From Left: Jason Howard; Nisha Singhi; Maria Nido; Tanya Calzada; Alexader Villagomez- Courtesy of Bank of America
Bank of America has handpicked five outstanding high school students from metro Detroit for its esteemed 2024 Student Leaders® internship program. This rigorous eight-week summer internship provides invaluable hands-on experience and opens doors to future employment opportunities through skill development programs and national service initiatives. Engaging closely with local nonprofits, these community-focused students will make impactful contributions and earn competitive wages as they enrich their communities.
Star Crawford, the market executive at Bank of America Michigan, emphasizes that the Bank of America Student Leaders program aims to unleash the potential of these outstanding students and equip them with the skills needed to become future leaders.
“Together, they exemplify hard work, dedication and drive. Thanks to our partners at Focus: HOPE, they are experiencing first-hand the power of community service and leadership. Congratulations to all five of these talented students,” Crawford said.
This summer, Tanya Caldaza, Jason Howard, Maria Nido, Nisha Singhi, and Alexander Villagomez, Student Leaders, will collaborate on a mentoring project with Focus: HOPE. They will learn about the role of nonprofit organizations in promoting community well-being, the importance of public-private partnerships, and how nonprofits, governments, and businesses cooperate to address local needs. Later in the summer, the students will attend a fully funded, week-long national leadership summit in Washington, D.C.
The 2024 Detroit area-based Bank of America Student Leaders are:
•Tanya Calzada, of Detroit, is a Cass Technical High School graduate rising freshman at Columbia University. Calzada has served as the Red Cross Club president, National Honors Society executive board member and tutor, Detroit Youth Mobility Summit policy ambassador, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor and tutor, and a Forgotten Harvest volunteer.
•Jason Howard, of Pontiac, is a graduate of Madison High School and a rising freshman at Albion College. Howard served as his high school class vice president, student council member, and varsity basketball team captain. He also participated in an eight-week General Motors internship program.
•Maria Nido, of Troy, is a graduate of Troy High School and a rising freshman at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Nido founded the Single Mothers Initiative, which supported single mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also served as Troy Cowboys varsity and Smith Middle School assistant cheer coach, Vacation Bible School leader, and Leonard Elementary School 5th Grade Camp counselor, and is a member of the National Honors Society. Nido represented the state of Michigan at the DECA International Career Development Conference, where she competed at the district and state levels, qualifying for the international competition.
•Nisha Singhi, of Bloomfield Hills, is a graduate of International Academy Central and a rising freshman at Stanford University. Singhi has tutored at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan and founded the Balloon Project to raise awareness about the harmful effects of balloon releases. She also served as a panelist at Delta Dental Spotlight on Civility at the Henry Ford Museum Liberty and Justice For All Exhibit, as a member of her high school’s student council and student senate, as a Bloomfield Hills Board of Education Student Advisory Council member, and as Model United Nations and Green Group president.
•Alexander Villagomez, of Detroit, is a Cass Technical High School graduate and rising freshman at the University of Michigan. Villagomez has previously volunteered at Focus: HOPE and Forgotten Harvest, served as the Gardening Club president, as National Honor Society Community Service board member, as Keystone Club president, and as a Distributive Education Clubs of America member.
Every year, the Student Leaders program selects 300 juniors and seniors from all over the U.S. dedicated to their communities. Launched in Detroit in 2008, the program has involved 75 students. Over the years, Student Leaders has included over 4,500 students nationwide and invested $42 million to create opportunities for economic mobility in nearly 100 markets.
Rachel Sherman-Guastella, manager of the Volunteer Department at Focus: HOPE, is thrilled to welcome this year’s Bank of America Student Leaders cohort.
“Each year, this program introduces Focus: HOPE to remarkable young individuals, providing them with insights into the vital work of nonprofits like ours. Their enthusiasm and dedication are inspiring, and we look forward to empowering them with the knowledge and experience to make a difference in their communities,” Sherman-Guastella said.