British royal Prince Edward visits Baltimore school as award program expands into city

Racquel Bazos, The Baltimore Sun on Sep 30, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BALTIMORE — Western High School students rolled out the royal treatment Wednesday as Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Baltimore to celebrate the expansion of his international youth award program to seven Baltimore City high schools.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, available in more than 120 countries and territories, challenges young people ages 14 to 24 to pursue personal growth through service, physical activity, skill-building and an “adventurous journey.”

Students at Western, Academy for College and Career Exploration, Baltimore City College, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Carver Vocational-Technical High School, Forest Park High School and Frederick Douglass High School will have the opportunity to participate.

Andrew Yingling, program director for the U.S. division of the award program, said the aim in Baltimore is to have 70 students per school participate. Baltimore City Public Schools will be the first public district in the state to have students involved with the awards, according to Yingling.

Philadelphia teachers at schools with students participating in the award have noticed better attendance, more engagement with extracurricular activities and higher acceptance rates into first-choice schools, Yingling said.

Students progress through bronze, silver and gold levels while completing requirements in four areas: skills, physical activity, volunteering and an adventurous journey. The program is designed to foster determination, resourcefulness, creativity and stronger connections to the community.

Founded in 1956 by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, the award has a history of encouraging young people to pursue personal growth, service and achievement.

For students at Western, the royal visit put a spotlight on a program that will now become part of their high school experience.

The Duke thanked a group of “nervous-looking” principals representing the participating schools for accepting the challenge. He spoke with them at length after the program before meeting privately with a small group of Western students.

“This award is yours from the moment you start it,” he told students in brief remarks, emphasizing that the award is their choice and that they decide how to shape their experience.

“Enjoy. Have fun. Good luck,” the duke concluded.

Baltimore City Schools CEO Jermaine Dawson previously brought the program to schools in Philadelphia while serving in his last post.

Dawson said he has been on a “quest” to bring a global perspective to young people since he was a 10th**-**grade international exchange student ambassador to Senegal.

“It changed my life,” he said.

“The award fosters character development, social-emotional growth and personal agency by encouraging students to step away from technology and instilling self-reliance, leadership, perseverance and practical problem-solving skills that they will need in a real-world environment,” Dawson said.

John Danielson, the board chair of the U.S. arm of the awards, advised students that the award is challenging “because you’re not competing with anybody … there’s not a first place or last place … it’s all about what’s in you.”

Danielson also had a simple explanation for why the program was launching in Baltimore City, and at Western specifically.

“You’re the best. We are in the oldest all**-**girls’ high school in the nation. With all due respect to all the gentlemen here, I think it’s high time we step aside and let the ladies lead. And I know that the ladies at this school are going to lead.”

One of those leaders is Taylor Fraling-Taylor, student commissioner for the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners and a senior at Western. In addition to opening the ceremony and singing in the choir that welcomed the Duke, Fraling-Taylor asked His Royal Highness about how the program can be equitable if students have fewer resources.

The Duke “affirm[ed] that as long as the students are chasing their goals and their ambitions and that they’re ready to work and lead, that they will have everything they need for this program,” Fraling-Taylor said.

Yingling said the award “is for everyone,” as it’s “completely bespoke” to each participant as they tailor it to their own goals.

The Baltimore visit is part of a broader four-day U.S. trip by Edward focused on expanding partnerships and opportunities for young people through the award. He also is meeting with students, educators and youth leaders during stops in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

________