From left, Tyasia Cannon, MayEllen Clark, Caleb Odou, Chip Rossi (president of Bank of America Delaware), Timothy Nguyen, Samhitha Vallury.

5 First State teens named ‘National Student Leaders’

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Delaware Live, Education

From left, Tyasia Cannon, MayEllen Clark, Caleb Odou, Chip Rossi (president of Bank of America Delaware), Timothy Nguyen, Samhitha Vallury.

From left, Tyasia Cannon, MayEllen Clark, Caleb Odou, Chip Rossi (president of Bank of America Delaware), Timothy Nguyen, Samhitha Vallury.

Five Delaware junior and senior high school students have been selected as Bank of America Student Leaders.

The Student Leader Program began in 2004 with the intent to help prepare students to enter the workforce through skills-building and leadership development.

“The students are standout young adults who were selected for their involvement in standing up against inequality and injustice, as well as devoting their time volunteering across the Delaware region,” said a statement released by Bank of America.

The Delaware students are:

Timothy Nguyen, a senior at Newark High School, selected for advocating for proper school funding at his school to support the continuation of clubs and help with social and educational growth.

Tyasia Cannon, a recent graduate of Dover High School, selected for assisting with funding grants in Delaware to help non-profit organizations service the uninsured.

Samhitha Vallury, a senior at MOT Charter High School, selected for participating as a state leader for the Delaware State Leadership Conference through the Business Professionals of America organization. 

MayEllen Clark, a senior at Cab Calloway School of the Arts, selected for creating a club at her school honoring her late mother that assists peers dealing with hardships and aiding the mental and physical distress from loss.

Caleb Odou, a recent graduate of Saint Mark’s High School, selected for orchestrating a meeting with the Delaware secretary of education through the Youth Advocacy Council to advocate for better funding at schools that impact minority students.

These students are now mid-way through their paid internship, which focuses on workforce skills, leadership and civic engagement with the Food Bank of Delaware.

They’re also involved in the food bank’s summer culinary program.

Their work will assist in hunger relief efforts statewide.

Delaware’s five are among 300 community-focused juniors and seniors recognized annually.

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