Why he’s the Youth of the Year out of this Columbus club’s 2,500 members
While attending Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, Elijah Adams often misbehaved without adult supervision in his Columbus neighborhood.
“I was just running around the apartment complex,” Elijah, 18, now a senior at Carver High School, told the Ledger-Enquirer. “Just doing stuff bad children do.”
Nothing criminal, he said, but his mischief could have led to more destructive behavior.
“I don’t think I would have joined a gang,” he said. “I think I would have just been in more trouble for like kicking people’s doors and vandalism.”
When he reached fourth grade, Elijah’s mother registered him for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley’s after-school program. He was reluctant to join because he didn’t think it was cool. But his first visit changed his mind.
“I saw all the fun you could have,” he said. “I just started going every day.”
Eight years later, Elijah is the BGCCV 2023 Youth of the Year. He one of four finalists last year.
“Me finally being able to win, it feels really good,” he said. “… I’m proud of myself.”
Spokesman for organization
Part of that pride for Elijah is having a platform to be a spokesman for the organization that has meant so much to him, representing approximately 2,500 BGCCV members ages 6-18.
“It’s a wonderful place for you to be able to do stuff you like,” he said. “And it’s also beneficial for you school-wise and entertainment-wise.”
At the club, he enjoys participating in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Passport to Manhood, Keystone Club (community service), Teen Mentor, Greenpower Racing and coaching girls flag football and basketball.
“He’s basically a big brother to a lot of those younger girls, and the boys look up to him, too, ” BGCCV Teen Center director Antonio Pace told the L-E.
Elijah has participated in several Keystone Club community service projects, such as helping feed families during Thanksgiving and Christmas, raising money to combat breast cancer and conducting a safe Halloween party for children. He appreciates the chance to learn and improve skills, become a better leader and team player, and benefit from the wisdom of BGCCV role models.
“A lot of people that know me have helped me, like all my mentors,” he said. “I thank them for stepping up and being my father figure, even my stepfather.
“… You’ve got to learn how to work with different people’s attitudes,” he added. “I think the club has helped me with that.”
Elijah’s mother, Meyaco Fitzpatrick, is grateful for the BGCCV coaches and mentors for helping her son “become a better person.”
“Elijah had a couple of misbehaving tendencies,” she told the L-E. “I thought, ‘Before it gets out of hand, let me take him to the Boys & Girls Club,’ and they’ve always been welcoming. His attitude and everything changed for the better. It’s a tremendous blessing. I thank God every day for that. They helped him get on the straight and narrow. I’m just proud of him.”
Positive impact
When he attended Baker Middle School, Elijah recalled how he tried to motivate a friend to join the BGCCV.
“But once he got in high school, he just went downhill. He started smoking and gang-banging. … I told him, if you come here, you’ll probably be able to stay out of trouble.”
That friend didn’t heed Elijah’s advice.
“I feel real bad for him,” he said. “I wish I could have convinced him how beneficial it is.”
The BGCCV gave Elijah a venue to play the sport he loves most, basketball, while also getting the academic help to improve his grades. Although he hasn’t earned a basketball scholarship, he has received the HOPE Scholarship, now that his grade-point average is 3.8.
“Before I came here, I had like C-F average,” he said. “But I’m making all A’s and B’s now. I don’t think I had an F since like sixth or fifth grade.”
For being named the BGCCV Youth of the Year, Columbus Technical College awarded him a full scholarship to the two-year school. He plans to take his core classes there in the summer to get a jump start on his credits before attending Georgia Southern University.
Elijah wants to major in sports management. His career dream is to create his own youth sports complex to give children the constructive after-school outlet the BGCCV gave him.
Hearing those plans, Pace said, “Whatever he says, he does, and if he can’t accomplish it, he’ll let you know ahead of time. His heart is always in the right place. I mean, there’s not many teenagers that genuinely love what they do without being compensated.”
Pace noted Elijah is the first male to be BGCCV Youth of the Year in nine years. Pace’s biggest stamp of approval? He lets Elijah date his daughter.
“That’s the only boy that can come to my house,” Pace said. “It’s hard to find young men at that age who give of themselves. … He’s giving out turkeys at 7 o’clock in the morning when it’s 30 degrees.”
Elijah also helped place wreaths at Fort Mitchell graves for Memorial Day. He has a simple explanation for why he likes to help people.
“It puts a smile on my face to see a smile on their face,” he said.
Elijah recalled a BGCCV coach who wouldn’t allow him to play basketball until he did his homework. Now, he’s a member of the National Honor Society.
Although he became a starter on Carver’s basketball team heading into his junior year, Elijah has been sidelined since then after he tore a ligament in his left knee during the preseason.
But the injury was more of a speed bump than a pothole in the momentum of his overall success because his identity wasn’t solely wrapped in his status on the team. Elijah still could participate in all those activities at the BGCCV, including basketball, just not at the level of a high school varsity.
“The club helped me with that because it’s like my second family,” he said. “… They kept my head high. After my surgery, they checked on me. After I rehabbed and stuff, I was able to coach. … The club kept me in my comfort zone.”
Selection process
BGCCV staff members nominated four other members for the 2023 Youth of the Year award:
- Carver junior Chaniya Davis, who was a finalist along with Elijah
- Spencer sophomore Kevin Brown
- Carver sophomore Jakeith Burton
- Carver freshman Shamiyah Miller.
The judges were JoAnn Hill of Piedmont Columbus Regional, Caroyln Bermudez of Liberty Utilities, Alex Shalishali of Page Scrantom Sprouse Tucker & Ford, and Rodney Close, BGCCV president and CEO.
“The committee selected Elijah because he was the most qualified candidate who possessed all the qualities that the committee was looking for,” Close said.
To achieve the title of Youth of the Year on any level, members of the Boys & Girls Clubs must embody the values of leadership and service, academic excellence and healthy lifestyles, according to the website. They should exemplify the critical impact Boys & Girls Clubs have on children.
Candidates are judged in four categories: essays, interview, public speaking and overall application quality.
ABOUT THE BGCCV
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley has seven locations and serves approximately 2,500 members, ages 6-18, who reside in the following counties: Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Russell, Stewart, Talbot and Taylor. The annual membership fee is $50. It costs an additional $250 to attend the summer program ($300 for a child who isn’t a member). Applications are available and may be submitted at bgc-colsg.org. For more information, call 706-596-9330.
This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
