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Congratulations to Michael Creese, the 2011 BGCB Youth of the Year.
At the Yawkey Club of Roxbury, 18-year-old Michael Creese is known for his leadership skills. In his 10 years at the Club, he has served as President as the Keystone Club; participated in Life After The Club, Swim team, Japanese Class, Debate Club, Young Men’s Group, and Choir; and has worked as a lifeguard and Junior Staff in the social recreation room.
“Michael’s service and loyalty to the Club is unmatched by any other current member,” said Teen Director Shiona Botts. “He truly embodies the mission of Boys & Girls Club.”
Michael has been a huge help to his parents, both of whom work long hours. Getting his driver’s license was more than a teenage right of passage; it allowed Michael to transport his three younger siblings to church and school, and get to his Junior Staff job at the Club. With the extra income from this part-time job, Michael is able to contribute financially to his family. In addition, he understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle and set an example for his siblings by losing more than 60 pounds and staying active on the Club swim team.
In addition, he has volunteered more than 65 hours in the past year, preparing meals at Community Servings and tutoring younger Club members. He has excelled in four AP classes as a senior at the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics & Science. He also received a distinguished award for Environmental Policy at a national science fair competition sponsored by the Wentworth Institute of Technology.
“Regardless of my past, I understand that my education is important to my success. Growing up in a specific neighborhood is not going to decide my fate. I am responsible for my goals, dreams and aspirations,” he said.
Michael plans to attend the Wentworth Institute of Technology next year to major in biomedical engineering, hoping one day to become an emergency room doctor.
All of our Clubs that serve teens have their own teen center with adult staff and programming specifically tailored to teens. Our Clubs provide a fun and supportive place to hang out, where teens can do homework, get assistance with college applications, find employment, and talk to a caring adult about issues that matter.
For older teens (ages 16 to 18), we offer Keystone Club, a teen leadership club that promotes community service and other values of productive citizenship. Keystone members elect officers, choose their own activities and plan and implement community service projects. A national charter entitles our Keystone Club members to participate in regional and national Keystone conferences.
For younger teens, we offer Torch Club, a leadership development program that allows members to plan and implement their own activities and community service projects.
Teens can apply to become Junior Staff at our Clubs. This program helps Club members earn money while exploring a career in youth or human services, particularly Boys & Girls Club work. Young people prepare for future roles as human services professionals by participating in career development activities, discovering the importance of community service, and building customer service skills.
To learn more about BGCB's teen programming at our Clubs, click here.
We offer more than 10 educational scholarships for teens who are currently members. To learn more about the scholarships we offer, click here.
Check it out! A virtual Club experience for teens, www.MyClubMyLife.com – Boys & Girls Clubs of America's new site – not only features Club programs, it also hosts fun and interactive elements, including an exclusive music player, articles about the latest games and movies, polls on current events and a section that allows teens to comment on issues that are important to them.
Our sincere thanks to donors who invest in teens by funding programming, endowing Teen Director positions, and supporting the renovation and expansion of our teen centers. Click here to read more.