Stephanie Torres was selected by Bank of America to be among the five 2018 Student Leaders

High schoolers are more than just tomorrow’s future professionals, they are today’s trailblazers, change makers and activists helping create a difference in their communities.

This year’s Bank of America Student Leaders^®are no different. From starting their own organizations and school clubs to advocating for social change, these civic-minded high school students are helping shape the world for future generations to come.

The 5 high school juniors and seniors from Miami-Dade County selected to become Student Leaders® will participate in a paid summer internship at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. Additionally, they will participate in a week-long trip to Washington D.C. for a leadership summit, where the students will tour Capitol Hill and meet with members of Congress.

Stephanie Torres, a senior at Doral Academy Preparatory, was selected by Bank of America to be among the five 2018 Student Leaders. She was awarded this scholarship for her community work  as a volunteer for the Reforming Florida Helping Homeowners service project. She worked to educate residents in her community on the loop holes their HOA was using to mismanage their building. She worked with local politicians to help residents in her community understand condominium laws and homeowner protection issues, while making a real difference.

Other Miami Student Leaders are:

• Jacqueline Hatch, an incoming senior at Michael M. Krop Senior High School, Jacqueline is the founder of the debate club at her local middle school and an advocate for ending human trafficking working for Angels Against Human Trafficking.
• Juliana Talamo, a rising senior at the School for Advanced Studies, serves as co-founder of The Right Foot Project, an organization aimed at providing parents and students information and resources about the education system. She is also a swim coach for the Down Syndrome Swimming Association.
• Ni’A Landon, a senior at Miramar High School, is the founder of her school’s Black Women’s Student Union helping to empower young women to strive beyond their barriers. Ni’A also organizes local community events and is a mentor for the Mentor Tomorrow’s Leaders program.
• Shaunak Mishra, a senior at Palmer Trinity School, serves as the Mayor’s Representative for the Miami-Dade County Youth Commission and is the founder of Hoop Dreams school club offering academic and athletic tutoring regularly to children in Hands in Action Children’s Home Society of Florida.

Since 2004, the Bank of America Student Leaders® program has connected more than 3,000 young adults nationwide with summer employment opportunities and has supported their ongoing commitment to service and leadership in the community.