His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh embarked on a significant visit to New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia in support of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in the USA. During his visit, Prince Edward visited Constitution High School to announce that the School District of Philadelphia will serve as the first among the largest cities in the United States to participate in The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award USA.

Four high schools including William W. Bodine High School for International Affairs, Constitution High School, Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School and Parkway Center City Middle College will begin the initial pilot. Each school will enroll 40 tenth-grade students who will enter the program at the Bronze Level.

“We are proud to be the first among the largest cities in the United States to participate in The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in the USA. We’re excited for our students to build their power skills, contribute to their community, engage in physical recreation and undertake a journey as we work to accelerate student achievement in the School District of Philadelphia,” said Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., Superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia. “We believe that achieving the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards will be another layer in helping us to prepare students to imagine and realize any future they desire.”

The Award is a non-formal education and learning framework which challenges young people across three levels of Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards to support them in helping to find their purpose, place and passion in the world. The Award is pursued annually by more than a million young people in over 120 countries and territories and has been running globally for almost 70 years. It is recognized by employers and educational institutions as a distinctive achievement, with young people building determination, resourcefulness, creativity, and community connection through its four selections: skills, physical recreation, voluntary service, and an adventurous journey.

“In my decades of leadership in national education policy, I have seen how non-formal education provides a significant boost to the learning outcomes for all young people,” said John Danielson, Chair of the US Award’s board. “Achieving a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award represents a significant achievement and transforms the confidence, capability and creativity of young people. I hope His Royal Highness’s visit provides a catalyst for education and youth leaders who share our ambition for American youth in every state in the country to deliver the Award in their school or community.”

Founded in 1956 by His Royal Highness’s father, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, the Award is unique in its broad appeal. Today, young people are taking on the challenge of the Award in a growing number of public schools, youth programs, workplaces and programs for under-served young people including juvenile detention centers, special educational schools and orphanages. The Award unites them all in recognizing their achievements.

During his visit, Prince Edward engaged in a series of key activities related to the Award and focused on building partnerships to take the world-renowned non-formal education program to thousands more young people across the United States.

His Royal Highness’s visit comes as education and youth leaders grapple with preparing young people for a future world where rapid technological change is a constant, and where formal education is not necessarily engaging all their learners or preparing young people to meet the challenges of the workplace and life in a time of dynamic change.

“His Royal Highness’s visit to New York, and schools in New Jersey and Philadelphia showcased the powerful impact of the Award on young people,” said Suzanne Currie, Chief Executive Officer of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award USA. “I hope that these examples will demonstrate to schools across all 50 states the potential we unlock when we take learning outside the classroom.”