Bank of America celebrates student leaders from Freeman, Maggie Walker

Three high school students from Henrico County have been named Bank of America 2024 Student Leaders.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Student Leaders program connects 300 high school juniors and seniors annually to employment, skills development and service through a paid summer internship. As part of the internship, local students work with YMCA Greater Richmond, engaging in leadership opportunities and garnering practical work and life experience.

Sahasra Boggarapu, a rising junior from Glen Allen who attends Maggie Walker Governor’s School, was inspired to create a nonprofit after seeing her little brother struggling with learning during the pandemic. She co-founded Tutor Tots, a nonprofit raising money for food banks while tutoring young children in the area, and also volunteers with FeedMore. She serves as treasurer of WomensMatter, an organization raising funds for women’s issues and events. Boggarapu also participated in NASA’s Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) program for students interested in STEM, and interns with Highland Support Project, which is dedicated to raising ecological awareness.

Sriyutha Morishetty of Glen Allen, a rising junior at Maggie Walker, founded Global Leaders, a nonprofit based in India that promotes healthcare accessibility. She also works with MoneyMatters, a nonprofit teaching personal finance to economics students, and is founder and CEO of Finance Forward, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the education of more than 100 students in three schools in South India. In addition, she is executive editor of the Jabberwock, the Maggie Walker student newspaper, and works with RampsRVA, a nonprofit devoted to improving wheelchair accessibility in Richmond.

A rising junior at Douglas Freeman H.S., Deeya Natarajan comes from an Indian immigrant family, and is involved with such academic programs as Women in STEM and Civics in Action. She also tutors other students, is involved with Young Democrats and lobbying efforts, and has served as an intern to U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger. In addition, she assists in wedding planning, handling clients and social media marketing. With her twin sister, who struggles with auditory and visual processing due to twin-to-twin transfusion, she founded Funding Senses, a nonprofit that provides therapy to underprivileged children diagnosed with similar disorders.