Leta 1(Ismail Botchway holds up his new keys)
There was a celebratory buzz at “Great Futures At The Playground Gala” inside the packed Armory on October 25th in anticipation of the announcement of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) 2024 Youth of the Year.
Four finalists out of seven candidates were in the running for the distinguished honor as their names and pictures flashed on the huge video screen.
Furthermore, when it was all said and done, the 2024 Youth of the Year winner was Ismail Botchway, 17, a senior at the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. A two-year club member, he is a member of the clubs’ St. Louis Internship Program and Focus St. Louis.
For earning the top honor, Ismail took hold of the keys to a 2009 Pontiac G8 during the presentation at
the Frank Leta Acura showroom, 11777 Tesson Ferry Road in South County. In addition to the car, he
also received a $5,000 scholarship as Youth of the Year in October from BGCSTL donors.
“It doesn’t seem real right now like I’m in a dream,” said Ismail, who was all smiles as he sat behind the wheel of his new ride. “It will kick in once I start driving.”
The car is a metaphor for where his “amazing future” is taking him, as he wants the moment to light the pathways for other youth to follow.
“I am very proud to have received this car and it is just my first step to my amazing future,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll be driving to college soon, driving to Washington University. I aspire to become an attorney and drive to work every day and to my internships. My future is also about supporting the clubs to make sure other young people can have their own great future to help them succeed.”
Ismail was a student at Visual and Performing Arts High School last October during a mass shooting there, leaving a teacher and a student dead and others wounded or injured. Police killed the shooter.
During his Youth of the Year acceptance speech in October, Ismail recalled being “broken and afraid” following the tragic event.
“The Boys and Girls Club took me from being alone, broken and afraid and turned me into the indestructible leader that stands before you today,” he said during his speech. “They not only supported me, but they taught me the importance of serving and advocating in my community.”
Joe Brown, chief marketing office for Frank Leta Automotive Group, said the dealership’s charitable foundation mission is to “provide quality transportation to those in need.”
“We like to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs because of what they’re doing for the community,” Brown said. “The program has really helped us out to find good candidates like Ismail for donations. We want to provide support the best we can.”
Ismail’s proud parents, Brian and Nicole Botchway, were glowing as their son was being honored with a new vehicle at the dealership.
“I am immensely proud of Ismail. He has worked extremely hard,” said Ismail’s mother, Nicole, adding that her son’s story is so positive in the mix of too many negative stories about youth.
She said like many of the students at Visual and Performing Arts High School last year, he was very discouraged after the tragedy. She said the family wasn’t sure how he was going to feel when he returned to the school, dealing with the emotional aftermath.
But she said the Boys & Girls Clubs really helped him with overcoming those concerns and then deciding to help start an organization to help other students deal with those issues. As part of FOCUS St. Louis, he said he assisted in the development of “Community St. Louis” to assist students emotionally move past the shooting.
“This is amazing for students to be rewarded with something positive,” Nicole Botchway said. “A lot of times you hear about kids and cars. This is not the story you hear about a kid and a car. It shows where hard work, dedication and giving back to the community can take you.
“This is an inspiration, especially when we have so many not so positive stories in the headlines.”
Ismail’s father, Brian, said the honors and recognitions his son has received is what every parent desires to see in their children.
“This makes us feel proud because it shows we’ve done a good job,” he said. “He’s a good kid and we’re always wanted the best for him. This shows that he is also pushing himself to be the best. And that is what every parent wants. When you’re raising a son, you’re believing he’s going to be where you want him to be. Ismail has exceeded our expectations.”
Deneen Busby, vice president of marketing & communications for BGCSTL, said the Youth of the Year is the highest achievement a Boys & Girls Clubs member can accomplish, celebrating the teen’s contributions to family, school, community, and the Club. In addition to the vehicle and financial awards, the recognition also includes a role as BGCSTL Teen Ambassador.
In conclusion, unlike other Boys & Girls Clubs, St. Louis is the only organization with a generous partner like Frank Leta Automotive that helps ease the burden of transportation for teen families, Busby added.
In April, Ismail received a leadership and volunteerism award from the clubs. Learn more about the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, visit https://www.bgcstl.org/
