BANK OF AMERICA STUDENT LEADERS PROGRAM

Katherine Cao (pictured left), Esther Povh (pictured second left), Sam Owusu (center), Andres Lagunas (pictured second right), and Andria Ellis (pictured right), were all selected out of 4,000 nationwide applicants to participate in the 2017 Chicago Bank of America Student Leaders program. The students also attended the 2017 Student Leaders Summit in Washington D.C. on July 9-14. Photo Credit: Bank of America
Katherine Cao (pictured left), Esther Povh (pictured second left), Sam Owusu (center), Andres Lagunas (pictured second right), and Andria Ellis (pictured right), were all selected out of 4,000 nationwide applicants to participate in the 2017 Chicago Bank of America Student Leaders program. The students also attended the 2017 Student Leaders Summit in Washington D.C. on July 9-14. Photo Credit: Bank of America

BANK OF AMERICA STUDENT LEADERS PROGRAM

By Christopher Shuttlesworth

Two Auburn Gresham residents, Andria Ellis and Sam Owusu were selected along with three other Chicago teens to be a part of the 2017 Bank of America Student Leaders program this summer.

The program awarded 220 community-minded students across the nation to participate in a paid, eight week summer internship at a local nonprofit in their respective cities. Ellis and Owusu interned at the Louis L. Valentine Boys & Girls Club of Chicago.

“We do a variety of workshops that hone in on the student’s community mindfulness, civil mindfulness, volunteering efforts and expose them to several speakers in the business sector, non-profit sector and government sector,” Julie Chavez, the Chicago market manager at Bank of America.

Ellis said working at the Louis L. Valentine Boys & Girls Club of Chicago helped her become more sociable and build her communications skills. In addition, the students participated in the 2017 Student Leaders Summit in Washington D.C. from July 9-14. The summit’s main focus was to teach students how to build a more civically engaged society and create more pathways to employment.

“Those students were intense,” Owusu said. “There were kids who were creating their own non- for- profit organizations so it was great to network and grab business cards from students.”

Ellis highlighted that the students were able to learn about Congress’ daily operations and sit in important court hearings. Owusu added, “When I think about it, we are the next generation of leaders and I firmly believe that all 220 of us will be a leader in our communities and in the world. I don’t know how, but we will make an impact.”

The open application process for the Bank of America Student Program will begin this Fall and end in January.

Bank of America will then review the applications during late Oct. and January, and then begin a final selection process from Feb. to March. Students can apply at Bank of America at: https://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/what-guides-us/student-leaders.html?bcen=8a6b#fbid=lgxkSg_1JH5

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