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This summer four Nashville-area high school students have been participating in the Bank of America Student Leaders® program, an eight-week paid summer internship providing students with first-hand experience in serving the Nashville community. This opportunity is awarded annually to Nashville-area students to connect teens to career-building opportunities.
In Middle Tennessee, youth unemployment is about three and a half times the state rate. With changing economic environments and a shifting job market, young people need access to workforce experience and career skills-building opportunities. The private sector has a role to play to help better position and support young adults to be successful in today’s workforce.
The Bank of America Student Leaders earn $17 an hour leading some of the Oasis Center’s most dynamic summer youth programming that includes engaging first-generation immigrants and refugee youth with their community, assisting Nashville high school students with identifying and understanding a path following graduation, and providing programming at the ‚”Just Camp,” dedicated to creating a community for LGBTQ+ youth.
Started in 2004, the Bank of America Student Leaders program recognizes just over 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the country. These young people convened in Washington, D.C., for a week-long, all expenses paid, national leadership summit focused on the power of cross-sector collaboration and community advocacy.
We are investing in Nashville’s long-term economic growth by providing the pathways and resources for young adults to gain the foundational work skills and leadership experience they need to succeed. The young people selected for this paid summer internship program are truly extraordinary but may not have had access to opportunities like this until now.
This year’s Nashville Bank of America Student Leaders were selected for their displayed leadership qualities and commitment to their communities.
2023 Nashville Bank of America Student Leaders:
Nikhil Yelemali is a rising senior at Ravenwood High School who has represented his school at Governor’s School For Business and Technology Leadership at Tennessee Tech, was selected for Youth Leadership Franklin, is currently Vice President of his Boy Scout troop, represents his school in DECA and on the tennis team and among other things, founded Echoes For Hope, a nonprofit that aims to empower young people to develop leadership skills and give back to their community.
Calyssa Lowe is a rising senior at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro who is actively involved in her school Student Council, regularly volunteers with Second Harvest and with the Youth Summer Reading Program at her local library, serves as the social media and web
designer for her Virtual Enterprise course, and also leads the charge as her school’s mascot at school and community events.
Eli Givens is a recent graduate of Summit High School where they were president of Mental Health IS Health, a group instrumental in creating a safe space for dozens of LGBTQIA+ students; a member of the National Honor Society, serves on the Mayor’s Youth Council and an LGBTQ+ Advocacy Intern with Oasis’ Students of Stonewall. Eli dedicates hundreds of hours a year to championing mental health awareness and LGBTQ+rights.
Cayden Leslie is a rising senior at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School where he is Vice President of YMCA Black Achievers and is a leader in the Nashville chapter of Top Teens of America. Cayden is also a member of his school golf team, the Black Student Union, debate team, and was named as Mr. Top Teen 2022, an honor awarded to Top Teens with the most volunteer hours.
The Student Leaders program is just one example of how business leaders can connect people to meaningful employment resources and also build a more robust pipeline of diverse talent for our local workforce.
