Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a joyous, simple event, Manumalo Academy lit the way for 8 graduates to receive their diplomas during their Commencement ceremony at the Manumalo Academy Chapel on May, 28, 2021. Manumalo is a private academy which teaches Christian values interwoven with learning.

With the theme — “Shine Your Light” — from Mathew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” — in hand, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale, who represented the governor, offered special remarks that spoke of using their light to give to others.

“Therefore, every person here is called to effect change and influence the environment around them,” Ale said, and noted that Manumalo “has embedded in you all a strong Christian education. A foundation built on your belief and faith in Jesus Christ.”

He told the graduates, “You have a responsibility to be involved and influential somewhere, somehow, and in someone’s life.” Ale spoke of “small acts of kindness” that could make a difference — not just the large gestures in life —  and of holding firm to one’s faith, values and beliefs as each graduate goes forth and “bring[s] light to those you meet along the way.”

This year’s Valedictorian is Janella Maribelle Parungo Musni with a GPA of 3.93. There are two Salutatorian for 2021: Princess Karizma Schwenke with a GPA 3.7 and Faith-Rachel

Uaealesi Olo Young with a 3.7 GPA.

Three ASG scholarships were presented by the Scholarship Board: Princess Karizma Swenke, Faith-Rachel Uaealesi Olo Young and Donwen Kalani Macrain Hong.

“Fa’amumu Lau Sulu” - 8 Au Fa’au’u mai le Manumalo Academy Me 2021

E to’avalu i latou o Sulu na manumalo mai le tele o mea na fitaituga ai le folauga tau a’oa’oga mai le Laumua o le Sulu, ma ua latou savavali ma le to’a e talia o latou fa’ailoga Tipiloma i le taeao o le aso 28 Me, 2021 i le sauniga sa fa’ataunuuina i le Malumalu Manumalo Baptist i Malaeimi. Sa molimauina fo’i e le Fa’atonu o A’oa’oga ma o le Taitaifono o le Komiti Fa’afoe o lea Laumua, “O se vasega sili lea ona filemu talu mai ona fa’avae le Manumalo Academy, e leai ma se gaoia o le Laumua i lo latou tausaga atoa, ua avea ai i latou o tamaiti a’oga sinia. O le vasega lea e to’a tolu lava ali’i talavou, ae to’alima alo tamaitai.”

O le sauniga atoa o le faau’uga sa tula’i ai le tamaitai o Georgina Alofa e usuina vii o le tagavai a le Malo tele, ma soso’o Alosina Seumanu mo le vi’iga o Amerika Samoa ma Katheryn Kim mo le taina o le okeni.

O le susuga le Faife’au Pr Edmund Ocena sa avea ma taita’i o le sauniga e fa’atautaia le fa’afetai i le Atua ona o lenei aso sa tuupoina e le fanau ma matua fa’apea le Laumua, ua fa’ataunuuina ma le manuia.

O le tamaitai o Letitia Peau-Folau sa tula’i mo le fa’atautaiga o le polokalama fa’asolo mo le aso fa’apitoa o le fa’anau fa’au’u, ma sa ia fa’alauiloa fo’i le failauga fa’apitoa o le aso, o le susuga lea le Sui Kovana o le Malo, Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale, mo lana fetalaiga e tima’ia ai le fanau fa’aiuaso mai le Laumua o le Sulu.

Sa muamua lava i mea uma lana fa’afetai i matua ma aiga, le Laumua i le vasega o faia’oga ma le pulega, ae maise le fanau a’oga ua fa’amae’aina nei lo latou fa’amoemoe, ua i’u a latou taumafaiga mai a’goa maualuluga mai Manumalo Academy.