In a showcase of accomplished young Bermudians, more than 50 Duke of Edinburgh Award recipients were honoured at Government House on Tuesday.

Governor Sir John Vereker hosted the presentation which recognised the Gold, Silver and Bronze Award recipients, all aged 14 to 25, who together dedicated more than 1,000 hours to Bermuda in community service.

But it was reported that the community service hours doesn't include the immeasurable contributions the students have also made to Bermuda through skills as varied as dance choreography, cycle maintenance, and pipe organ playing.

And to top it all off at least four of the participants have also represented Bermuda internationally in gymnastics, field hockey and tennis.

The top honour of the Gold Award was earned by five of the young Bermudians after dedicating a total of 18 months in community service, skill development, and physical recreation.

They also took part in a four-day expedition and a five-day group project which they had to complete off the island.

Ashley Mayne, Caroline Black, Erica Easton, Donald Marwick and Spencer Wood were travelled to Wales, Canada or Barbados in order to complete hiking and canoeing expeditions .

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme was founded by Prince Philip in order to encourage responsibility, self-reliance, community awareness and perseverance in young people.

Participants at each level must take part in an adventure expedition, in addition to a sustained service project, skill building activity, and physical recreation. Each award level requires varying degrees of dedication in terms of time and skill level, with those completing the Gold Award having to do an additional group project which has to be completed over five days in a residential setting away from Bermuda. "It was a great experience," said Ashley, a recent graduate of Saltus Grammar School, who had completed the three week Outward Bound Rover course in Wales for her expedition, and was a Ballet teaching assistant for her community service.