ST. LOUIS, Mo. (October 25, 2024) Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) proudly announces the 2024-25 Youth of the Year (YOY) winner, 17-year Austin Nichols. Austin now holds the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The Youth of the Year is a signature youth recognition program celebrating recipients’ contributions to their Club, family, school, and community.
Austin was named Youth of the Year at the 30th Annual Great Futures Gala on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Big Top, 3401 Washington Ave. The gala is the organization’s largest fundraising event hosted by KSDK Newschannel Five outstanding morning Anchor Rene Knott. Austin will represent the Club for the remainder of 2024 and 2025 as a Brand Ambassador. He receives a $5,000 scholarship, a car courtesy of our loyal partners at Frank Leta Automotive, and dinner at the prestigious Saint Louis Club.
Austin is a proud and long-time member of the Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto. His favorite part about Boys & Girls Clubs is the leadership opportunities. Despite his hectic school activities, football, and track and field seasons, Austin does not miss a day at the Bethalto Club. Being a leader in the Club is important to him. “My favorite program is probably leadership clubs, specifically Keystone Club,” said Austin. He mentions in his speech that he began with the Torch Club, learning leadership and feeling accomplished in volunteerism and community service.
Austin is on the path to his Great Future. He plans to join the Air Force and use his military benefits to obtain a Doctorate in Computer Science. We are confident Austin will achieve his goals. Austin adds, “Throughout my time at the Club, I’ve learned a lot of things, and I have gotten better at a lot of gym games like basketball and volleyball, but most important to me is that the Club has helped me to grow to become the good person I am today.” The staff at BGCSTL could not agree more!
The YOY runner-ups are also outstanding teens and Club members, who will each receive scholarship funds. Congratulations to the following:
Fourth place winner ($500) – Alex S.
Third place winner ($1,000) – D’Aura T.
Second place winner ($2,500) – Destiny H.
Congratulations to the ambitious YOY Final Four! BGCSTL President Dr. Flint Fowler quipped, “What a magical evening. Congratulations to our amazing Youth of the Year finalists!”
This year marks a significant milestone for BGCSTL with the upcoming retirement of long-time President Dr. Flint Fowler. Dr. Fowler announced earlier that he would retire at the end of 2024. More than 500 guests attended, paying tribute to his legacy of growing Boys & Girls Club from one site to 11. He grew the annual budget from $800,000 to its current 6 million. BGCSTL now serves more than 14,000 youth each year. For his achievements, St. Louis city and county Dignitaries were on hand to pay tribute to his remarkable work. Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page proclaimed Oct. 24 as Dr. Flint Fowler Great Futures Day!
The 30th Annual Great Futures Gala was a success thanks to the dedicated event committee, which included co-chairs Julie and Tom Donnelly, Angelleen Peters Lewis and Keith Galloway, and Megan and Curtis Ridgeway.
We thank our loyal sponsors, including Presenting Sponsors Dowd Bennett LLP and Emerson and Platinum Sponsors Charles Schwab, Jim Butler, and Edward Jones, for their unwavering support.
Photo credit: Lance Thurman
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. BGCSTL provides after-school, teen, sports, and summer programs to youth across the Bi-State Region while also providing a safe place for them to learn and grow. The Clubs serve youth across the region at twelve locations, including (Adams Park Club, Bentwood Townhomes Bethalto Club, Lovejoy Club, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence). We also operate Mentor St. Louis and the St. Louis Internship Program.