Bank of America Announces 2024 Rhode Island Student Leaders

PROVIDENCE – Bank of America recently announced four high school juniors and seniors were selected as Student Leaders® (#BofAStudentLeaders), an eight-week paid summer internship connecting students to employment, skills development and service. These community-minded students will gain practical work and leadership experience at the Boys and Girls Club of Providence, and receive financial education coaching from Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary year, the Student Leaders program recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually. Since 2004, Student Leaders has engaged more than 4,500 students and invested $42 million in more than 500 local nonprofits as a critical part of the bank’s long-standing effort to build pathways to economic mobility across nearly 100 markets.

“Preparing a diverse pipeline of community-minded young students to be successful in the workforce is critical to Rhode Island’s long-term economic growth” said Kevin Tracy, president, Bank of America Rhode Island. “The exceptional teens selected for the Student Leaders program will not only gain practical work and life experience, but the community in return gains help from local nonprofits and a diverse pipeline of talent as these young adults enter the local workforce.”

The class of 2024 Rhode Island Bank of America Student Leaders are:

• Jacqueline Mazariegos, of Pawtucket, is a rising senior at Blackstone Valley Prep who cofounded the Robotics Club and the Female Empowerment Club at her school as a way to encourage more women to pursue STEM careers.
• Jason Lebrun, of North Providence, is a graduating senior from La Salle Academy who has been involved in different community-based activities to help the poor, unhoused and hungry.
• Zachary Jean-Philippe, of Providence, is a rising senior from Cranston High School West who was motivated to start a program called “Sweet Talkers,” a workshop specifically designed for young children with speech delays.
• Mia Santomassimo, of Cranston, is another rising senior from Cranston High School West who aside from being co-editor of the yearbook also volunteers as a peer tutor and student ambassador welcoming new families to the community.

As part of their internship, the students will also travel to Washington, D.C. for a week-long, all expenses paid, national leadership summit to learn how nonprofits, governments and businesses collaborate to meet local needs.