Nine young people, including students at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, are the new recipients of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The Bronze Award Ceremony was held at Government House on Monday evening, March 5, prior to the reception for the Earl and Countess of Essex there. The ceremony was chaired by Dr. Patwin Adams, an Anguillian physician.
The Bronze awardees, who were presented with certificates by Governor Alistair Harrison, were: Hackeem Alves, Immario Harrigan, Romaro Richardson, Sherrod Richardson, Keano Romney, Isabel Rosario, Sonnisha Ruan, Paul Trim and Leon Vanterpool.
The Award Leaders were Maxine Alonzo, Althea Aretha Morgan, Michael Skellekie and Uldean Trim.
Coordinator for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International, David Clarke, said he was pleased to see that the young people of Anguilla received the Bronze Award. He stated that the Award Programme was started in 1956 by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, in the United Kingdom, and was now operating in 132 countries around the world involving a million young people at present, with over seven million who had already completed the programme.
“You have just restarted the programme just about a year ago, and this is the first batch of young people to receive the Bronze Award in a long time,” Mr. Clarke said. “I would like to congratulate all the teachers who have made it possible,” he went on.
“There is a particular teacher [Mrs. Courtney Abel] who is not here in Anguilla, who was one of the main movers in making it happen, and I would like to thank all those people who helped. The award is not only about young people, but about the adults in the community who help them to develop those skills.”
He said that persons seeking the award were required to perform a service to the community, play a sport, learn a skill and then do an adventurous journey.
Governor Harrison hoped that all of the participants would go on to become silver and gold award winners. “I look forward to hosting you at a number of ceremonies in the years to come. Many congratulations for having come so far and also to your leaders and teachers,” he stated.
Later, The Earl of Wessex, who will be taking over as Patron of the Award from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, addressed and congratulated the current and past awardees.
