South Florida women’s sailing freshman Millicent “Milly” Branflick has earned the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, the highest level of the internationally recognized youth development program. She was honored at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., where His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, presented the award in a ceremony celebrating outstanding young achievers.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a globally recognized program that encourages young people to challenge themselves through volunteering, physical activity, skills development and adventurous journeys. The Gold Award demands a significant commitment to personal growth, leadership, service and adventure, making it the most prestigious tier of the program.
Branflick began her award journey while still in high school, and sailing played a central role in her personal development throughout the process. As she worked toward the Gold Award, she committed to mastering sailing, a pursuit that carried her from beginner to competitor on the South Florida Sailing Team. Her adventurous journeys included trekking in the Himalayas, as well as sailing and racing with fellow Duke of Edinburgh Award participants throughout the United Kingdom. She also studied sign language, completed more than 150 hours of community service at her local library and took on a variety of leadership roles at her high school.
Branflick was invited to deliver remarks at the Gold Award ceremony as part of the Gold Award Recipients’ Remarks segment, giving her the opportunity to reflect on the program’s impact on her journey. Speaking about the accomplishment, Branflick said, “The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has taught me to be independent, push myself outside my comfort zone and create opportunities for myself while building skills and experiences that will stay with me beyond the award.”
The achievement represents the culmination of several years of dedication, personal growth, service and adventure — qualities that continue to shape Millicent both on and off the water as she begins her collegiate sailing career with the Bulls.
The USF sailing program won a SAISA conference championship in 2025 and has reached the national finals in 13 of the last 14 years. The Bulls finished in the top 10 during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The sailing team, which has won eight SAISA conference titles, was formed in 1997 and is based out of St. Petersburg. The program has been led since 2004 by head coach Allison Jolly. One of the most successful women in U.S. national sailing history, Jolly is a former USA Olympian and Gold Medalist from the 1988 Olympics, a 2016 Florida Sports Hall of Fame inductee, and a 2019 U.S. National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee.
