New Jersey Teens Named 2024 BofA Student Leaders
Four of New Jersey’s top high school students have been named 2024 Student Leaders® by Bank of America (BofA). The students, all rising seniors, will have the opportunity to gain valuable workforce skills through an eight-week paid internship at a nonprofit organization in their immediate community while earning competitive wages. The 2024 New Jersey Student Leaders and their host organizations are:
Sheguyma Bazile, Trenton, Foundation Collegiate Academy: Mercer Street Friends
Jessica Navarro Davalos, Paterson, Eastern Christian High School: Boys & Girls Club of Paterson & Passaic
Nikhil Mani, Englewood, Dwight Morrow High School: Boys & Girls Club Hackensack Student Leaders
Lidia Roca, Orange, Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology: Boys & Girls Club of Newark
“The teens selected for this program are already having an impact at their schools but may not have had the opportunity to apply those skills to the workforce until now,” said Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey. “Our hope is that they will recognize just how much of an impact they can have at these organizations and will continue to leave their mark on the community long after graduation.”
Now in its 20th 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.
“Clubs support young people by providing resources and opportunities to help fulfill their potential as engaged, empowered and compassionate members of our community,” said Susan Haspel, state director, Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey. “Our Student Leaders are gaining lifelong career and leadership skills, all while building meaningful connections and serving our local community.”
“Mercer Street Friends has robust summer school, food and family support programs in Mercer County and we benefit from a dedicated summer staff,” said Bernie Flynn, chief executive officer, Mercer Street Friends. “This year we are thrilled to have a Bank of America Student Leader who is making substantial contributions in all areas of our summer work, while also being involved in high-level Board meetings and organization-wide team building events.”
Student Leaders recently returned from BofA’s week-long, all-expenses-paid, national leadership summit in Washington, D.C., where Student Leaders from across the nation learn how nonprofits, governments and businesses collaborate to meet local needs.
