Bank of America is celebrating National Intern Day on July 28, as it completes its summer programs in partnership with Golden Harvest Food Bank, the Augusta Symphony and First Tee of Augusta to provide paid internships to high school and college age students in the community. 

Students in Greater Augusta and Aiken are part of Bank of America’s Student Leader and Students2Work Programs. Each year two students are chosen as Student Leaders to work alongside Golden Harvest Food Bank developing leadership and workforce skills and participate in a weeklong virtual leadership summit. Students learn about advancing community health and the importance of public-private partnerships to drive social change while building financial acumen. 

Students2Work is a program with the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce that provides valuable hands-on work experience in local businesses within the metro Augusta area. This year, Bank of America funded two interns to work at the Augusta Symphony through the Students2Work program. Additionally, Bank of America provided a separate grant for summer youth employment to First Tee Augusta. 

“This is the second summer that the Augusta Symphony and the Miller Theater have benefited from the Student2Work Program, thanks to the generosity of Bank of America,” said Anne Catherine Murray, executive director, Augusta Symphony. “Our interns have been a huge asset to us, from cataloguing our music library to setting up for events at the Miller, and they are gaining real, paid work experience in the arts at the same time. It is a win-win for all of us.” 

Bank of America's support enabled First Tee Augusta to train diverse college students as Lead Coaches for our summer golf and life skills programs. First Tee Augusta is typically a first job for each of the interns. The interns are responsible for instruction, set up, break down, class management, and safety during golf and life skills classes at First Tee Augusta and at various community partner locations. Community partners include Boys and Girls Clubs, Richmond County Parks and Recreation, Burke County Parks and Recreation and the Family Y.  

“The interns have been instrumental in helping students learn to apply life skills and core values on and away from the golf course and develop practice routines that will prepare the students for competitive tournament play throughout the summer,” said Jill Brown, executive director, First Tee Augusta. “We have made every effort to make the employment experience a positive one for them by providing daily feedback to help them develop as young professionals.” 

“Bank of America remains committed to supporting young adults by connecting them to jobs, community engagement opportunities and leadership development,” said Ora Parish, president Bank of America Augusta / Aiken. “We recognize young adults are the future of our community, which is why these internships are ways we can provide opportunities for students to gain job experience.”

For more than 18 years, Bank of America has offered paid summer internships to high school students to work with local nonprofits across the country. These internships provide high-achieving teens from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to gain employment experience, job skills and earn money. The community in return gains help from local nonprofits and a diverse pipeline of talent as the young adults enter the local workforce.