Four RI Students Picked For Bank of America Internship Program

Providence, RI— Bank of America today announced that four high school juniors and seniors from Rhode Island have been selected as 2019 Student Leaders (#BofAStudentLeaders). This signature philanthropic program offers young people an opportunity to build their workforce and leadership skills through a paid summer internship at a local nonprofit and the ability to help improve their communities. Now in its twelfth year in Rhode Island, nearly 3,500 young people from across the country have gained skills and workforce experience through the program.

“We recognize that building workforce skills early can help prepare a young person for long-term success,” said Bill Hatfield, Market President of Rhode Island, Bank of America. “Investing in youth and young adults is part of our broader commitment to connect individuals to the training and jobs needed for success, ultimately strengthening our community.”

The Rhode Island Student Leaders will work at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rhode Island this summer. The four Rhode Island Student Leaders are:

· Chelsea Acheampong, a Pawtucket resident and rising senior at Blackstone Valley Prep, is interning at the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket.

· Mary Awopileda, a Providence resident and rising senior at Classical High School, is interning at the Boys and Girls Club of Providence.

· Benjamin Cai, a Cumberland resident and rising senior at Phillips Exeter Academy, is interning at the Boys and Girls Club of Providence.

· Emily Walsh, a Newport resident and rising senior at the Prout School, is interning at the Boys and Girls Club of Newport County.

Today, about 15 percent of all young people across the country, or 4.7 million, are categorized as disconnected youth who aren’t in school and don’t have a job. Without access to opportunities that build career skills, many young people may be left behind, leading to high rates of youth unemployment and juvenile delinquency and hindering overall economic progress. Paid youth employment programs like Student Leaders that connect young adults to education, training and the job market can help them build workforce skills while also enabling them to engage with their community in unique ways.

Through Student Leaders, Bank of America helps young people gain work experience, broaden their perspective on how nonprofits serve community needs, and advance their civic engagement. Student Leaders from across the country also develop better money habits by working with bank volunteers to increase their financial management skills, from building a budget to creating a savings plan.

To bring the program full circle and enable Student Leaders to engage with their likeminded peers, Bank of America also hosts an annual leadership summit in Washington, D.C. (July 8-13). Students will join nearly 300 other young people from across the country to build advocacy and inclusive leadership skills and develop a peer network. In addition to discussing civil rights and the value of cross-sector partnerships, they will meet with members of Congress and participate in a service learning project at the American Red Cross.