Central High Senior Isaiah Bullock competed in Nashville last week for the title of TN State Youth of the Year. He competed against 16 other candidates from across the state, preparing a speech and going through a round of interviews with the competition’s judges. On Wednesday, he was named first runner up. For his achievements, he was awarded $8,000 in academic scholarship from the Tennessee Titans Foundation.
Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Each year, one exceptional young person from a Boys & Girls Club rises to the role of National Youth of the Year.
Isaiah’s win marks the fourth year in a row that Boys & Girls Clubs of Maury County candidates have been the winner or runner-up for the state of Tennessee. In 2015 and 2016, Ketron Hatton and Brandon Levier of Central High both won the state title. The 2017 candidate, Jessica Harrison of Spring Hill High School, was named runner up.
In his moving speech, Isaiah shares how he has grown up with an absent father and has helped raise his younger siblings. He credits the Club’s Teen Director, Mr. Chauncey, with showing him what it means to be a man and a father.
“I have gone from living a life in the shadows, to being a light for others,” Isaiah says in his speech.
After graduation, Isaiah plans to study psychology at either Austin Peay State University or Tennessee State University.
Isaiah will give his speech again in front of 300+ community leaders at the Club’s Great Futures Luncheon, scheduled for 11:30am-1pm on Tuesday, April 10th. The event will be held at Puckett’s Downtown Columbia. Tickets are available for $250 each and tables for eight adults are available at $2,000. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Dir. of Special Events Ashley Whiteside at (931) 490-9401 ext.2604 or awhiteside@bgcmaury.com.
