Bank of America Recognizes Community-Focused High School Students
Pictured above, L to R - 2023 Bank of America Utah Student Leaders: Jayashabari Shankar, Kailah Figueroa, Cristina Jimenez, Tensumyah McMillan, Mori Paulsen (President, Bank of America Northern Utah), Kate Moss (SVP Marketing, Bank of America), and Brandon Dean (Relationship Manager, Bank of America)
The annual Bank of America’s Student Leaders program offers high school students an opportunity to gain valuable work experience by connecting them with local nonprofits. It is part of the bank’s investment in youth and young adults by helping them obtain work and leadership experience while making a difference in their communities.
Started in 2004, the Student Leaders program recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually. Bank of America Student Leaders participate in a Leadership Summit in Washington DC in July 2024. The Summit will include opportunities to engage with congressional leaders and learn how government, business and the nonprofit sector work together to address critical community needs.
Bank of America Utah will select four students;to participate in its 2024 eight-week paid internship that will focus on the needs of the Salt Lake community and the critical role organizations play in the community.
The accomplished Students Leaders spend about 35 hours per week in real-world work environments where they learn about an organization, its structure, and its connection with the community. Host organizations benefit both by having fresh perspectives of their work and by having extra hands to complete tasks and projects.
Applications are due on January 17, 2024.
In 2023, Bank of America selected four Salt Lake City area Student Leaders who had just finished high school. Cristina Jimenez and Kailah Figueroa (pictured above) worked at the International Rescue Committee.
Jayashabari Shankar and Tensumyah McMillan (shown below) worked at the STEM Action Center.
Eligible students must currently be a junior or senior in high school, be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship through the end of September 2024, must be able to participate in an 8-week paid internship at a local nonprofit/charitable organization working 35 hours a week, and must be able to participate in a week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC on July 22-27, 2024. All expenses of the Washington DC trip are paid as part of the program and the week is counted within the 8-week experience.
One letter of recommendation is required as part of the application. That letter must be on school letterhead from an administrator, teacher, guidance counselor, or coach at the student’s current school.
Other eligibility requirements:
- Must be a student in good standing at his or her school
- Must permanently reside in one of the eligible locations
- Have not been previously selected for the program
Students may apply for the 2024 program through 11:59pm Eastern, January 17th, 2024. Students who have submitted applications will be notified of their application status in spring 2024.
“Bank of America remains committed to supporting young adults by connecting them to jobs, community engagement opportunities and leadership development," said Mori Paulsen, President, Bank of America Northern Utah.
"We recognize young adults represent the future economic strength of Salt Lake City and with programs like Student Leaders are one way we can provide paid opportunities for students to gain job experience and civic engagement while developing a diverse pipeline of talent as they enter the local workforce.”
For more details or to apply, see the program FAQ on the Bank of America website.