Josiah Hankerson of Compton was one of the five high school students from across greater Los Angeles selected as Student Leaders® (#BofAStudentLeaders) by Bank of America. With this selection, Hankerson and his fellow students will participate in an eight-week paid summer internship.
This is the 20th year Bank of America has offered this competitive paid high school intern program in Los Angeles, with 150 local students having been selected as Student Leaders since the program began in 2004.
Hankerson, who is interning at Archidoscean Youth Employment Service Southwest College location, is also learning about local community needs while developing leadership and workplace skills and earning competitive wages. The students also received financial education coaching from Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum.
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A rising senior at Verbum Dei Jesuit High School, Hankerson grew up in Compton and Watts. He was raised by his community-focused great-grandmother, which inspired him to work towards empowering young people through leadership and advocacy work and sparked his interest in Civil Rights Law.
Among Hankerson’s accomplishments are serving as vice president of the Associated Student Body, tutoring students as part of being an officer with the National Honor Society, along with being vice captain of his school’s cross-country track and field teams, student ambassador for LA Voice, and a participant in the Kino Border Initiative to promote learning about fair immigration policies.
“By providing career and leadership development opportunities to Los Angeles teens for 20 years, we continue to help develop the next generation of skilled workforce that is essential to region’s long-term economic growth,” said Raul A. Anaya, president, Bank of America Los Angeles. “These students are truly exceptional, and the opportunity for them to work with highly impactful local nonprofits along with learning valuable financial education can collectively prepare them for future success.”
Later this summer, the Student Leaders will travel to Washington D.C. for a week-long, all expenses paid, national leadership summit focused on the power of cross-sector collaboration and community advocacy. Student Leaders from across the nation will discuss the importance of civic engagement and meet with members of Congress.
The Student Leaders program annually recognizes 300 or more community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S.
