Edwin Amar, an incoming Union City High School senior, is also a potential community leader. After being awarded a summer 2011 paid internship through the Bank of America Student Leadership program, he attended their leadership summit from July 10 to 15 in Washington, D.C. Students who participated at workshops and field trips were paid by the company to return to their communities and work at a local non-profit organization.
When Edwin returned, he continued volunteering at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Hoboken, an organization that provides local youths with activities to keep them out of trouble. Edwin started a guitar program through which he gives the kids a lesson each day at the club.
According to Edward Dalton, unit director for the club, Edwin has shown leadership skills since the beginning of his internship.
“Helping others is something we should always do.” – Edwin Amar
____________
He said Edwin not only created flyers to promote the lessons, but solicited donations of guitars.
“I really want to see if I can further this guitar program,” he said. “We have been talking to stores, like this guitar store where I live. They already donated a guitar and I have asked them to donate more. And I if I can get other places to do the same and continue this program, [it would be great]”
According to Dalton, Edwin shadows him in various club projects. He said he is thankful and impressed with all Edwin has accomplished.
Amar also said that he enjoyed the leadership summit.
“One activity that stood out to me was the mock Congress,” he said. “We divided into workshops and we each had to build a topic to argue [a bill].”
Amar said he gained valuable experience working as part of a group, and also enjoyed meeting students from London, who he said had similar tastes in music and other pastimes.
Life of service
Amar is no stranger to community service. He said that since he was a young boy, his parents have brought him with them to do volunteer work, whether street cleaning or other service.
Opportunity knocked on his door this year when his school counselor Nadia Makar informed him of the leadership program. Amar was humbled that Makar considered him as a candidate and immediately applied.
He was given the choice of picking his community service location.
According to Bob Doherty, New Jersey state president of the Bank of America, “Edwin was a perfect candidate for our Student Leaders program, having shown amazing leadership qualities at a very young age. He’s actively engaged in his school and community, volunteering and helping to motivate others to achieve their full potential. Early on Edwin recognized that hard work and perseverance coupled with a drive to help others could bring about positive change for the good of not just one individual, but for the entire community.”
The Bank of America leadership program started in 2004. By the end of 2011, more than 1,600 students will have participated from the United States and London.
According to Doherty, “The Student Leaders program is one component of Bank of America’s signature philanthropic program, which recognizes nurtures and rewards organizations, local heroes, and student leaders helping to strengthen and revitalize their communities in the bank’s major markets.”
Santo Sanabria may be reached at SSanabria@hudsonreporter.com.