Bank of America Announces 2023 Student Leaders; 15 Tristate Area Teens Named

Paid Summer Internships Connects Teens to Career-Building Opportunities

NEW YORK, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America today announced 15 area high school juniors and seniors were selected as Student Leaders® (#BofAStudentLeaders), an eight-week paid summer internship providing students with first-hand experience in serving their communities. As part of the program, the students will develop leadership and practical workforce skills while working with local nonprofits, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of New Jersey, the YMCA of Greater New York and Island Harvest in Long Island, all while earning $17 per hour.

In the tristate area, teen summer employment is still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With changing economic conditions and a job market that continues to shift, young people need access to workforce experience and career skills-building opportunities. The private sector has a role to play to help better position and support young adults for success in today's workforce. The 15 juniors and seniors Student Leaders from the tristate area were selected from an impressive pool of applicants.

"By providing the pathways and resources for young adults to gain the foundational work skills and leadership experience they need to succeed, we are investing in the long-term economic growth of the entire tristate area," said José Tavarez, president, Bank of America New York City. "The Student Leaders program helps equip teens with the opportunities they need and deserve as they build their future while assisting critical local nonprofits."

"The teens selected for this program are already having an impact at their schools but may have lacked the opportunity to apply those skills to the workforce until now," said Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey. "Our hope is that they will recognize just how much of an impact they can have at these organizations and will continue to leave their mark on the community long after graduation."

"Helping young adults build job experience in their communities while helping nonprofits is critical," said Marc Perez, president, Bank of America Long Island. "Offering work opportunities to our teens will help them become stronger leaders and provide them hands-on experience as they prepare to enter the workforce." 

The Student Leaders are returning from a week-long, all expenses paid, national leadership summit in Washington, D.C., focused on the power of cross-sector collaboration and community advocacy. At the first in-person Summit since 2019, Student Leaders from across the nation discuss the importance of civic engagement and meet with members of Congress.

The class of 2023 Bank of America Student Leaders are:

• Aderinsola Odusanwo, Brooklyn – YMCA of Greater New York
• Briana Mach, Queens – YMCA of Greater New York
• Surya Mohan, Queens – YMCA of Greater New York
• Lina Lin, Manhattan – DREAM
• Nafissetou Konate, The Bronx – DREAM
• Brian Ametekpor – Irvington, New Jersey – Boys & Girls Club of Newark
• Dakauri Pinckney – East Orange, New Jersey – Boys & Girls Club of Newark
• Anabelle Jerome – Paterson, New Jersey – Boys & Girls Clubs of Paterson & Passaic
• Shivali Patel – Jersey City, New Jersey – Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County
• Areebah Alam – Highland Park, New Jersey – Elijah's Promise
• Grace Seto, Manhasset – Island Harvest
• Jessica Yao, Syosset – Island Harvest
• Mohamed Adam, New Hyde Park – EAC Network
• Nikson Alex, New Hyde Park – EAC Network
• Sean Clairine, Rockville Centre – EAC Network

Started in 2004, the Student Leaders program recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually.

Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact:

New York City and Long Island
Juan Soto, Bank of America
Phone: 1.332.238.7551
[email protected]

New Jersey
AnnMarie McDonald, Bank of America
Phone: 1.332.234.8635
[email protected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation