Gilbert Christian’s Owen Fermoyle sees his impact in the community

Gilbert Christian senior Owen Fermoyle has started his own nonprofit and gotten politically active to help improve his community, all before he’s set to begin college.

And that is why the three-sport athlete is a finalist for the Arizona Sports Character Counts Scholarship, presented by Parker & Sons.

Fermoyle is the founder and president of Empower Future Athletes, which intends to provide sports gear and equipment to youth.

“For many kids in Arizona, sports have become way too expensive,” Fermoyle said. “At Empower Future Athletes, we’re passionate about making sure every kid in our community gets the chance to play sports, no matter their financial situation. As a faith-based, volunteer team of student-athletes, we team up with local nonprofits to make it happen.

“We connect with the community and local businesses, inspiring them to donate directly to our nonprofit partners and join us as volunteers for our community fundraising events.”

The nonprofit takes equipment donations but this year has also raised more than $10,000.

Fermoyle recently joined a special task force in Gilbert, where he serves as one of a handful of teens working with community engagement officials hoping to stamp out teen violence.

His friend was attacked with brass knuckles by a group known as the Gilbert Goons, and that gave Fermoyle reason to get involved personally.

“I knew I wanted to be part of the solution,” he said. “Since July, our task force has met regularly to review survey results, hear from community members and law enforcement, and collaborate on ideas. Just earlier this week, we submitted final recommendations to (the) town council.”

Fermoyle stars on the 3A state runner-up basketball team and runs track and cross country. He also participates in a sports medicine internship at school, where he works with trainers.

In his other free time, he is a National Honor Society president this year and much of his time volunteering has been spent at Feed My Starving Children and the City Hope Arizona Food Bank. He is additionally a Speech and Debate Club member and in the Lumina Youth Mentorship Program, where he helps teachers mentor second-graders.

Fermoyle said having three of his grandparents successfully fight off cancer has made an impact on what he wants to do once he graduates from Gilbert Christian.

He wants to get a biomedical engineering degree and continue helping the fight against cancer.

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