An Indian American student from Jericho High School, has been selected for the prestigious Bank of America Student Leader Program, a distinction that only 4 percent of applicants across the United States achieve.
Agastya Mittal was chosen from over 7,000 applicants for the highly competitive program, which offers leadership opportunities to outstanding high school juniors and seniors nationwide. During the 8-week paid internship with Bank of America, he gained hands-on experience in leadership, civic responsibility, and community service.
As part of the program, Mittal was assigned to work with the EAC Network, a Long Island-based nonprofit social service agency, as a public relations and marketing Intern. The EAC Network operates in Long Island and the five boroughs of New York City, serving over 54,000 individuals through more than 100 programs that address issues such as food security, substance abuse treatment, and special needs education.
Through his internship, Mittal gained valuable insights into community needs, learning how to mobilize resources and develop workplace skills while earning competitive wages, a news release stated.
Mittal’s experience culminated in the Bank of America Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., a week-long event that brought together 300 student leaders from across the country. The summit featured esteemed speakers, including U.S. representatives, business leaders, activists, and actor Chris Evans.
The event focused on teaching the essentials of leadership, civic responsibility, and bipartisanship. Mittal participated in workshops designed to apply these lessons, collaborating with his peers to find solutions to critical issues in American politics and society.
During the summit, students had the opportunity to visit historic sites in Washington, D.C., including the Capitol, Supreme Court, and National Archives. They also met with their Congressional representatives, gaining firsthand insight into the legislative process. A highlight of the summit was the "Mock Congress" activity, where students drafted and voted on bills, requiring negotiation and compromise to achieve bipartisan consensus.
Mittal, who has a deep passion for community service, sustainability, history, international affairs, and politics, found the summit to be a transformative experience. He said that he valued the opportunity to connect with a diverse network of like-minded student leaders from across the United States.
The Indian American student is the founder of the nonprofit organization "Youth for Sustainable Future," which promotes sustainability among young people. He is also an author, blogger, debater, and a Gold Medalist in the International History Olympiad held in Rome in 2023.
Moreover, he won the Championship Trophy in the International History Bowl held in Princeton in 2022 and recently published his first book, "Divided: 8 Partitions that Changed the World,” which explores geopolitics and history.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login