications specialist with the Drug Enforcement Administration in South Florida. “It made her realize, ‘I can do this!’ ”

Khandis Merritt and 99 other AileyCamp Miami campers perform at the program’s public show in Knight Concert Hall before an audience of 1,250 in August 2011.