Locals chosen as Bank of America ‘Student Leaders’

PROVIDENCE — Bank of America has announced that five high school juniors and seniors from Rhode Island have been selected as Student Leaders.

This signature philanthropic program offers young people passionate about improving the community an opportunity to build their workforce and leadership skills through a paid summer internship at a nonprofit and participation in a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C.

Through Student Leaders, Bank of America helps young people gain work experience, broaden their perspective on how nonprofits achieve their mission, and advance their civic engagement. Bank of America Student Leaders 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. At the leadership summit in Washington, D.C. (July 8 through 13), students will join 225 other young people from across the country to build advocacy and inclusive leadership skills and develop a peer network that can advance their future career success and contribute to economic progress in Rhode Island. 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.

“We recognize that connecting young people to meaningful early employment can help them chart a path for career success and strengthen communities,” said William Hatfield, market president for Bank of America in Rhode Island. “The Student Leaders program offers young people in Rhode Island a unique opportunity to build their resume while also learning how to drive positive community change.”

The five Rhode Island Student Leaders are:

• Destiny Monteiro, Pawtucket resident and recent graduate of Charles E. Shea High School, is interning at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket.

• Cesar Urzua, Central Falls resident and rising senior at Blackstone Valley Prep High School, is interning at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket.

• Diana Izaguirre, Johnston resident and rising senior at Mount Pleasant High School, is interning at the Boys & Girls Club of Providence.

• Amanda Poole, Narragansett resident and rising senior at Narragansett High School, is interning at Boys & Girls Club of Newport.

• Kevin Nguyen, Woonsocket resident and recent graduate of Woonsocket High School, is interning at the Boys & Girls Club of Providence.

To date there have been 60 students from Rhode Island and more than 3,000 Student Leaders across the country who have gained leadership skills and workforce experience through the program, established in Rhode Island in 2004.