A Grade 12 student of Robert Bateman Secondary in Abbotsford was among those honoured at the recent Duke of Edinburgh Award ceremony.
Etai Bachar was awarded a silver pin and certificate by B.C. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin on Nov. 24 at the Ismaili Centre in Burnaby.
Bachar was recognized for his exemplary leadership qualities, volunteering activities, and his active lifestyle while helping others and keeping good grades.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an internationally recognized program with the goal of challenging, empowering and recognizing young people between the ages of 14 and 24.
With guidance from award leaders, assessors or other award volunteers, each young person is encouraged to set and complete challenges in four different sections – community service, skill building, physical recreation and adventurous journey.
There are three levels to the award – bronze, silver and gold – and participants have until their 25th birthday to complete their challenges.
Bachar plays saxophone in his school’s jazz and concert band. For his skill hours for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, he purchased a jazz sheet music book and taught himself to play Saint Louis Blues (WC Handy) and After You’ve Gone (Turner Layton).
For his physical activity, he plays soccer and is currently on a U18 division 1 team in Abbotsford.
Bachar did several things to complete his community service hours, including coaching soccer for five- and six-year-olds with the Abbotsford Soccer Association and volunteering with the parks, recreation and culture department for the City of Abbotsford.
When Shadbolt Park was installed in his neighbourhood last summer, Bachar would get up at the crack of dawn to set up and turn on the sprinklers.
For his adventurous journey, Bachar hiked the Berg Lake Trail – a five-day trip – in Mt. Robson Provincial Park with his school’s Outdoor Education 11 class.
Bachar hopes to be accepted into the engineering transfer program at University of the Fraser Valley after he graduates, with plans to become a biomedical engineer.
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