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Campus Pride is excited to announce that Kara Laricks, a designer currently competing on NBC’s "Fashion Star," will appear at Camp Pride, the annual summer leadership development program for LGBT college and university students and faculty. Laricks will join the campers for the five-day event July 17-22, 2012, at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Laricks, an out lesbian, is one of several contestants on NBC's newest competition show, "Fashion Star." This week, her design for a plaid shift dress was purchased by Saks Fifth Avenue for $110,000.

A former fourth-grade schoolteacher, Laricks always told her students to be true to themselves. Finally, she took her own advice and pursued a career in fashion. She designs androgynous clothing for men and women, inspired by her love of menswear and an avant-garde Japanese design aesthetic. Best known for her hoodie scarves and collar-and-ties, Laricks puts a spin on what is deemed traditional women's fashion. She considers her partner Melissa to be her biggest supporter because she encouraged her to make fashion her full-time job.

Laricks is a graduate of The University of Kansas, where she served as a student senator in the school’s student government. Laricks was also a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

“Kara’s experience as a student leader during college, her profession as a school teacher and her talent and eye for design will serve as inspiration to the LGBT and ally student leaders at our Camp Pride,” said Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride co-founder and executive director.

Laricks will join other nationally-respected leaders and community members at Camp Pride, including national young adult leader and marriage equality advocate Zach Wahls, who will be presented an honorary Voice & Action National Leadership Award during the summer program.

Camp Pride, Campus Pride’s Summer Leadership Program, is a one-of-kind leadership experience that brings together over 60 LGBT and allied young people from across the country for five days of student leadership development, campus organizing techniques, conflict management, social justice advocacy, diversity education and more. The summer leadership program will be featured in May in the documentary “Legalize Gay: The Civil Rights Movement of a Generation” on the national TV network Logo. Campus Pride is the nation’s leading non-profit organization for LGBT and allied college and university students.

Registration for the sixth annual Camp Pride, July 17-22, 2012, is now open. An early discounted rate of $815 is available through May 1. Scholarships for free registration are also available. The cost of registration includes educational curriculum, all program materials, accommodations for five nights and meals as well as entertainment and activities. A special “Advisor Bootcamp” track for LGBT and ally faculty advisors is also available. Students and advisors can register online or learn more about scholarship opportunities at www.campuspride.org/camppride/.