Sean Hutchinson
"The Club keeps kids off the streets. If it wasn't for the Club, I could have been one of those kids causing trouble. Instead I will become a great individual and remember the Club as a place where kids learn to become responsible adults."
- Sean Hutchinson, 2006 Thomas S. Murphy Clubhouse Youth of the Year
It's easy to see why Sean Hutchinson's teachers and the staff at the Thomas S. Murphy Clubhouse consistently refer to him as a "leader" and a "role model." The oldest child in a single-parent home, Sean helps raise his two younger sisters while still excelling at school and participating in virtually every Clubhouse activity.
Sean – who first joined the Club in search of a quiet place to do his homework – says education is a major priority in his life. Through a gifted program at Erasmus High School, he's on his way to earning 14 credits at Brooklyn College. He's also an active participant in Project Graduate, Madison's college-bound program.
Despite rigorous academic demands, Sean still finds time to foster his leadership skills. Through Madison's Keystone Club, this civic-minded 16-year old traveled to Albany for the 7th Annual Advocacy Day, a chance for youth from across the state to lobby for increased funding for after-school programs. He also helped run a food drive for the homeless and organize a winter coat give-away. It's no surprise that Sean was honored as one of fifty teenagers to sit on Brooklyn Borough President Marty Marokowitz's Youth Council, which will give him the chance to offer advice on youth issues.
Sean credits his mom with instilling his remarkable work ethic. In addition to his other achievements, he graduated valedictorian of Madison's Cash Work Club – a job training program – and currently works part-time as a locker room attendant at the Club.
"Sean truly stands out among his peers as a very ambitious individual who understands the importance of being responsible," said Arlene Mbonu, the education director at the Thomas S. Murphy Clubhouse. "He has a bright future ahead of him."