EL MONTE – Culminating a year in which they learned about financial literacy and professional career paths, 12 Mountain View High School seniors serving as interns in the school’s U.S. Bank Student Intern Branch Program hosted a leadership forum which included a Q&A with U.S. Bank senior administrators on April 30.

Mountain View seniors Jennifer Rivera Rivas and Natalie Nguyen moderated the forum, titled “Guided by Greatness: The Power of Leadership and Mentorship,” asking the panel their advice on how to further develop the skills they have learned in class and apply them in their pursuit of college and career success.

“At Mountain View High School we believe in the spirit of inspiring greatness. Whether through an encouraging walk through the hallways or a hands-on internship that opens new doors, we are committed to helping our students discover their own potential,” Mountain View Principal Jose Banas said. “Our theme, ‘Guided by Greatness,’ reminds us that greatness is not something we achieve alone. It is something we unlock in each other.”

Speaking to a trio of U.S. Bank administrators – Vice President Thayne Parkinson, Senior Vice President Katie A. McEvilly, and Executive Vice President Brian Formisano – Rivas and Nguyen asked the panel how they would describe leadership, what their biggest challenges have been, how those experiences shaped their approaches, and what advice they had for students preparing for college.

When the panel discussion concluded, Rivas, Nguyen, and the rest of the student interns had an opportunity to network with guests, which included U.S. Bank employees, Mountain View Parent Student Teacher Association (PTSA) members, and community stakeholders.

The interns also signed three framed photos of the program for U.S. Bank administrators in appreciation of their continued support and participation.

“This program has helped me so much. Before I joined, I didn’t know much about banking or how to manage my finances. It has also helped so much with my public speaking. I used to get so nervous, but now I am confident enough that I volunteered to lead the panel discussion,” Rivas said. “I have gained so much as a U.S. Bank intern. I believe that you should never change who you are and always be yourself.”

For Mountain View High Class of 2018 graduate and current U.S. Bank Client Relationship Consultant Karla Mena Escobar, the leadership forum represented a full circle moment. Escobar served as an intern in the program in 2018 while attending Mountain View before embarking on her own successful career.

Now Escobar is mentoring a new generation of student leaders as the program’s on-site consultant. After conducting a financial literacy fair last year, Escobar and her colleague, U.S. Bank Branch Manager Sergio Martinez, decided to organize a leadership forum.

“It has been so rewarding to come back to Mountain View as a mentor with our highly motivated interns,” Escobar said. “The students start out shy, but by the end of the program they have become true professionals. The transformation is amazing. Having gone through the program myself has helped me connect with our interns.”

The U.S. Bank Student Intern Branch Program prepares students for life beyond the classroom by equipping them with essential real-world skills. The key focus areas include financial literacy, workforce development, career exploration, and marketing. Student interns also share their knowledge with classmates through financial literacy presentations centering on credit, digital banking, and other finance-related topics.

Student interns receive a stipend of $1,500 for participating in the program, receiving $750 upon successful completion of each semester.

To enroll in the program, students complete applications in their junior year. Only 12 students are selected to be U.S. Bank interns during their senior years, receiving training in U.S. Bank operations, customer service, and soft skills such as resume-building and interview preparation. The internship is embedded directly into the students’ class schedule.

“The U.S. Bank Student Intern Program has established an ongoing legacy at Mountain View, bringing community and business leaders to our schools to promote life skills and civic responsibility,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “Thank you to the U.S. Bank administrators who took time from their busy schedules to come out and inspire our students.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

EMUHSD_MVHS US BANK PANEL_1: Mountain View High School U.S. Bank student interns celebrate after hosting a leadership panel discussion with U.S. Bank administrators on April 30.

EMUHSD_MVHS US BANK PANEL_2: From left to right, U.S. Bank Director Sandy Porter, Mountain View High School Principal Jose Banas, U.S. Bank Vice President Thayne Parkinson, Executive Vice President Brian Formisano, Senior Vice President Katie A. McEvilly, and Mountain View High School seniors and U.S. Bank interns Natalie Nguyen and Jennifer Rivera Rivas celebrate a successful leadership forum on April 30, where students asked panelists for advice on how to develop the skills they have learned in class and apply them to their college and career goals.