Governor George Fergusson presented 28 “of Bermuda’s finest” with their Gold Award this week in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Programme.The Gold Award is the highest level in the programme and requires participants to complete a minimum of 12 months of community service, physical recreation or 12 months of learning a skill. Participants must also complete an “adventurous journey overseas” and a residential project as well.A Government spokeswoman said: “This ceremony was significant because over the last two years 49 young people have embarked on their Gold Award and of those awarded at this ceremony it represents approximately 60 percent having completed it, with many others only months away from completion.”The journeys completed included trips to the Forest of Odes in Germany. Others sailed through the Bahama Islands, Abaco and Eleuthera.Those who never completed the Bronze or Silver Award can come directly into the Programme at the Gold level. They too would complete everything as previously stated, but at the end of 12-month minimum period, the participant would have to commit to a further six months of community service or physical recreation or learning a skill.After hearing the statements made at the ceremony Governor Fergusson noted that the contributions made by the awardees “are only the tip of a much bigger iceberg of work and effort”.“I am particularly struck by the community work element, which I hope has started a habit of contribution which will continue through people’s lives,” he said.The programme is designed to boost self-esteem, encourage youngsters to challenge themselves and to provide them with opportunities to “make a real difference to their lives and those of others”.To date thousands of Bermuda’s young people have undertaken a variety of voluntary and challenging activities through this programme.The Gold Awards were presented to: Georgé Wilson, Hannah Shaefer, Kameron Burgess, Kioshi Burgess, Michelle Onyia, Michaela Ratteray, Crai-Ché Hall, Michael Johnston, Kyla Sinclair, Chelzea Somner, Rowan Border, Chelsey Furtado, Vernaé Cann, Ra’ees Tankard, Shane Antonition, Simeon Edwards, Zindziswa Swan, Ramsay Saggar, Gianni Nesbeth, Kris Furbert, Megan Berry, Kirstin Saltus, Chelsea Smith, Winnae Wales, Zaria Dill-Spence, Alicia Kirby, Jordan Osborne and Shihan McCallan.