Student Board of Directors Application, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Our student board of directors program offers high school seniors a dynamic way to learn about the nation’s central bank! Students will gain a thorough understanding of the Federal Reserve’s role in the U.S. economy. They will engage with St. Louis Fed employees who serve in a variety of positions, including members of the senior leadership team.

The application period for the 2023-24 student board of directors opens Jan. 13, 2023, and closes March 15, 2023. Please review the following instructions carefully.

Who Is Eligible?

Participants in the St. Louis Fed’s student board of directors program come from diverse backgrounds and serve as ambassadors between St. Louis-area high schools and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Applicants should:

• Be St. Louis-area high school seniors during the next (2023-24) academic year.
• Have at least 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Children of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis employees are not eligible.

How Do Students Apply?

There are four steps to the application process.

1. Fill out the application of interest form.
2. Prepare a personal essay.
3. Get two letters of recommendation.
4. Upload your essay and recommendation letters.

Download a printable checklist (PDF) of all items required for the application process.

Step 1: Fill Out the Application of Interest

First, interested students must fill out this online application. Be sure to finish the whole form.

Step 2: Prepare a Personal Essay

Next, write a narrative essay on “why I think leadership is important.” Explain how leadership can help others resolve disputes, contribute to group efforts, or make your community or school a better place. Give at least one specific example of how you have demonstrated leadership.

Format:

• Please write 500 to 600 words, double-spaced, in 12-point font.
• Save your essay as a Word document or PDF. (Google Docs and other formats are not supported at this time.)
• Include your name and “essay” in the file name (example: Jaylan Jones essay).
• Submit your essay via email with your email address and “essay” in the subject line to STLSSBoD@stls.frb.org.

Step 3: Request Two Letters of Recommendation

In addition to the essay, applicants will need two signed recommendation letters:

1. One letter should be from an official at your school (e.g., nominating teacher, counselor or administrator). It should give specific examples of your leadership and scholarship.
2. One letter should be from another adult in your community (e.g., an employer, coach, religious leader, fine arts director, leader of a nonprofit where you volunteer, former teacher, etc.). It should contain specific examples of your leadership.
3. Please provide your teacher and other recommender two to three weeks to write your letter and share the submission information below.

Note to schools: Only one high school student will be accepted from a school.

Step 4: Recommenders Submit Their Letters via Email

Please share the following information with your recommenders:

• Save all documents as Word documents or PDFs. For security reasons, other formats are not accepted.
• Recommenders should email their letters to STLSSBoD@stls.frb.org.
• The email address of the student for whom the letter is written must be in the subject line of the submission email and in the file name of the recommendation letter (example: Jaylan.Jones@mhs.k12.us rec letter).

All four steps are to be completed by 5 p.m. on March 15, 2023.

Student Board of Directors 2022-2023

More Information

How Are Students Selected?

The St. Louis Fed uses a scoring rubric and reviews student nominations and applications. Students are selected based on the quality of their essays and letters of recommendation. Due to the limited number of seats on the board, only one student per school will be accepted.

Students who are selected will be notified via phone in mid-May 2023.

How Often Do Students Meet?

During their year on the board, members meet every month from late July/early August through May at the St. Louis Fed, Broadway and Locust Street.

Virtual instead of in-person meetings will be conducted if warranted out of an abundance of caution for health.

Students will discuss issues related to economics and personal finance; participate in discussions with St. Louis Fed leaders on topics ranging from professional development to career planning and progression; and prepare a presentation about the Federal Reserve to be delivered to peers at their respective high schools.

Meetings are from 7:30 to 9 a.m., with two exceptions. In July/August, a luncheon meeting will be scheduled. A parent/guardian or family member is required to attend. In May, the meeting will be a recognition dinner for board members’ work. Teachers who recommended the students, and students’ parents and/or guardians, will be invited to the dinner.

Participation Requirements

If selected for the board, members must:

• Attend all meetings and prepare for and participate fully in all discussions and projects.
• Complete online learning modules from our Econ Lowdown Online Learning series to prepare for discussions and interactive activities.
• Collaborate with other Student Board members to create a presentation about the Fed and share it with a class at their school.
• Maintain a standard of behavior befitting a representative of the nation’s central bank.

After successful completion of the yearlong program, students may apply for summer internships at the St. Louis Fed.

For more information, contact: STLSSBoD@stls.frb.org