From participating in a community service project abroad to researching at one of the country’s top universities, students have plenty of options for enriching their learning over the summer. Summer programs are an excellent way for high schoolers to get involved in the community and make a difference even when school is not in session.

One such program is the Bank of America Student Leaders program. This program provides students with the opportunity to become civically engaged on a national level over the summer. Bank of America connects selected students with paid internships at non-profits in their local communities. These internships teach students about time management, leadership, work ethic, and teamwork. Bank of America partners with non-profits such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity.

Regarding eligibility, Bank of America invites current high school juniors and seniors to apply for the program. Applicants must be able to take part in an eight-week paid internship and be able to attend the Bank of America Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. from July 13th through July 18th of this summer. Applications are due on January 31st, 2020 for the program.

If you or someone you know is interested in applying for the Bank of America Student Leaders program, keep an eye on the deadline! Here’s a link to access the application, which includes a required letter of recommendation from an educator and several supplementary components: https://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/what-guides-us/student-leaders.html#fbid=3U6eZdz09Lp.

Other summer programs offer a chance to explore college life away from home. Students that attend some of these programs can live in a residential area and experience college level coursework. Many universities offer college classes over the summer to high school students who want to cover topics in more detail than they would typically cover in high school, including philosophy, marine biology, anthropology, and political science.

Although it’s only January, students should begin researching if they are interested in participating in any summer programs. One resource to discover colleges and the summer programs available to students is the ACP-Erie College and Career Center College Exploration page. On this page, students will discover links to sites that can help them locate the perfect college match for them. With the deadlines quickly approaching for many of these summer programs, now is the time to get searching if you would like to attend a summer program!