Portland students selected as 2024 Bank of America Student Leaders

Since 2004, Bank of America has offered competitive, paid intern programs in the greater Portland and Vancouver region.

Nearly 100 high schoolers from the area have been selected as Student Leaders since the programs' inception, and this year, two Portland-based students were added to the total.

Ky Dang, a rising senior from McDaniel High School, and recent Westview High School graduate Ammar Mukadam will participate in an eight-week summer internship working with local nonprofit Habitat for Humanity Portland Region.

“Providing important work skills and leadership opportunities to Portland-area students for 20 years is one of the most worthwhile investments we’ve made in our region’s long-term economic opportunities and future growth,” Roger Hinshaw, president of Bank of America Oregon and Southwest Washington, said in a press release.

“The young people selected for this paid summer internship program are truly exceptional but may not have had access to opportunities like this until now. Our Student Leaders program is just one example of how we connect people to meaningful employment resources while building a stronger pipeline of diverse talent for our local workforce.”

Hillsboro-based Ivette Alonso Garcia, a recent graduate of Liberty High School, and Beaverton-based recent Mountainside High School graduate Ryan Jun were also selected for the program.

Student Leaders gain hands-on experience in serving their communities in working with their assigned organization. The program is mutually beneficial in advancing youth and young adults with employment opportunities.

The four will work with Habitat for Humanity Portland Region's ReStore Development Department and the Post-Purchase Homeowner Education Department to learn marketing, community engagement and project management skills.

More than 300 community-minded high school juniors and seniors from over 100 communities are connected annually to employment, skill development and service, according to the Bank of America website.

The internship operates in 41 states, and each chosen intern will attend a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where they learn how government, business and nonprofit sectors work together in addressing community needs.

Dang volunteers weekly as a teacher's assistant at Van Lang Vietnamese School, a place he credits for helping him come out of his shell as he assimilated to American culture at 9 years old.

Mukadam was involved in Westview High School's cybersecurity team and a highlight of his experience was working with the Tech Caregiver Program, which conducts research and provides cybersecurity education at free public events.