Marjory Stoneman Douglas Grad Leads the Charge in Bank of America’s Student Leader Program

by Sharon Aron Baron August 16, 2024

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas Grad Leads the Charge in Bank of America's Student Leader Program

The 2024 Bank of America Student Leaders in Broward County Eleasha Augustin, Laura Morejon Rodriguez, Sebastian Garcia Gutierrez, and Vyom Mishra. {courtesy}

Bank of America spotlighted four exceptional high school students from Broward County as part of its Student Leaders program, marking the initiative’s 20th anniversary.

The Student Leaders program offers an eight-week paid summer internship to empower young minds with practical work experience, leadership skills, and financial education.

Among the standout participants is Eleasha Augustin, a 2024 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School graduate who has emerged as a significant figure in this year’s cohort.

Augustin of Coral Springs was recognized for her mentorship and dedication to community service. During her time at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, she served as the president of Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders.

This peer-to-peer mentoring program was pivotal in supporting students at risk of dropping out or underperforming academically. Under Eleasha’s leadership, the program flourished, offering guidance on everything from homework to handling challenging home situations.

Lori Chevy, president of Bank of America Fort Lauderdale, emphasized the program’s importance in developing the next generation of skilled workers.

“By providing career and leadership development opportunities for teens for 20 years, we continue to help develop the next generation of skilled workforce, which is essential to the region’s long-term economic growth,” said Chevy, adding that the program benefits not only the students but also the local nonprofits and community as a whole.

Joining Eleasha in the 2024 class of Broward County Student Leaders are:

Laura Morejon Rodriguez, a senior at Piper High School, founded Drug Abuse Prevention (DAP) South Florida, a nonprofit dedicated to combating addiction in her community.
Sebastian Garcia Gutierrez, a senior at the College Academy at Broward College, is known for his leadership in student government and efforts to support the homeless and honor local veterans.
Vyom Mishra, a senior at the Broward Campus of American Heritage Schools, created Skip the Jargon, a nonprofit that promotes financial literacy among underserved communities.

The Student Leaders program also included a week-long national leadership summit in Washington, D.C., where participants learned about the intersection of nonprofits, governments, and businesses in addressing local needs.

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Sharon Aron Baron

Sharon Aron Baron is a Parkland resident and editor of Talk Media. She has been covering Parkland news since 2012. Parkland Talk was created to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Parkland.