SHS: ‘A MOMENT LASTS ALL OF THAT SECOND, BUT THE MEMORY LIVES ON FOREVER’
Samoana High School home of the Sharks held their Commencement Exercise for the Class of 2012, as 232 Seniors graduated under the theme — ‘A moment lasts all of that second, but the memory lives on forever’.
This year’s Valedictorian was Ioasa Tu’u, while the Salutatorian honor went to Christine Oriana Hall-Luuga. The Commencement Address was offered by Lieutenant Governor Faoa A. Sunia.
Faoa, in his remarks, noted that he wanted the Samoana graduating class of 2012 “to remember this graduation day, because this day is not just another day, it is a great step forward.”
He said, “You want this moment to last forever don’t you? Today is not just another day, it is a great moment, it is a great step forward. How many great moments have you had in your lifetime? For most of you, this day is the first great moment of your life… You earned this achievement of a lifetime and it is real. There can be more and more of these great moments if you have the desire and tenacity to earn it.
“Great moments do not become great on their own. You have to make them happen. You worked hard for this great moment to happen, you earned it,” said the Lieutenant Governor. “Great moments are not going to come looking for you. Nobody is going to create a great moment for you, you have to create your own. Your great moments may be rare and far apart, but when it happens, do not forsake it but appreciate it.”
Confirmation and acceptance of the 2012 Graduating Class of Samoana High School, was conducted by director designee of the Department of Education Dr. Jacinta Galea’i, with the diplomas distributed by Principal of Samoana Rev. Simon Mageo, Rev. Alesana Asiata of the Methodist Church of Pago Pago, Faoa and his wife Elisapeta, Dr. Galea’i, Rev. Ned Ripley and President of the Samoana High School PTA Fuimaono Tamali’i.
Awards:
Valedictorian Award: Ioasa Tu’u
Salutatorian Award: Christine Oriana Hall-Luuga
Citizenship Award: Savali Sunia
Leadership Award: Annie A. Lefagaoaliifaasilitofovaiosiliafai
Ta’ita’itama Youth in Action Leadership Council Award: Savali Sunia
Citizenship Award: Savali Sunia
Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Award: Akata Niupulusu, Anna Imelda Afoa, Christine Oriana Hall-Luuga, Fi’a Vaeoso, Glory Magele, Ioasa Tu’u, Jeannie Kim, Keith Metuli, Kiri Taylor , Lahaina Taufa’asau, Annie A. Lefagaoaliifaasilitofovaiosiliafai, Nyrese Pato, Patisepa Correia, Pepesina Lefaoseu, Salilo Foifua, Savali Sunia, Savaligasaomanuialeleimaifaatasimalealiiovavega Tunufai, Sinatiloa Puni, Stanislaus Mataese, Suttermemory Talamoni, Talitaliaai Tanielu, Taulagaola Uta’i, Tiaina Taliu, Ulualepapa Sepulona Faleali’i, Wynona Lee
Rotary Club Award: Talitaliaai Tanielu
Florence Saulo & Associates Scholarship Award: Anne-Marie Seui, Kiri Taylor, Myrna Vaimauga, Savali Sunia
Gear Up (off island) Award: Annie Amosa, Ioasa Tu’u
Gear Up (ASCC) Award: Anna Imelda Afoa, Keith Metuli
McDonalds Award: Anna Imelda Afoa
Male Scholar Athlete Award: Sinjin Leseali’i
Female Scholar Athlete: Taulagaola Uta’i
Male Athlete of the Year: Abraham Fata
Female Athlete of the Year: Fuataina Siatu’u
EXCERPTS FROM VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH BY IOASA TU’U
“A DAY OF MIXED FEELINGS”
Today is a day of mixed feelings. Feelings of both happiness and sadness. Happy because we will be free after this, getting to do what we want without having to worry about getting suspended over it. It is a day of sadness as well, because after this day we will be free and we will go in our separate ways and most of us may never get to see each other again. We may move on with life, yet we are losing a great deal. Some may soon leave for off island colleges or universities to further our education, or maybe to join the armed forces and by doing this, we will have to say goodbye to our parents, families and friends. We will also lose a lot of great and loving teachers.
We maybe losing a great deal, but we cannot say that we have not gained anything, because it just is not true. We have gained knowledge, experience, responsibility, maturity, integrity and a diploma. These are all very important, but we have also gained something that is far beyond any of these— and that is memories. We have gained a class, friendship, a sense of belonging. To sum it all up, we have gained memories and that is where our theme comes into play.
Our theme states, ‘A moment lasts all of that second, but the memory lives on forever’. Memory is a way of holding on to things you love, the things you are and the things you never want to lose. In the end, fate may take away our parents, our loved ones, our great teachers and our dear governor, but memories, those precious memories that we have all shared would continue to hold and keep us together.
…But today, ladies and gentlemen I stand here before a class that is no longer fractionated by the elementary schools we came from or by the differences that we have. Today on this day, I see only a group of enlightened individuals defined only as Samoana High School Class of 2012. In the past we came divided, but now we leave united.
We could not have made it this far without the help of some important individuals. My fellow classmates, please rise and face your parents at the back. Now repeat after me. Mom and dad, thank you and I love you. Now face your teachers to your left and say, teachers thank you and we love you. Sorry teachers for all of the headaches that we have caused you. I hope that one day we will help carry your bags or help you cross the road. We hope that we can be of use to you guys in the future.
Last, but never the least, mom and dad. There is something I want to say to you: mom and dad, I love you.
Dad the reason why I whispered I love you to you is because you are always soft spoken, calm and wise. Dad, thanks for always for always working hard and never missing a single day of work, just to provide for our family… By the way ladies and gentlemen, my father works as a supervisor specialist at the Starkist Cannery, so for those who think that a Starkist parent can’t raise a Valedictorian kid, here I am, all thanks to you mom and dad. I have always understood that is your way of showing your love for us and I will never forget that. Mom, I yelled I love you to you, because you are an uncontrollable mother (laughing).You are the complete opposite of dad. Thanks for staying up with me late at night, waking me up to finish my homework whenever I passed out. My mom loves to oke. She can go 5, 6, or 7 hours. It would be 4 if she’s in a good mood. But, thanks for that mom. If it was not for your oke, I would not be here.
SAMOANA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2012
* National Honor Society
+ Valedictorian
^ Salutatorian
1 Abel Fata
2 Abraham Fata
3 Adrianne Taape
4 Afagaila Fruean
5 Afutoto Ta’ase
6 Aida Noa
7 Aimee Naea
8 Akata Niupulusu *
9 Alaese Tauofe
10 Aleki Leia
11 Aloalii Ualisa
12 Anahiva Leleifi
13 Anna Imelda Afoa *
14 Anne-Marie Seui
15 Anovale Vaiau
16 Anthony Liam Llywelyn Sanft
17 Api Fia
18 Apolosio Shawn A.J. Lui Jr.
19 Asalele Semaia
20 Ashley Asalele
21 Asofa Titio
22 Asofitu Pati
23 Atarua Tofa
24 Atepana Teo
25 Atufili Misi
26 Aumau Lafitaga
27 Aveiaotatoulotomolealii Ulimasao
28 Benjamin Sua
29 Bryanna Fiame
30 Caroline Tulemau
31 Christina Pulu
32 Christine Oriana Hall-Luuga * ^
33 Clinton Elmer Liki Ainu’u Reed
34 Conrado Siligi
35 Cossette Lam Yuen
36 Crystal O’campo
37 Damaris Mageo
38 Daniel Saufo’i
39 Daniell Ga’opo’a
40 Davalynn Betham
41 Debora Miscoi
42 Derek Risati
43 Diana Afasene
44 Donna Mase
45 Dorothy Laga
46 Duwayne Su’esu’e
47 Elama Faatonu
48 Emeretiana Puletiuatoa
49 Emma Taufete’e
50 Epati Forsythe
51 Epifania Hisatake
52 Erik Harmon
53 Etelini Aitasi
54 Eugene Tuimaualuga
55 Fa’aiuga Ia’avai
56 Fa’amaoni Jordan Fa’amaoni
57 Fa’avaemalosi Atonio
58 Fala Palepua
59 Faliu Maofi
60 Farani Fetoai
61 Feagaimaali’i I’aulualo
62 Fekita Esikia
63 Fi’a Vaeoso *
64 Fitimalo Tuamasaga
65 Foloina Tofiga
66 Forrest Aliilua
67 Fouvale Pesamino
68 Franky Savea
69 Fuataina Siatu’u
70 Gafasiliilagi Tolo
71 Gardenia Ting
72 Garonia Sala
73 Genesis Autele
74 Geordon Malae
75 Glory Magele *
76 Grace Atuatasi
77 Greg Sinapoa
78 Halaevalu Siau
79 Henry Fiali’i
80 Ierome Lafaele
81 Ioasa Tu’u * +
82 Irvin Tanielu
83 Isaia Helg
84 Ivy Fagota
85 Jalen Mamea
86 Jane Iosefa
87 Jannel Lopez
88 Jason Casem
89 Jeannie Kim *
90 Jeremiah Mageo
91 Jesmond Papu Jr.
92 Jesse McMoore
93 Joshua Iosua
94 Joshua Tauala
95 Joshua Togi
96 Joyce Schwenke
97 Julia Autele
98 Junior Fainu’ulelei
99 Kalela Tuala
100 Kananafou Savea
101 Karl West
102 Keilani Taufa’asau
103 Keith Metuli *
104 Kereti Vaivai
105 Kevin Feliua’i
106 Kiri Taylor *
107 Kishon Mafuli
108 Koke Afuola
109 Krystal Schuster
110 Lahaina Taufa’asau *
111 Lanuola Etuale
112 Laualo Peter Paselio
113 Laureen Tapua’i
114 Lefagaoaliifaasilitofovaiosiliafai Annie A. *
115 Lolesio Tominiko
116 Lorelei Haleck
117 Louis Eneliko
118 Luse Key
119 Lutovi’o Iuliano
120 Lyndon Ianuari
121 Malaea McFall
122 Malaisha Tautai
123 Mark Ieremia
124 Mary Faith Leifi
125 Mary Tuimavave
126 Maryanne Ta’alafaaluaiaiga
127 Matalena Ulugia
128 Max Ulimasao
129 McMoore Leota
130 Megan West
131 Merico Lomu
132 Meripa Tipi
133 Michael Pese
134 Michael Saofaga
135 Michaele Tarrant
136 Michaellene Musu
137 Minute Tasimani
138 Miracle Paulo
139 Misioka Taua’i
140 Moenu Omeli
141 Molimau Masaniai
142 Mora Stowers
143 Myrna Vaimauga
144 Nedia Mageo-Ii
145 Naiatea Iuli
146 Naifo Fuimaono
147 Nailuana Faiumu
148 Noelani Puipuifatu
149 Noelle Mokoma
150 Nyrese Pato *
151 Orisse Hunkin
152 P.J. Mata’u
153 Painu’ulasi Lameta
154 Palauni Tapusoa
155 Patisepa Correia *
156 Penina Maiava
157 Penina Seiuli
158 Pepesina Lefaoseu *
159 Pesega Tuugasala
160 Ponaivao Sevaatasi
161 Queenie Levi
162 Rachel Ping
163 Rhema Mageo
164 Rommel Mageo
165 Rosalina Matuauto
166 Roselyn Te’o
167 Ruta Siota
168 Ruth Seilala
169 Saiata Fila
170 Saibai Liu
171 Salata’i Tunufa’i
172 Salavao Failautusi
173 Salilo Foifua *
174 Samantha Foster
175 Sammie Fa’atea
176 Samoa Mata’afa
177 Sanya Hall
178 Sarafina Meleisea
179 Sarah Mallari
180 Savali Sunia *
181 Savaligasaomanuialeleimaifaatasimalealiiovavega Tunufa’i *
182 Sebastian Mahkwan
183 Selaina Vaovasa
184 Sepora Kuli
185 Sesi Tuilata
186 Sieni Sitagata
187 Sifagaalu Falaniko
188 Siiloto Jane Tali
189 Sinaatafua Ieremia
190 Sinatiloa Puni *
191 Sinjin Leseali’i
192 Siolo Atanoa
193 Sipauta Ta
194 Sogelau Tuvalu
195 Sonya Hall
196 Stanislaus Mataese *
197 Su-Jee Kim
198 Suliana Latu
199 Sulufaleese Faia
200 Suttermemory Talamoni *
201 T.J. Filemoni Logoleo
202 Ta’afili Tolo
203 Talitaliaai Tanielu *
204 Tanita Tolo
205 Tanoa Leiato
206 Taulagaola Uta’i *
207 Temukisa Mulitalo
208 Tenisio Ilalio
209 Tiaina Taliu *
210 Tiale Malaki
211 Timoteo Pereira
212 Timoteo Solaita
213 Tiresa Lauama
214 Tony Taua’i Jr.
215 Torise Tauave
216 Tryphosa Fa’amoana
217 Tuaiamoa Fia Puipui
218 Tuliloa Linda Tali
219 Tumuapalace Clinton Puni
220 Tupe Smith
221 Ulualepapa Sepulona Faleali’i *
222 Uputaua Annie Tauvae
223 Vaeleti Visesio
224 Vaisola Leota-Petelo
225 Virginia Fetalaiga
226 Vitoriaoaana Elisara
227 Vitorina Taufaasau
228 Walter Matagi Kennar
229 Wynona Lee *
230 Young Tuato’o
231 Fiso Leilua
232 Seui So Mathew Papali’i