Since 1947, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America has been recognizing and celebrating the nation’s most inspiring teens through the Youth of the Year program, telling their stories of outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle.
And on Monday, one of the Youth of the Year candidates from Arizona was honored at the State Legislature as a special guest of Sen. David Gowan (R-Sierra Vista).
Gowan welcomed Isaac Merrill, a 10th grader who has participated in the Boys & Girls Club of Sierra Vista for the past six years. Merrill, who is the starting quarterback of his school team, is also a volunteer of the Torch Club, a “club within the Club” that helps youths meet character development needs of younger adolescents at a critical stage in their life.
According to Gowan, Merrill has dreams of attending the University of Arizona and ultimately playing in the NFL.
After their meeting at the Senate Building, Gowan reflected on the opportunity to have the teen recognized for his accomplishments.
“What else can you say about Isaac except that he is an exceptional youth leader,” the senator told Arizona Daily Independent. “It’s always exciting for me to have constituents at the Capitol but when I get to introduce constituents such as Isaac, it warms my heart.”
Gowan spends a lot of time when away from the Senate serving as a martial arts instructor. It is an opportunity for him to meet many local kids.
“I’ve always been encouraged by youth groups who help mentor and help provide guidance to our youth in our communities,” he said. “And the Boys and Girls Clubs have always done a tremendous job!”