Fifty-one pupils and former pupils - most from high schools south of Timaru - were given Duke of Edinburgh Hillary gold awards at the ceremony at John McGlashan College attended by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.
Sir Jerry said the recipients would go on to great things.
''You have demonstrated that you have the potential to do amazing things.
''Tomorrow is the start of a new adventure taking the skills, knowledge and understanding you have gained to improve yourself, the wider community and perhaps the world,'' he said.
The Duke of Edinburgh programme gave young people opportunities to meet new people, travel, to experience new things and make a difference, he said.
He also thanked the volunteers who made the programme possible.
Of the 51 recipients, 10 were from West Otago's Blue Mountain College, which teacher Vicki Crawford said was a great achievement.
''We are very small, we only have 220 students from year 7 to 13, so to actually have 10, or a fifth of the recipients, is a very proud moment,'' she said.
