St. Michael’s College
A native of Stowe, VT, John began the "City Skate to Success" program in Boston four year ago. Through John’s efforts, he has raised over $35,000.00 so that inner city children from low income families can have hockey equipment and ice time so that not only can learn to skate but can also compete against each other.
He also goes into the schools to talk to the students about drugs and alcohol.
Flint knows of what he speaks as he suffered from substance abuse as a result of his father’s passing. It was during John’s freshman year at St. Michael’s that his beloved father passed away. To cope with the loss, he turned to drugs and alcohol. When the substance abuse became a serious conflict, he was asked to take time off from school to reevaluate his life and the directions in which he wanted to go.
He left school and moved in with family members in Boston, and it was there where he began the "City Skate With Success" program.
He has since returned to St. Michael’s and he has brought the "City Skate With Success" program to Burlington, VT.
In addition to devoting his time to "City Skate," he is a key member of St. Michael’s GOALS program. Founded by the school’s hockey program, members of the team go around to local schools to talk to the middle school children about the importance of setting and achieving goals. The players also about how the children should resolve their conflicts in a peaceful manner.
A business major, Flint, who also is a volunteer coach for the one local mites teams, plans to graduate in May and hopes to attend law school in the future. On the ice, he played jayvee hockey his freshman year of 1998-99 at St. Michael’s. Then, after taking the 1999-2001 seasons off, he turned to play for the varsity last year and had three goals and an assist in 16 games. This season, he continues to be a vital member of the varsity.
‘In my 20 years of coaching college hockey, I have not had the privilege of coaching anyone with the character and the courage that John Flint has displayed during his four years at Saint Michael’s College," said Dr. David Landers, who is the Director of the Student Resource Center at the College and a professor of psychology. "John has completely turned his life around and has become a great role model for his teammates on the varsity hockey team."
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