27 Young People Earn Earn DoE Gold Award
Twenty-seven young people have earned the Gold Award, the highest level of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.
A spokesperson said, “On the evening of Monday 8 June 2026, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, Bermuda gathered at Government House to honour 27 young people who have achieved the Gold Award, the highest level of what is widely regarded as the world’s leading youth achievement programme. It is one of the largest Gold cohorts in the organisation’s history and a milestone that reflects both the ambition of Bermuda’s young people and the deepening reach of a programme that has been changing lives on this island since 1967.
“The ceremony, held under the patronage of His Excellency the Governor Mr. Andrew Murdoch CMG, CVO, brought together awardees, families, Award leaders, volunteers and supporters to mark journeys that have taken young Bermudians to Nova Scotia, Barbados, Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Of the 27 Gold Awardees, 25 are Tri-Holders, meaning they have earned Bronze, Silver and Gold, one is a Dual Holder, having earned Silver and Gold, and one is a Direct Entrant to the Gold level, a testament to years of sustained commitment across physical activity, skill development, voluntary service, adventurous journeys and a residential project.”
Governor Andrew Murdoch said, “The path to the Gold Award is neither short nor easy. Each of the young men and women we recognised has made a sustained and voluntary commitment to developing a skill, serving their community and pursuing physical recreation, all while navigating the demands of everyday life. That kind of perseverance is something to be recognised and celebrated. What we should also be proud of about the Award in Bermuda is that it is offered entirely free of charge to every participant. This is only made possible by the generosity of donors and partners who believe, as I do, in the potential of young people to make a difference. The evidence of its impact is in the remarkable young adults standing before us tonight.”
A spokesperson added, “Congratulations to the 2026 Gold Awardees: Kyra Adams, Neriah Bean, Michael Burgess, Chloe Burns, Tai Cedenio, Ceszinee Cox, Samuel Dallas, Annabelle Davidson, Jahzara Davis-Hart, Nh’Lae DeRoza, Chrishante Dill, Ava Gibson, Aaliyah Haffar, Gabriel Mackertich, Ella Newton, Skyler O’Connor, Evie Phelan, Amya Pierre, Felix Ringsted, Anijahe Santos-Martin, Zarah Siddiqi, Gabrielle Smith, Manning Smith, Deja Steede, Jordan Talbot, Helena Thomas and Joshua Watson.
“To earn the Gold Award, each participant must complete a qualifying adventurous journey of at least five days and four nights in an unfamiliar environment. This cohort undertook expeditions across four distinct international settings. Eleven participants navigated the wilderness of Kejimkujik and Tobeatic Nature Reserves in Nova Scotia through WhyNot Adventure, canoeing and portaging through remote backcountry.
“Fourteen completed a multi-mode of travel expedition across Barbados, hiking, cycling, snorkeling and horse-riding while attending Emancipation Day and the Grand Kadooment parades. One participant sailed from Bermuda to the Turks and Caicos Islands aboard the tall ship Spirit of Bermuda under the theme “In the Wake of Mary Prince”. One trekked through the Main Ridge Forest Reserve in Tobago, engaging with the island’s Rotaract Club and local communities.
“Together the cohort logged 3,946 hours in physical activity, 3,200 hours in skill development and 3,462 hours of voluntary service over 52 to 78 weeks, each participant exceeding the minimum of one hour per week in every section. In 2025 alone, all Award participants in Bermuda collectively logged over 74,150 hours of voluntary service, physical recreation and skill development activities.”
“Completing my Award activities allowed me to achieve things I once thought were beyond my reach, shaping both my accomplishments and the person I have become today,” said Helena Thomas, Gold Awardee 2026 [Kejimkujik, Nova Scotia]
“The Award has honestly shaped so much of who I am today,” said Neriah Bean, Gold Awardee 2026 [Kejimkujik, Nova Scotia]
“The experience was more than a journey of hiking, swimming and cycling. It was a journey of mindset, growth, and transformation,” said Zarah Siddiqi, Gold Awardee 2026 [Barbados]
“The Award has provided me with so many amazing opportunities, giving me the confidence to make real change both at home and abroad,” said Ava Gibson, Gold Awardee 2026 [Spirit of Bermuda, Turks and Caicos]
“The Award confirmed that I can show up, adapt, and work as part of a team even when conditions are new and demanding,” said Joshua Watson, Gold Awardee and Participant Representative 2026 [Barbados]
A spokesperson added, “What distinguishes this cohort is not only what they have achieved but what many have chosen to do next. Several of this year’s Gold Awardees have gone on to become Emerging Leaders, Assessors and Supervisors, returning to guide younger participants through Bronze and Silver levels. Amya Pierre has progressed to become an Award Leader and Assessor in Training and will travel to Philadelphia to supervise the 2026 Gold cohort hiking the Appalachian Trail. Manning Smith, Chloe Burns, Michael Burgess and Anijahe Santos-Martín received their Assessor Pins at the ceremony.
“This spirit of giving back runs deep across the cohort: Joshua Watson and Nh’Lae DeRoza served as Participant Representatives on the Award Board Council this year, attending the Peppercorn Ceremony and the visit of His Majesty King Charles III, while Neriah Bean and Ceszinee’ Cox held the same role in previous years, demonstrating that the commitment to the programme extends well beyond the moment of receiving a Gold Award.
“The programme operates across nine Award Centres island-wide and is delivered entirely free of charge to its 362 active participants aged 14 to 24, made possible by the generosity of donors and community partners. Bermuda’s participation rate of 6.8% of eligible young people is extraordinary by any global standard: the worldwide average is just 0.09%.”
“The Award confirmed something I needed to know: I can lead, even when it is hard, even when it hurts, and even when the map does not agree with the road,” said Evie Phelan, Gold Awardee and Emerging Leader 2026 [Barbados]
“I interacted better and more openly with people on this expedition than I had with anyone before it, ” said Jordan Talbot, Gold Awardee 2026 [Barbados]
“The Award didn’t only test my limits, it completely changed my belief in trusting my own potential,” said Nh’Lae DeRoza, Gold Awardee and Participant Representative 2026 [Barbados].
A spokesperson added, “This year’s awardees represent a remarkable breadth of academic and career paths: civil and chemical engineering, veterinary physiotherapy, law, nursing, psychology, kinesiology, computer science, sociology, mathematics and sports business management. They are studying and working across institutions including Bermuda College, UCL, the University of Pennsylvania, Durham University, the University of Exeter, Oakwood University and universities across Canada and the United States.
“Their individual stories are as varied as their journeys. Ava Gibson, currently completing her final year in legal studies at UCL, spoke at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom last year and will travel to Strasbourg this summer to compete at the European Court of Human Rights. Samuel Dallas, who graduated from Saltus as valedictorian, drew directly on his Gold expedition in his application to the University of Exeter, where he is now studying mathematics. Gabriel Mackertich became a sailing instructor at the Bermuda Yacht Club after completing the Award. Chloe Burns is planning a gap year doing wildlife conservation in Africa before applying to veterinary school.”
“Every year I am moved by what our young people accomplish, but this year is different. Twenty-seven Gold Awardees in a single cohort is unprecedented for Bermuda. These young people have canoed along wilderness rivers, sailed tall ships, hiked coastlines in the Caribbean heat and immersed themselves in cultures far from home. They have logged thousands of hours in service, skill and sport, not because they had to, but because they chose to. That commitment to self-improvement and giving back is what the Award is built on. Bermuda should be very proud,” said Karen Simmons, Programme Director, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Bermuda.
Ryan Eve, Council Chair, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Bermuda, said, “It is a great pleasure to celebrate the accomplishments of 27 inspirational young people who have achieved the Gold Award, the pinnacle of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Programme. This prestigious achievement is a testament to their dedication, perseverance and hard work. As a tri-holder myself, I know firsthand how this experience contributes greatly to individual growth and future success.
“Independent research by PricewaterhouseCoopers has confirmed that for every $1 invested in the Bermuda Award, $3.58 in social value is generated, proof of the lasting difference this programme makes to our young people and our community. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donors and partners, who make it possible for every young person in Bermuda to participate free of charge. We are particularly grateful to the Centennial Foundation and the Destination Ready Award, whose bursaries for the Gold Adventurous Journey ensure that no young person is held back by financial need.”
“What began as activities became a mindset: serve others, challenge yourself, and embrace the journey, because that’s where real transformation happens,” said Anijahe´ Santos-Martin, Gold Awardee and Emerging Leader 2026 [Nova Scotia].
Ella Newton, Gold Awardee 2026 [Kejimkujik, Nova Scotia] said, “The Award gave me the structure to pursue things that I genuinely enjoyed while bettering myself in the process. Each section pushed me in a different direction, and together they helped shape me into a more well-rounded person.”
“When faced with what you think is only hard times and pressure, instead of doubting and being negative, look for what you can pull from the experience and how much greater you will be when you get over the mental hurdle of trying something new,” said Ceszinee Cox, Gold Awardee 2026 [Kejimkujik, Nova Scotia]
“The Award showed me that I am stronger than I think and can overcome any challenge,” said Jahzara Davis-Hart, Gold Awardee 2026 [Barbados]
“Stepping out of your comfort zone is sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself,” said Amya Pierre, Gold Awardee and Leader in Training 2026 [Kejimkujik, Nova Scotia] while ” Deja Steede, Gold Awardee 2026 [Barbados] said, “Believe in yourself.”
