Meet our Bank of America Student Leaders, Gavin and Shaw

This summer, the YMCA of Coastal Carolina and Bank of America partnered again to create a marketing internship program to provide leadership experience to high school students and make an impact on our community.

The Student Leaders handled all aspects of marketing and community engagement this summer, from creating content for the YMCA of Coastal Carolina social media channels to attending networking events to share the mission work of the Y.

“Gavin and Shaw are making a tremendous impact on sharing the YMCA of Coastal Carolina story through social media this summer! We are thrilled to partner with Bank of America again this summer to bring student leaders to the Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA for a summer marketing internship,” shares Hatton Gravely, Director of Mission Advancement.

About the Bank of America Student Leaders program

Since 2004, Student Leaders® has been part of our ongoing commitment to youth employment and economic mobility. We’re helping prepare a diverse pipeline of community-minded young students to be successful in the workforce through leadership training and work experience. The students hail from many diverse backgrounds, but are united by their drive and commitment. Through paid internships with local nonprofits and participation in a national leadership summit, they gain practical work and life experience.
Bank of America

Part of the program is a leadership summit held in Washington, DC. Student Leaders from across the country gather in our nation’s capitol for speakers, seminars, projects, and exploring.

Meet Shaw Ashley

Shaw is a rising senior at North Myrtle Beach High School. He shares, “I love working at the YMCA for a variety of reasons. I am a huge believe in Christ and throughly believe in the mission that the Y puts forth. Between my experience in owning my own business, Marketing & current work at the NMB Aquatic & Fitness Center, I am happy to be an asset to the YMCA of Coastal Carolinas!”

At North Myrtle Beach High School, Shaw is extremely involved in all aspects of the school, including:

Student Assistant to the Athletic Director
President of the Social Studies National Honor Society
Student Council Member
Member of the National Honor Society & Beta Club
Former Editor-In-Chief of the NMBHS Yearbook

As if that is not enough, Shaw is dedicated to our community and involved in many programs – including founding a summer camp for kids!

Founder & Director of the NMB Survivor Challenges
Ambassador at the Little River Chamber of Commerce
Committee Chair & Fundraiser for the Myrtle Beach Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Active Church Member & Volunteer at Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church
Active Volunteer at Ocean Drive Elementary School
Numerous Volunteer Activites throughout the school year
Employeed as an Activities Specialist at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center during the school year.

The NMB Jr. Survivor camp is a summer camp in North Myrtle Beach, with a Christian emphasis. The camp is based off of the hit CBS show, Survivor.

The adventure camp is open to kids in the Horry County area between the ages of 7-11.

As a fundraiser for the kid’s camp, he holds the “NMB Celebrity Survivor Challenge” annually.

It combines local celebrities as well as former contestants from the actual show, in a weekend-long survivor competition that raises money for the kids camp.

The competition is filmed and edited into mini-episodes for the community to enjoy.

Season 1 episodes & more can be found on the YouTube channel. Season 2 was recently filmed and the episodes will begin being uploaded weekly, starting in August. You can see more on YouTube!

Shaw’s Summer Student Leaders Photo Gallery

Meet Gavin Ockert

Gavin Ockert graduated from the Scholars Academy and will be attending Duke University in the fall. He served as the school’s senior class president and participated in FTC Robotics.

During high school, he interned at Coastal Carolina University and performed scientific research on bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect strains of bacteria, with the biochemistry department. He plans to pursue a career in astrobiology, or the study of the development and persistence of life on Earth and in space.

In addition to his academics, Gavin has raised hundreds of dollars in my area for Luv Michael, a nonprofit organization that employs autistic adults and raises awareness for autism nationwide. In his free time, Gavin likes to fish, read, and use his telescope.

Gavin shares, “I love how kind and helpful everyone at the YMCA is. The staff, from the lifeguards to the camp counselors to the front desk workers to the custodians, are all genuinely invested in maintaining our community and building its future. It lifts me up when I get to work with people who strive for the betterment of others.

I’ve learned a lot by seeing the “behind the scenes” of a marketing department. To create posts for social media, I have filmed, edited videos, and learned to deliver messages in a brief and effective manner. I’ve worked with kids and adults to promote the YMCA’s cause and raise awareness for various events and activities. The YMCA has also helped me stay in touch with my community. From a Bojangles ribbon-cutting ceremony to a Chamber of Commerce Senatorial meeting, I’ve gotten to see the many happenings that support and define Myrtle Beach.”