Bank of America recently announced two Columbia high school students were selected as Student Leaders® (#BofAStudentLeaders), an eight-week paid summer internship connecting students to employment, skills development and service. These communityminded students will gain practical work and leadership experience, and receive financial education coaching from Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum, while working with local nonprofits, all while earning competitive wages. The Student Leaders selected in Columbia are working with nonprofits, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands and United Way of the Midlands.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary year, the Student Leaders program recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually. Since 2004, Student Leaders has engaged more than 4,500 students and invested $42 million in more than 500 local nonprofits as a critical part of the bank’s long-standing effort to build pathways to economic mobility across nearly 100 markets.
“We are committed to investing in the region’s longterm economic growth and its talent pipeline, and the Student Leaders program is just one example of that,” said Vaughn Reynolds, president, Bank of America Columbia. “The exceptional teens selected for the Student Leaders program will not only gain practical work and life experience, but the community in return gains help from local nonprofits and a diverse pipeline of talent as these young adults enter the local workforce.”
The class of 2024 Columbia Bank of America Student
Leaders are:
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Colby Wei-li Braden is from Chapin High School. He is passionate about food insecurity, taking personal initiative to create and manage a home-grown tomato stand and donating the proceeds to local food charities. Braden is captain of his school’s Mock Trial Team and secretary for Academic Leadership Academy Student Advisory Board. With plans to pursue a healthcare career, he previously interned with a medical center. Braden also works as a certified soccer referee.
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Adedolapo Famuyide is from Richland Northeast High School where he serves in Student Government, is part of the National Honors Society, and is the captain for the Track and Field Team. He participated in the Young Leaders Summit, learning leadership and community service. He previously volunteered with Rise Against Hunger and served as student coordinator for a blood drive. Along with his teacher and other classmates, Famuyide came up with an idea to create a “Cavalier Closet” where food and clothing is stored and available to students in need.
As part of the program, the Student Leaders also travel to Washington, D.C. for a week-long, all expenses paid, national leadership summit to learn how nonprofits, governments and businesses collaborate to meet local needs.
In addition to Student Leaders, Bank of America is also connecting teens and young adults to paid jobs and internships across the region through programs like the bank’s Financial Center Intern Program, Opportunity Internships across South Carolina, and others.
