Although they are newer additions to the RMA family, everyone at school knows the Varnell boys. Nathan, a junior, and James, a sophomore joined us last year after moving to North Carolina from Canada. However, over Thanksgiving break, Nathan travelled back to Canada to receive a very prestigious award.

Nathan and James both participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program. This program is aimed to prepare young adults for the real world and to become responsible adults. There are three stages of the award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. For each section, there are four sections that have to be completed. The sections are service, physical recreation, skill, and adventurous journey. In order to be awarded the Bronze award, a participant must complete 13 hours in each section. Nathan completed his Bronze award when he was attending his old school, Selwyn House, in Canada. For service, Nathan worked at a local soup kitchen and delivered food and toys to underprivileged people around Christmas. He played football, basketball, and rugby at Selwyn House for his physical activity requirement. After school, Nathan took French lessons to further his French for school, which is his third language! This counted as his skill for his Bronze award. For the final requirement, adventurous journey, Nathan and the sixty others in his grade went on a winter camping trip for four days and three nights. James Varnell completed the Bronze award his first year at RMA. To complete his Bronze, James cleaned graveyards and highways and assisted the elderly. He played football and basketball for his physical activity and joined choir to complete a skill.

After Nathan was awarded the Bronze award, he began working on his Silver award, meaning that he has to meet the same requirements but with twenty six hours in each category instead of thirteen. He completed this portion of the program during his first year at Rocky Mount Academy while James was working on his Bronze. In order to meet the requirements for his Silver award, Nathan adopted a highway, worked in a soup kitchen, and maintained cemeteries. He played football and basketball at school and joined the Elm City Missionary Baptist Church choir. Nathan and James completed a 4 day and 3 night winter camping trip that they planned and executed together. Over Thanksgiving break of this school year, Nathan travelled to Canada on his own to receive his Silver award. During his trip, Nathan met the Vice-Governor of Quebec and was given his award. When I asked Nathan about his award, he said “This award taught me lessons about life, such as the difficulty of dealing with team members who choose not to carry their weight and the extra strain that this puts on other team members. Also, [I learned] that cooperation can go a long way, if you have everybody on the same page you can accomplish anything.” Now, Nathan is beginning his work for his Gold award. He will complete 52 hours in each category, a 5 day and 4 nights camping trip, and an additional residential project.

Nathan and James are both doing very well in this amazing and very beneficial program. We are very proud of them for their work and achievements! We wish them the best of luck in working towards their Gold and Silver awards!