A group of 16 students received their bronze and silver awards from the Mayor for their Duke of Edinburgh achievements.

On Wednesday the 10th of August, 16 students travelled to the Christchurch Civic Chambers to receive their awards from Mayor Lianne Dalziel. The students have been working hard over the past two years to complete their bronze and silver level awards for the Duke of Edinburgh. The awards ceremony has been cancelled in previous years due to covid restrictions, but students were very excited that the event was going ahead this year. Some of the students will be further acknowledged later in the year by the Governor-General in Wellington.

Chris Allan of the Joshua Foundation has supported the students along the way. His foundation connects with rangatahi from different kura in Christchurch. To complete the awards the students have had to commit to an adventurous journey, support an individual or group in their community, improve on a practical skill and engage in physical activity that increases their fitness. Each level, starting at bronze, requires a set number of hours for students to log their activities to complete the award. The most committed students will continue on up to the gold award.

The students who received the award on Wednesday are: (top row, left to right) Lucas Nieuwenhuize, Katelynn Aberhart, Stella Derham, Cooper Atherton, Ben Broomhall, Evie Hearn, Skye Templeton, Mikayla Hooper, Milly Mussett, Kadence Watson-Hall, Connor Armstrong, (bottom row, left to right) Dormay Laufiso, Summer Pool, David Templeton, Hannah Watson and Rowan Templeton. Milly Mussett spoke on behalf of the student group and represented the students with pride in their achievements. All of them have shown resilience in completing these awards. We can’t wait to see them complete more awards that they’re currently working towards and welcome more students into the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

If you’d like information about the Duke of Edinburgh Award at Te Aratai college, please email Briar Dumelow at dml@linwoodcollege.school.nz.