Academy pair chosen for award week

Elena Jukes and Valencia Alex were selected for the annual challenge weekend by Shoreham and Southwick Rotary Club.

They joined youngsters from across the region at High Ashurst Activity Centre in Dorking, with many individual Rotary clubs offering places to students from schools and academies.

The pair gave a presentation to club members at their meeting on Friday, May 23, and thanked them for the experience.

Rotarian Dr David Gordon, who co-ordinates the award for the club, said: “The two chosen students entertained the club with pictures and commentary of their week.

“Activities included an assault course, orienteering, a night initiative test, problem solving in teams, aqua sports, raft building from very basic materials and many other challenging tasks.

“After all of this, a visit to a West End show was arranged to give them all a break.”

The week culminated in a show, put on by all the students.

Dr Gordon said the award week could also count towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award, as a residential project.

He added: “The project is a tremendous way of building self- esteem and confidence, team building and vision to identify how best to apply their own potential for leadership.

“Our club was so impressed with Elena and Valencia and their presentation and look forward to offering two more students a taste of RYLA next year.”