Dwayne Thomas
Dwayne Thomas is the youngest Youth of the Year for 2007 and has been a member of the Far Rockaway Clubhouse for seven years. Though he is young, Dwayne, a 14-year-old freshman at Channel View School for Research, juggles many responsibilities that would be tough for the average teenager. But as the staff at the Clubhouse often say – "Dwayne is a rare breed."
In addition to maintaining his Honor Roll status by diligently doing his school work, completing household responsibilities, and working at his after-school babysitting job, Dwayne is involved in Club programs such as the Torch Club leadership program, the Computer Literacy program, life skills training, sports and the Far Rockaway Academy educational program.
With all of his responsibilities inside and outside of the Club, Dwayne will tell you that it is the recreational aspect of the Club that he enjoys the most. His dream of being accepted at Georgetown University and to eventually play in the NBA fuels his passion for participating in – and winning – numerous Club basketball tournaments.
"A good college education will benefit me by making me feel better as a person with many academic accomplishments."
The Club’s leadership programs have had the greatest impact on Dwayne, giving him countless opportunities to lead his peers in his community. He has been a regular in lending his support to many community service projects with the Club, all of which have been instrumental in his development as a leader.
From service projects including organizing a Beach Cleanup at his school where he recruited 100 young people to participate, to learning to set clear goals for his future in the Torch Club, he has been involved in it all. Dwayne plans on using these skills to change his community and eradicate the violence that plagues it.
Dwayne looks forward to attending college and wants to become a doctor if his dream of playing in the NBA doesn’t come to fruition.