As a result, Locascio grew up doing a lot of camping. Over the summer he went on his first solo backpacking trip in the Smokey Mountains.

“That first night setting up by myself was pretty surreal,” he says. “I was like, dang, I'm out here doing this on my own, which is a cool experience, for sure."

Locascio will take part in the Project Earth Orientation Program, a week-long opportunity for students to connect with each other and the environment. He learned about the program through Sustainable Duke.

While in high school, Locascio helped start a small pollinator garden with the help of Conserving Carolina, an organization that helps preserve land.

"It's not a particularly big garden, but we got it set up. And through the environmental club, we would we meet once a week and either plant or weed, stuff like that," he says.

He also became a Kudzu Warrior for a day, going out with a group of people to tear out the invasive plant.

“They just dedicate an entire morning and go out and just pull kudzu and try and eradicate it, because it's gotten really bad, especially down in south Asheville,” he says.

Aside from environmental interests, Locascio played soccer, served as student body president and took part in speech and debate while in high school.

He plans to bring a little bit of home with him to Duke. "I have a collection of succulents at my house. So I'm bringing a shelf, and I'm going to try and fit as many succulents as I can on that shelf for my dorm."