Bank of America recently announced two Savannah high school students, Faith Agbehonou and Keylan Collins, who were selected as Student Leaders, recipients of an eight-week paid summer internship connecting students to employment, skills development and service. These community-minded 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.
Faith Agbehonou is a rising senior at Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School whose parents are emigrants from Togo, West Africa. She is the founder and president of her school’s drama club, treasurer of the Beta Club and event coordinator for her school”s HOSA – Future Health Professionals chapter, planning schoolwide and community service events. Additionally, Agbehonou serves on the Student Senate, acting as a liaison between students and administrators. Agbehonou hopes this leadership opportunity will allow her to gain valuable knowledge and connections within Savannah and with other student leaders.
Keylan Collins is a rising senior at Savannah Early College High School who is passionate about networking and learning how nonprofits operate. Collins is active in school leadership activities and serves on the school council and as president of the National Beta Club. With the school council, he helps plan and coordinate events, fundraisers, and activities to enhance the school community, addressing issues raised by students and collaborating to find solutions. Collins’ academic background at Savannah Early College and Savannah State University aligns with the Student Leaders program’s focus on leadership and civic engagement, and he is excited about the opportunity to collaborate with peers and contribute to a greater good.
Goodwill Operations Manager Thomas Smith (left) speaks with Savannah Student Leaders Keylan Collins (center) and Faith Agbehonou (right), who will collaborate with Goodwill Southeast Georgia during their eight-week summer internship.
The Savannah-based Student Leaders are participating in programming that includes a collaborative, mentor-focused project with Goodwill Southeast Georgia. Over the course of the summer, they will have the opportunity to collaborate with Goodwill leaders and participate in marketing, mission services activities, and community engagement efforts.
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 longstanding effort to build pathways to economic mobility across nearly 100 markets.
From left: Bank of America Savannah President Patrick O’Neil, Student Leader Keylan Collins, Student Leader Faith Agbehonou, Bank of America Savannah Market Executive Amy Repella
“Preparing a diverse pipeline of community-minded young students to be successful in the workforce is critical to market’s long-term economic growth” said Patrick O’Neil, president, Bank of America Savannah. “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.”
Later this summer, the Student Leaders will 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.
Along with Student Leaders, Bank of America is connecting more than 100 teens and young adults to paid jobs and internships with YMCA of Coastal Georgia through its Summer Youth Employment Program.