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We are committed to get Philadelphia public high school students excited and ready for college. Here's how we do it!

Video filmed and edited by Rob Kates of Kates Media, Inc.

Richard Lebron is a student with a passion for improving his community. The 17-year-old junior - a member of the College Access Program - was recently accepted to the prestigiousBank of American Student Leadership Program.

This incredible achievement offers Richard an 8-week paid internship at a nonprofit in Washington D.C. to gain valuable civic, social and business leadership skills through hands-on work experience. He will connect with other community-minded students and learn how nonprofits, business and government can cooperate to improve communities.

“This is a great opportunity for me," Lebron said. "I feel this internship will help me enhance my leadership skills and make me a better person. I love meeting new people and I am sure this program will allow me to do so."

When Richard's College Access Coordinator, Jocelyn Rodriguez, asked him to apply for the internship, he realized it would be an experience that allowed him to give back and be a leader in the community. "Everyone wants to be a leader, but it takes practice and skill to get there," Richard said.

“Richard serves as a role model for his peers," Jocelyn said. "He is very mature and dedicated to his school work. His has many aspirations and plans to attend college right after graduation. When I learned that he was accepted into the program, I was delighted and felt extremely proud of him. I feel this is a great opportunity for him and he will fit right in.“

In addition to the internship, Richard will attend a week-long all-expense-paid Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C, July 15-20. According to the program website, the Summit "introduces students to aspects of civic, social and business leadership and provides them with knowledge and skills they will use throughout their life to create positive community change."

Richard has never been to Washington, D.C. and is excited to get started. "This summer is going to be nothing but great! I can’t wait, I’m so excited, thank you Ms. Rodriguez!”

On Saturday, March 3, the Ed Fund's College Access Program joined forces with the Phi Beta Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to give a workshop to local Philadelphia high school students, as part of an ongoing mentoring program of the AKA Sorority. Cathey White, Manager of the College Access Center at the Gallery, and Doris Rivera-Maldonado, College Access Program Assistant, facilitated the workshop.

The two-hour experience provided useful advice about the college-going process and allowed the students to get to know each other by working together in groups. After working from the Step Up workbook, an interactive college access guide created just for Philly students, the groups played "College Access Jeopardy." Everyone had a ton of fun!

Thank you to the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Cathey White and Doris Rivera-Maldonado for helping to make this event a success and a fun learning experience for all the students.

If you are a junior or senior in high school, and you are committed to making a positive impact in your community, Bank of America Charitable Foundation has an opportunity for you.

The Student Leaders® Program allows students to connect with other community-minded students and experience how nonprofits, business and government can cooperate to improve communities. The program helps students gain a greater understanding of how nonprofits create impact in the community and helps develop them as the next generation of community leaders through two components:

• A summer 2012 eight-week paid internship with selected nonprofit organizations designed to provide opportunities for the students to develop and apply leadership skills through hands-on work experience, while raising their awareness of community issues addressed by their Host Organization.

• A week-long all-expense paid Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., July 15-20. Conducted in partnership with the Close Up Foundation, the Summit introduces students to aspects of civic, social and business leadership and provides them with knowledge and skills they will use throughout their life to create positive community change.

Juniors and seniors: apply by January 25, 2012.

Visit www.bankofamerica.com/neistudentleaders.