Golden girl Jessica has Royal appointment

Buy photos » Jessica Wilson with her award. s

A CARING Droitwich Spa High School student had a day to remember when she picked up her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award in London.

Jessica Wilson was among hundreds of young achievers from across the UK to have a date in the prestigious setting of St James’s Palace.

There she received her accolade from the popular award schemes patron, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Gold Award Presentation (GAP) is a celebration and recognition of Jess’s achievements in completing her Gold Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme. The

GAP is a unique event and a fitting culmination to mark the hard work, determination and perseverance required.

Jessica worked tirelessly through the five sections of her DofE programme over two years to achieve her Gold award. 

Her activities included 18 months service at the local Girls’ and Boys' Brigades, during which she also achieved the Young Leaders’ Award, 12 months learning the piano through school and six months attending a Zumba class at her local gym.

For the residential section of the award, Jess participated in a week-long National Trust Working Holidays programme of conservation activities in Anglesey which included building a drystone wall along the coastal path near Holyhead.

Jess’ assessed expedition took place in the Lake District and involved four days walking on mountainous terrain for an average of eight hours each day and camping overnight.

Although the school has organised the same trip for many years, this was the first time it hadn’t rained and Jess and her group actually suffered from sunstroke, rather than flooding.

"The DofE experience as a whole is something I will never forget," Jess said.

"It has helped me to develop my skills and experience, to have confidence that I can do things I really didn’t think I could, while allowing me to give something

back to the community.

"It was great to meet Prince Philip and Olympic silver medallist Phil Brown at the Gold Award Presentation," she added.  

Jess’s Gold Award helped her get her place on her geography degree course at the University of Sheffield, where she is now in her second year.

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