Boys Town youth today elected Ethan Ismert of Kansas City, Kansas, the 124th Mayor of the Village of Boys Town. Ava Leering was elected Vice-Mayor.
Ethan is 17 years old, and his campaign theme was “Raise Your Voice, Make a Choice; Vote Ethan 2024”. “I feel that almost all youth at one point or another have experienced their voices not being heard,” said Ismert. “As mayor I want to hear your voice”. Some goals of his as mayor is having more community activities and outings and start a girls’ wrestling team.
Ethan is Captain of the Cheer Team, involved in Student Council, Peer Ministry, and member of National Honors Society. His goal is to attend a university to study nursing. His Family-Teachers are Kenny and Kouri Brown.
Ava Leering is Captain of the basketball and soccer teams and plays volleyball and softball for Boys Town. She is also in JROTC drill team and apart of peer disciple. After graduation, she wants to be an investigations officer in the Air Force or attend college for forensic science. Ava’s Family-Teachers are Eddie and Tiffany Pace.
Father Edward J. Flanagan conceived the self-government system at the Village of Boys Town in 1926 as a tool for its citizens to build character, citizenship, and a sense of community. The process was made famous in the 1938 Academy Award-winning movie “Boys Town,” where Mickey Rooney’s portrayal of Whitey Marsh, a tough young boy who turns his life around and becomes Mayor of Boys Town.
