Shiloh Dobie was presented with her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, at a ceremony at St Patrick’s College.

At the ceremony, Shiloh also met and chatted with the Prime Minister, Hon John Key, and the Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon Paula Bennett.

Participants work through three levels: bronze, silver and gold requiring increasing levels of service, skill, physical activity as well as two tramping trips. On top of service, skill and physical activity requirements, Gold participants also undertake an independent tramp and spend a further week volunteering in a residential situation.

Shiloh was asked to provide a highlight of her experience for the organisers and described pitching a tent after midnight in below freezing temperatures in the middle of winter on Mt Holdsworth as something she would never forget.

Two ex-students from East, who completed their award last year, Rebekah Wilson and Kimberley Bryant also received their awards at the ceremony.

Earlier this year, Shiloh and Ms Hutchinson represented the school in a ceremony to formally mark the renaming of the award from the “Duke of Edinburgh Award” to the “Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award” in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary.