Bank of America Chicago announces 2024 Class of Student Leaders

Bank of America recently announced five Chicago area high school students were selected to its 2024 class of Student Leaders, a prestigious eight-week paid summer internship that connects community-minded students to employment, skills development, and service opportunities.

The five students, a mix of rising seniors and new graduates from Chicago and suburban communities, will gain practical work experience, leadership training, and earn competitive wages while working with Chicago-area nonprofit organizations Metropolitan Family Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago and mHUB. As part of the experience, students also receive financial education coaching from Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum.

“For the past 20 years, Bank of America has connected community-minded students with dynamic learning opportunities through our signature Student Leaders program because we believe that philanthropic-minded, engaged students are key to building stronger, more equitable communities and contributing to the region’s long-term economic growth,” said Rita Cook, president, Bank of America Chicago. “The exceptional teens selected for the Student Leaders program will gain practical work and life experience, but the community in return gains continued support from local nonprofits as well as a diverse pipeline of talented young adults preparing to enter the local workforce.”

This year marks the 20th year Bank of America has offered this competitive paid internship program in Chicago, with more than 100 local high school students having been selected as Student Leaders since the program’s inception. Since 2004, Student Leaders has engaged more than 4,500 students and invested $42 million in over 500 local nonprofits as a critical part of the bank’s long-standing effort to build pathways to economic mobility.

The class of 2024 Chicago Bank of America Student Leaders are:

• Saanvi Adusumalli, Adlai E. Stevenson High School rising senior (Buffalo Grove).

• Margaret Gonzalez, Thornton Township High School graduate (Harvey).

• Yadira Gordillo-Ortiz, Jones College Prep graduate (Brighton Park).

• Aydenn Harris, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School rising senior (Homewood).

• Aria Shah, Walter Payton College Preparatory High School rising senior (North Center).

In addition to their experiences working in the local nonprofits, Student Leaders from across the nation will travel to Washington, D.C., in July, for a weeklong, all expenses paid national leadership summit. As part of their participation in the summit, students will grow their network, meet with policymakers, and learn how nonprofits, governments and businesses collaborate to meet the needs of local communities.