Deadline approaching for Bank of America’s paid student internship  

The Bank of America Student Leaders program is looking for ambitious students attending Des Moines metro area high schools for its paid internship program. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 13. 

“We are really looking for community-minded leaders. People that want to make a difference, people that are energized and excited about being involved and learning more about work that can be done here in central Iowa,” said Annie Brandt, senior vice president, Iowa market executive at Bank of America. 

The internship program, in its fifth year, is open to Des Moines metro area high school juniors and seniors who will work at nonprofit organizations in Polk County:

• Pay is $17 an hour 
• Internship runs for eight weeks beginning in June. 
• Interns work 35 hours a week at a nonprofit organization located in Polk County
• Interns receive an all-expense paid trip to a Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. (Students also earn $17 an hour while on the trip, which is required.) 
• Students must submit a recommendation letter by the deadline, Friday, Jan. 13. Apply here.

“I would just encourage any junior or senior in high school to apply and think about considering this program for your summer plans,” Brandt said. 

The program is part of the bank’s commitment to youth employment and economic mobility, where students gain experience serving their communities and learn how nonprofits, government and businesses collaborate to meet local needs, according to its website.  

Ciza Fabiola, 17, a senior at North High School in Des Moines, was one of two student leaders last summer. The other student worked at Urban Dreams. Fabiola said her internship at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa was amazing. She sat in on meetings, planned events, learned about grants, how to create budgets and more. 

The experience made a big impression on Fabiola who plans to tentatively study social work at Iowa State University.

“I think Big Brothers Big Sisters played a big part in my major,” she said. 

The internship also inspired her to create the group “Students Thriving After Greater Goodness” at her school. 

“I experienced how important civic health is to my community,” she said. 

The program’s national leadership summit, attended by 300 students from across the country, was held virtually last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Fabiola said the experience was exciting. She learned about a prison education initiative, mental health in the workplace, spoke with elected officials about criminal justice and gun control and participated in a mock Congress. 

Brandt said students are selected through a local selection committee comprised of Bank of America employees and nonprofit community leaders. 

“We just feel really fortunate that we get to have this program here and continue to engage with our juniors and seniors in high school,” Brandt said.