The Bank of America Charitable Foundation announced that five Delaware high school students have been selected to take part in the 2013 Student Leaders program, which awards 225 community-minded high school juniors and seniors from around the country with paid eight-week summer internships at local nonprofit organizations.
Despite gains in the overall job market, teens still have the highest unemployment rate: one out of every seven young people is not in school or working. Research indicates that teens who are gainfully employed have lower drop-out rates, are more likely to continue their education to pursue long-term career goals and ultimately show an increase in lifetime earning potential. That’s why Bank of America started the Student Leaders program. It is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to provide individuals with access and exposure to critical resources that will bolster their work and life skills while also benefiting the community, according to a release. “Teens are once again facing a tough time finding summer jobs,” said Chip Rossi, Delaware market president for Bank of America. “Our Student Leaders program provides them the opportunity to earn and learn, while increasing the capacity of nonprofits to serve critical community needs.”
In addition to the paid internships, the students will attend a week-long Bank of America Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., in July. Summit activities include a service learning project and a series of interactive workshops, including Capitol Hill briefings and sessions on financial education and leadership development skills.
