Isaac Merrill earns leadership honors
Isaac Merrill delivering his Youth of the Year speech at the annual recognition breakfast in Phoenix
Isaac Merrill describes his childhood journey as “anything but easy.”
It’s a journey the 17-year-old shared at a Youth of the Year recognition breakfast earlier this year in Phoenix, an annual event hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Arizona.
Standing before a conference room filled with Club members, staff and leadership teams from all over the state, Issac was one of seven 2025 Youth of the Year candidates to present a speech at the event where he represented the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sierra Vista. He delivered a compelling story of how he rose above challenges to excel academically and athletically, crediting his years as a Boys & Girls Club member for his successes.
Isaac Merrill, right, and his adoptive father, Randy (Pops) Merrill
“My father was in jail, and my mother struggled with addiction," Isaac said of his early childhood years. “When my grandparents adopted me, I thought I had found stability, but then a divorce while I was in the third grade left me feeling anxious and lost.”
At the time of the divorce, Issac and his grandparents were living in California. His grandfather and adoptive father, Randy Merrill, decided to relocate to Sierra Vista where he could be close to family, a move he felt would be in Issac's best interest.
“As a single father with a full-time job, I wasn’t sure how I was going to balance work and raising a son by myself,” Randy recalled. “A friend told me about Sierra Vista’s Boys & Girls Club, so I checked it out and enrolled Isaac into the program. It has been a positive, life-changing experience for both of us.”
Isaac echoed his father’s words with, “The Club became my foundation of peace, hope and stability. Between my father, family members and the Boys & Girls Club, I have the support I need to be self-confident and successful.”
Through the Club’s sports programs, Merrill discovered football and soon excelled in the sport. “I’ll never forget my 2023 season with the Berean Academy Eagles,” he said. “We were on an 11- 0 run when I scored 11 touchdowns and helped bring home a state championship.”
Merrill wears his championship ring with pride and emphasizes its significance as a “symbol of discipline, hard work and perseverance.” He will be graduating from Berean Academy with the class of 2026 and plans to continue playing football through high school and college. While he credits football for giving him purpose, Merrill also shares words of praise for those who have been instrumental in shaping his future.
“Through the Boys & Girls Club, I met mentors like Detric Miles who guided me beyond my passion for football. He taught me how to control my destiny, both in sports and music,” Merrill said. “Miss Liz (Cruz) is always there to make sure I stay on track academically for high school and beyond. And then there’s Jay (Hamwright), the Club leader who pushes me to believe in myself and rise above my circumstances. Their support transformed me into the person I am today.”
Photo to the right:
Celebrating Isaac Merrill's Youth of the Year recognition in Phoenix were (from left) Jay Hamwright, Chief Executive Officer of the Sierra Vista Boys and Girls Club, Jovan Beathea, Clubhouse Director at the Palominas branch, Detric Miles, Clubhouse Director at the main branch in Sierra Vista, Isaac Merrill, Randy Lloyd Merrill, Isaac's brother, and Anthony Villas, Clubhouse Director at the Carmichael Branch.
Celebrating Isaac Merrill's Youth of the Year recognition in Phoenix
Merrill says the Boys & Girls Club not only helped him grow as an athlete but also shaped his leadership skills.
“I learned that true leadership isn’t about personal success, it’s also about lifting others. The valuable lessons I’ve learned at the Boys & Girls Club will stay with me for years to come and will always have an impact on my life.”
Merrill hopes to attend college on a football scholarship as he continues to develop his skills on and off the field. While he aspires to be a professional football player, Merrill’s backup plan is to major in sports medicine.