IMMOKALEE - Ruth Bellevue has dedicated her life to helping other students and Immokalee residents. That work is being recognized with her selection for Bank of America’s prestigious Student Leaders internship.

Ruth is a 2020 graduate of Immokalee High School who immigrated to the U.S. after her family was left devastated by the 2010 Haiti earthquakes.

“I felt like my world had fallen apart,” Ruth shared. “My family and I were homeless for over a month.”

When Ruth’s family eventually relocated to the United States, adapting to her new life while learning another language was no easy feat. Yet, she grew from that adversity and years later became the President of her high school’s National Honor Society.

Ruth’s personal experience gave her a passion for helping others experiencing similarly challenging hurdles. She’s devoted countless hours to tutoring elementary students and increasing their reading comprehension skills.

“As someone who learned English as a second language, I recognize the hardship that language barriers can cause,” said Ruth. “I wanted to help bring those barriers down for others in my own community.”

She also led the development of Immokalee High School’s Thanksgiving Basket, Hygiene Kits for Abused Women, and Cards for Seniors programs, through which her peers donated over 400 volunteer hours in the past year. She is a frequent volunteer with No Barriers Youth Southwest Florida, serving youth in foster care, and Buddy Break Naples, benefiting special needs children, among other organizations. In addition to being chosen for Bank of America’s program, she recently received more than $380,000 in college scholarship offers, including a full ride to Vanderbilt University.

The six-week Student Leaders summer internship program will help strengthen Ruth’s leadership abilities, civic engagement, and workforce skills-building even further. In light of the health concerns that remain in local communities, the program has been adapted to a virtual format, through which students will have the opportunity to participate in sessions that will expose them to the vital role that nonprofits play in advancing community health, the importance of public private partnerships to advance social change, and a focus on building financial acumen.

“I think that promoting staying at home and fun virtual programs, especially among teens, will help to address and alleviate some of the challenges associated with the pandemic,” said Ruth. “I hope to make connections with many people who want to see the world become a better place and are willing to take action to do so.”

As a Southwest Florida Student Leader, Ruth will be participating in virtual sessions to develop her personal brand and produce several PSA-style videos through Bank of America’s partnership with Champions For Learning™, The Education Foundation of Collier County. Her final work will be shared throughout the county to encourage her peers to seek opportunities for professional development in high school and beyond.

“Age is just a number for Ruth, whose ability to use the adversity she’s faced to better the lives of others is an inspiration, especially as our community looks to grow from the challenges it faces,” said Gerri Moll, Southwest Florida market president for Bank of America. “No one is too young to make a difference in the world, and our partnership with Champions for Learning is empowering young leaders like her to have an even greater impact.”

As part of the program, Ruth will be joining virtual sessions with 300 of her fellow Student Leaders around the nation to participate in the Young America Together at Home initiative, delivered by the Close Up Foundation. The curriculum includes discussion of finding one’s voice in order to effect change and pressing policy issues such as the economy, healthcare, the environment and immigration.

The ability to earn a paycheck will be essential to many young people whether they are helping to support their families or planning for the future. As part of the Student Leader experience, Ruth will receive a $5,000 stipend to recognize her community achievements as well.

Recent estimates suggest that the number of disconnected youth – those who aren’t in school and don’t have a job – has likely tripled since last year and could be as high as 18 million. Without access to opportunities that build career skills, many young people may be left behind, leading to high rates of youth unemployment and hindering overall economic progress.

This summer, Bank of America is connecting approximately 3,000 young adults to summer jobs through partnerships with nonprofits and local mayors and its own Student Leaders program.