May 7th, 2015

Thirty Grade 10 students from the Choose To Lead program at Bluevale Collegiate Institute received the bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Waterloo City Hall on April 27. During a brief ceremony held at the beginning of the council meeting, the students were presented with a certificate and the bronze award pin by Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworski and BCI Principal Mark Hunniford.

The award, named after His Royal Highness The Prince Phillip, is recognized internationally and is highly regarded in the academic and business community. Each participant chooses a skill, physical activity, volunteer service opportunity and a physical outdoor journey, at each level, and completes the required hours and reporting. To begin the award process, students must be 14 years old for bronze, 15 for silver, and 16 for gold, and must complete each level by 25.

Currently, the group who received their bronze award are already working towards their silver. Upon completion, the silver award will be presented to them in Toronto by the Lieutentant Governor. If the students go on to complete their gold, those presentations are held in a variety of cities across Canada and presented by a member of the Royal Family.

BCI’s Choose To Lead program is the Waterloo Region’s first and only leadership program for students living within the school boundary. It focuses on the development and enhancement of leadership skills, and knowledge, while providing students the chance to fulfil their leadership potential throughout their high school career.

We’d like to congratulate all of the recipients and wish them the best of luck as they pursue the silver standard.

For more information on the award, please visit the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website.

Congratulations, BCI students! Photo courtesy of Margaret Martin, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Coordinator.

Congratulations, BCI students! Photo courtesy of Margaret Martin, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinator.