Scholar Highlight- Arylon Wilks
Giselle Martinez & Leasia Posey
When you first sit down with Arylon Wilks, her energy is contagious. A 2022 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and now a fashion merchandising major at Central Michigan University, Arylon speaks about her journey with the kind of excitement that makes you want to chase your own dreams just a little harder. But her path hasn’t always been clear. In fact, fashion wasn’t even on the radar at first.
Like many first-year students, Arylon entered college undecided, leaning toward business because it felt like the safe option. “I was bored out of my mind,” she admits with a laugh. Friends kept pointing out what Arylon already knew deep down: she was a natural when it came to fashion and styling. “Eventually, I realized fashion could actually be my future,” she says.
That decision to switch majors was the spark that ignited everything else. Suddenly, classes felt meaningful, grades improved, and opportunities started flowing in. Arylon immersed herself in campus life, joining clubs and quickly moving into leadership roles. In the Organization of Black Unity, what began as modeling in a fashion show evolved into serving as Vice President. With Verge Magazine, she started behind the camera as a model and worked her way up to Senior Photographer and Editor, blending creativity with technical skill. She also became Treasurer of the Fashion Association of Merchandising and Design and joined Threads, a program that stages an annual fashion show, where she’ll gain even more runway production experience this spring.
Arylon also found her place as a mentor in CMU’s Impact Program, a three-day orientation program designed to help incoming freshmen from all different backgrounds get acclimated to campus life. For three years, she has guided new students through tours, workshops, and community-building activities, helping them feel at home during those first critical days of college.
One of the most thrilling opportunities in her journey came when an unexpected email opened the door to New York Fashion Week. Arylon applied without much expectation, only to find herself accepted and packing her bags for the city. The experience, led by director Barbara Berman, was electric: assisting backstage, learning how to handle garments with care, navigating crowded quick-change spaces, and watching models showcase designs in unconventional places like coffee shops and rooftops. “I loved the rush,” Arylon recalls, eyes lighting up at the memory. “Everyone made me feel like I belonged there—it confirmed this is where I want to be.” The trip even included a brush with stardom: spotting Meryl Streep in the crowd.
Soon after, Arylon attended the National Retail Federation conference, where she connected with recruiters from Zara, Nordstrom, and Target. While those companies were looking for graduates rather than interns, Arylon left with something equally valuable: relationships that could open doors in the future. “I was probably one of the last people still walking around, talking to everyone,” she laughs. “I wanted to learn everything I could.”
Back home, Arylon continued to build experience with a retail internship at Gliks, a family-owned boutique in South Haven. The internship taught her a lot about customer service and store management, but more importantly, it clarified what she doesn’t want to do long term. “I don’t see myself folding clothes forever,” she admits. “I want to be hands-on behind the scenes, working with buyers, learning the fabrics, and helping create what people actually see on the runway.”
As if she wasn’t busy enough, Arylon recently launched her own cupcake business on campus called Whisked. What started as a passion for baking has grown into a small business that allows her to express creativity in an entirely different way—one more example of how her entrepreneurial spirit keeps finding new outlets.
None of these opportunities would have been possible without the support of The Kalamazoo Promise. Like many students, Arylon encountered challenges with FAFSA and scholarships tied to GPA. At one point, the Promise was the only aid left standing. “Even at 65–70%, it held me down,” she says. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without it.” That consistency allowed Arylon to stay enrolled, explore her passions, and keep moving forward even when things felt uncertain.
Now, as graduation in 2026 draws closer, Arylon is looking ahead with excitement. While New York City is the ultimate dream, she’s also considering Detroit or Chicago as important first steps—places where she can gain experience, build connections, and prepare for the leap to the fashion capital of the world. For now, she’s learning to embrace the process instead of worrying about having every detail figured out. “It’s okay not to have everything figured out,” she reminds herself and others. “Take it day by day, breathe, and focus on being better than yesterday.”
From music rehearsals at Kalamazoo Central to mentoring freshmen through CMU’s Impact Program, from folding clothes at a Michigan boutique to working runways in New York, from late-night baking sessions to launching Whisked, Arylon’s journey shows the power of following creativity and the importance of a community that believes in you. The Kalamazoo Promise helped make it possible, but it’s Arylon’s determination, vision, and willingness to say yes to new opportunities that are shaping a future as bold and stylish as the outfits she creates.