Sykesville Teen Selected for Bank of America Student Leaders Program

Four Baltimore-area high school students were recently selected to take part in the Bank of America 2012 Student Leaders program. Sykesville's Chris Davis, a rising senior at Liberty High School, is one of them.

The program awards a total of 225 high school juniors and seniors from around the country with paid eight-week summer internships at local nonprofit organizations.

Davis is completing his internship at Teach for America in Baltimore City. 

"What I'm getting out of this program is probably the office experience and the responsibility that goes with it," David told Patch.  "I'm also learning so much about Baltimore City that I didn't know. One of my projects here was to research all 55 Baltimore neighborhoods and provide statistics on each of them."

According to a news release, despite gains in the overall job market, one out of every four job seekers between the ages of 16 and 19 is still unable to find employment. 

“Teens have been disproportionally affected by the recession with unemployment rates at an all-time high,” said Bill Couper, President, Bank of America Mid-Atlantic. “Through the Student Leaders program, students are receiving more than just a paycheck.  They are gaining valuable real-world experience that will help them develop further as leaders, all while helping to strengthen Baltimore during a time when an increased number of people need assistance.”

According to the Employment Policies Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit research organization, Maryland’s teen unemployment rate for April 2012 was 19.7%. Research indicates that teens who are gainfully employed have lower drop-out rates, are more likely to continue their education to pursue long-term career goals, and ultimately show an increase in lifetime earning potential, according to a statement.

Davis said he hopes to get his pilot's license next year and eventually become a pilot in the military.