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PTA provides missing award for Leone Val — Ramona Tinae

[Courtesy photo]
Malaetasi Togafau’s daughter had no knowledge of the award
blue@samoanews.com

The Leone High School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has stepped in and donated a trophy and monetary gift to Class of 2017 Valedictorian Ramona Tinae who was not able to attend the presentation ceremony last Friday.

Tinae's father accepted the trophy and gift on her behalf.

Staff members, including LHS principal Mataua, were in attendance to make the presentation.

As reported in last Friday's Samoa News, Tinae didn't receive the valedictorian trophy and monetary gift during the school's awards banquet, not even during graduation.

Her family members had complained about the issue and a Leone High School official explained that it was a family member of the late Malaetasi Togafau who had offered to continue the award, which was presented to last year's LHS valedictorian.

The salutatorian's trophy and monetary gift were provided by House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale.

Samoa News has corresponded with Malaetasi's daughter, who resides off island and she has indicated that neither she nor her mother had any idea there was an award in her dad's name.

According to her, they were 'surprised' to read about it in last week's Samoa News. She added that they will be contacting the school to get more information, so there is no repeat of this same incident next year.

Other members of the Malaetasi family who live in the territory and were contacted by the school regarding the trophy and gift have also indicated that they had no knowledge of an award.

Samoa News spoke to an LHS official who said it was one of Malaetasi's siblings who expressed willingness to continue the award this year, in honor of their late brother, who was the first LHS valedictorian.

Tinae's family members however, have made it clear that “It’s not about the money or anything like that. Ramona worked hard to become valedictorian and she deserves it.”

According to a school official, when things didn't pan out as expected, the school principal sought assistance from the president of the LHS Parent Teacher Association who in turn, agreed to have the organization sponsor the trophy and monetary gift that was presented to Tinae's dad last Friday.