Y.E.S. program helps Upward Bound students turn ideas into opportunity

Y.E.S. program helps Upward Bound students turn ideas into opportunity

For 34 Upward Bound students, this summer brought new lessons in leadership, financial confidence and entrepreneurship through the Youth Empowerment at Synovus program.

The annual program welcomed high school students to Atlanta Metropolitan State College and Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, for a week of financial education and personal development.

Juniors and seniors built business plans, learned the basics of budgeting, saving, investing and credit, and practiced pitching their ideas with confidence. The program supports Upward Bound, a federally funded college preparatory program for low-income, first-generation college-bound students.

"Y.E.S. helps students strengthen the communication, goal setting and self-confidence they need to grow as leaders," said Nancy Merolla, community development program officer. "Our team members consider it a tremendous responsibility and privilege to help make that kind of impact."

Jordan Reed has returned to the experience year after year. Reed first joined Y.E.S. in 2023 as a rising ninth grader at Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina. Merolla said he has transformed from a quiet student into "a confident, engaged leader who now encourages other students to participate."

Synovus designed the program to spark growth by combining classroom activities, coaching and real-world scenarios to help students strengthen financial knowledge and learn how to present their ideas.

The week ended with graduation ceremonies at each college, where students shared their experiences and received feedback from peers, program leaders and legacy Synovus and Pinnacle team members.

Students received graduation certificates and gift cards. Each Upward Bound program received a $5,000 donation to support its work to prepare students for postsecondary education.

The Y.E.S. program began at Synovus in 2022. This year marks the third year the legacy Synovus team has partnered with Atlanta Metropolitan State College and the fifth year at Benedict College. Community development team members Merolla; Pamela Cross, community development manager; and Jennifer Stimpson, community development manager, facilitate the program.