St. Anne's student snags Gentleman of the Year title

Wed, May 23rd 2012, 11:34 AM

Boykin Smith had always been told that manners and respect would take him through the world but the 16-year-old never realized just how true those words were until recently. The St. Anne's School graduating senior was awarded the prestigious title of "Gentleman of the Year" at the 2012 Gentlemen's Club Gala Ball. Over 49 other candidates were selected to be a part of the elite club.
Smith, the deputy head boy at St. Anne's School suspected that he was able to snag the honor because of his bright personality, outgoing nature and visible growth throughout the four-month program.
"It's gives me a great sense of honor as a young person to have been able to achieve something so great," he said. "Being Gentleman of the Year is more than just a title to me. It is an invaluable achievement and it makes me want to do more to be a good citizen and one day be a great father and husband. This all means so much to me because being Gentleman of the Year is about being a role model for other young men to aspire to be. It's about respect, manners and being an active member of society. Our advisor for the program, Dr. Judson Eneas, would say that a gentleman is the backbone of a healthy family and healthy society. And I intend to live by that."
Along with the title, Smith received a $15,000 scholarship from the Gentlemen's Club Foundation tenable at a university of his choice as well as a $2,000 donation from Uri Clinton. He intends to use his scholarship to follow his dream of attending Trent University in Canada to study political science. The St. Anne's student was also recognized as the best speaker in the competition.
Reflecting on the four-month program leading up to the night he was named Gentleman of the Year, Smith said he learned many things that he hoped to put into practice in his daily life. He was able to get advice from experts on topics like drug use and abuse, etiquette, personal hygiene, domestic violence, community service and male and female sexuality that he said would play a big role in him being the best man he has the potential to be.
"This program really enhanced my character and I am proud to say I was a part of it. I know only the best of the best get accepted into the club but from my experience this is truly something that all young men can benefit from," said Smith. "I know there are numerous male focused clubs and activities out there but there is something different about this club... The Gentlemen's Club really can make the difference. This club is about learning who you are, bettering yourself, about brotherhood and knowing that there are other young men heading in the same direction as you. I feel great to know that the young men I was surrounded by in this program have a high likelihood of being the nation's next leaders. It was a really encouraging few months and I am inspired to keep up my strides and do even more in the future."
Prior to joining the Gentlemen's Club, Smith was well on his way to living up to his full potential. He had previously served as the Junior Minister of Tourism for 2011-2012. He earned his Bronze award in Governor General Youth Awards scheme. He was active in the Junior Achievers program, and kept his grade point average above a 3.00 for his entire academic life.
He also found time for sporting activities and was a member of his school's senior boys championship soccer team. He is also passionate about his community and is involved in the Interact and Key Clubs which afforded him the opportunity to work with the disabled, the elderly and children living in children's homes.
While he's on the right track, Smith owns up to the fact that he wasn't always. He said it took him awhile to figure out the path he needed to be on and stick to it.
"Despite my achievement in the last couple of years I wasn't always ambitious. I was below the radar in most things and never went out of my way to do much," he said. Prior to Grade 12, although I achieved a 3.00 average I was never on the honor roll at my school where such an honor is only awarded when students achieve above a 3.5 grade point average. I was average and I didn't force myself to work hard. I just floated by and got relatively good grades without too much effort. It was only when my interest was sparked in Grade 10 when I was in Junior Achievers that I really geared myself up to do my very best. As a result my grades improved, I did better in after-school activities and I became deputy head boy of my school. It was a real turn around for me."
Smith is currently taking the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations in Mathematic, Language Arts, Literature, Religion, Accounts, Music, French and Physics. He hopes to achieve all A grades.
His biggest supporters he said are his parents Barry and Christine Smith, and especially his mother who he said pushed him to achieve more and not settle for simply coasting by.
He now hopes he will be an inspiration for other young people by showing that being all you can be now in life will be worthwhile for years to come and that sitting back and letting life pass you by benefits no one. He said it's only when one steps outside of their comfort zone and embraces the world that true greatness can be achieved.

The Gentlemen's Club
The Gentlemen's Club was founded by Dr. Judson and Marcheta Eneas and sponsored by The Bahamas Beautillion Committee when it was established in 1992. It is a preparatory organization for young men in their final year of high school. It teaches them about character building, respect, etiquette, elocution, grooming, how to be socially, morally and financially responsibility and culturally exposed. This is accomplished through a four-month program that allows them to participate in workshops, seminars and cultural activities. From its inception the club has trained 873 young men in the basics of masculinity and responsibility. As an academically based program it gives the young men opportunities to work toward earning financial assistance through marketing projects and sponsorship.
"The Gentlemen's Club is about uplifting the young man and teaching the things he will need to know as a leader of tomorrow," said Dr. Eneas. "We have successfully trained hundreds of young men and many have gone on to be great assets to the country. Young men who are chosen for the program are picked based on their grades, recommendations and community involvement. Of the many applicants about 50 are chosen annually by the objective scholarship committee."
He said the program is one that any young man can rise to the top of as the winner is chosen due to his scores in the ongoing scoring system in the club. Points can be accumulated for marketing skills, elocution, participation and attendance. By the end of the program Eneas said the top three young men were very close and the 2012 winner won his spot because of his excellent elocution skills that he exhibited in the Toastmaster's competition for the club. At the end of the day the founder said the most important thing about the program isn't winning or losing, but rather what the young men learned from the program and how they apply it to their daily lives and in turn use it to help society.

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