S2 Ep117: GOOD DEEDS: Bank of America Student Leaders Program 2024

Tampa Bay Podcast Archive

In this episode of our GOOD DEEDS series, RadioStPete.com news director Nanette Wiser spoke with Bank of America's Ann Shaler, Senior Vice President and Tampa Bay Market Executive about Bank of America's Student Leaders Program and other philanthropic programs conducted here and nationally. Ann Shaler serves as the Market Executive for Bank of America in Tampa Bay, where she oversees community engagement initiatives, including local grants, various volunteer programs and professional development efforts across Tampa Bay. With a deep commitment to fostering positive change, Ann works to strengthen the bank’s relationships with community organizations and drive impactful outcomes across the region.
This is the 20th year Bank of America has offered this competitive paid intern program in the Tampa Bay area, with 134 high school students selected as Student Leaders since the program began in 2004. Nationally, 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.
Four Tampa Bay area high school students were selected as Student Leaders® (#BofAStudentLeaders) for the 2024 eight-week paid summer internship connecting students to employment, skills development and service. These community-minded students gained practical work and leadership experience, receiving financial education coaching through Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum while working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast while earning competitive wages.
“By providing career and leadership development opportunities for teens for 20 years, we continue to help develop the next generation of skilled workers, which is essential to the region's long-term economic growth," said Bill Goede, president, Bank of America Tampa Bay. “The exceptional teens selected for the Student Leaders program will not only gain practical work and life experience, but the community in turn will gain help from local nonprofits and a diverse pipeline of talent as these young adults enter the local workforce.”

RadioStPete.com spoke with Ethan Morgan, one of the class of 2024 Tampa Bank of America Student Leaders. A rsenior at HB Plant High School, he is the founder of Rising Tide Charities and has devoted two years to providing low-income students with access to computers and encouraging them to pursue higher education. Ethan's commitment to leadership is also evident in his role as the competitions manager of Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematics honor society, and as the president of the Tech Ambassadors, where he manages the Guidance Department’s laptop checkout program.
Other 2024 Bank of America Students Leaders include:
Chelsea Brown (Recent grad from St. Petersburg High School) – Honored for her dedication of over 500 hours to community service, Chelsea was awarded the esteemed Presidential Youth Service Award in 2022 and the Martin Luther King Jr. Award in 2023. As vice president of the Jack and Jill Teen Executive Board, she has spearheaded volunteer initiatives for the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, such as organizing food donation drives and assembling hygiene and meal kits for those in need. She also co-founded the College Planning Club at her school, helping peers navigate the college application process, and served as vice president of the Black Student Association.
Angelina Mai (Recent grad from St. Pete Collegiate High School) – As president of the National Honor Society (NHS) at her school, Angelina collaborated with the Stewards of Urban Lakes (SOUL) to organize cleanup events that significantly improved the environmental health of her community. Her efforts increased volunteer participation from a few individuals to 20-30 students, demonstrating her ability to inspire and mobilize others. In addition, she served as president of the Principal's Multicultural Advisory Committee (PMAC), where she organized school events that promote cultural awareness and inclusivity.
Rubicel Lopez (Rising senior at Strawberry Crest High School) – As a Boys & Girls Club mentor, Rubicel has dedicated over 100 hours to guiding young minds, fostering growth and teaching life lessons in patience, compassion and kindness. Furthermore, his leadership in the ProStart culinary team has earned them first place in multiple culinary competitions, showcasing his ability to communicate effectively, coordinate tasks and adapt to challenges under pressure.
Along with Student Leaders, Bank of America is connecting several teens and young adults to paid jobs and internships with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Suncoast through its Summer Youth Employment Program. From July 22-27, the Student Leaders traveled 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 these programs, Bank of America's Neighborhood Builders program recipients (to be announced this fall) provides unrestricted community grants and 2-3 weeks of leadership development training.
#gooddeeds #bankofamerica #bankofamericastudentleaders2024 #annshaler #ethanmorgan #studentleaders #nanettewiser #leadershiptraining #philanthropy
#stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #tampabay