Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 233 graduating Warriors of Tafuna High School Class of 2021 held their graduation ceremony yesterday at the school gym, under theme “E Fa’aeaina Le Onosa’i — Perseverance Prevails.

The graduating class included a special education Warrior — Alofaeleuma Faualo — seen here in his wheel chair on stage, shaking hands with VIP guests — including Tigafua Fuatagavi (far left) and Pastor David Katina (middle) — after receiving his high school diploma during the ceremony.

Pastor Katina provided the benediction and invocation, while Fuatagavi represented Congresswoman Uifa’atali Aumua Amata.

Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga delivered special remarks and Bluesky Communications chief executive officer, Justin Tuiasosopo was the commencement speaker. (More on Gov. Lemanu’s remarks elsewhere on website.)

“I am here... to tell you that ‘Nothing worthwhile in this world comes easy’,” Tuiasosopo told the graduates. “You have to work hard for it. You will fail, if you haven’t already, and you will learn from those mistakes and that of others. And you will NOT quit.”

THS graduating classes continue to be the largest on island each year, as well as marking up the most students for Top of the Class Awards.

This year’s 2021 class has five Co-Valedictorians, including twin-girls — Jade Peleiupu Kruse and Jewel Marlene Kruse. The other three Co-Vals are John Rod Allen, Mareko Sam Francis Solofa and Milo Elsie Vaelua.

Twin girls, Jade Peleiupu Kruse and Jewel Marlene Kruse are among the five Co-Valedictorians for THS Class of 2021. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]

John Rod Allen is one fo the five Co-Valedictorians for THS Class of 2021. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]

Mareko Sam Francis Solofa is one of the five Co-Valedictorians for THS Class of 2021. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]

Milo Elsie Vaelua is one of the five Co-Valedictorians for THS Class of 2021. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]

For the 2021 Salutatorian Award there are two Warriors: Fiaigoa Ta’ai and Caroline Tavita,

THS Class of 2021 Co-Salutatorians: Fiaigoa Ta’ai (left) and Caroline Tavita. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]

The graduation program included a special message of acknowledgment and thanks from the Co-Vals to their parents, family members, THS and teachers, as well as others.

The program also recognized Elisaia Sualua Ma’ifo, the high school’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

(For a complete list of graduates see their program, which published not only the names of graduates, but also who has been accepted at colleges and universities to continue higher learning.)

233 FANAU FA’AU’U MAI TAFUNA HIGH - LAUMUA O LE TOA - TAUSAGA 2021

tusia: Leua Aiono Frost

O le fa’au’uga sili ona to’atele i vasega fa’au’u mai a’oga maualuluga i le teritori na amatalia fo’i le latou sauniga mamalu o le fa’au’uga lona 31 talu mai ona fa’avae lea a’oga maualuga, i le taeao ananafi i le latou faleta’alo.

O le susuga Pr David Katina sa avea ma Failauga e molita’i se fa’amalosi fa’aleagaga, ma tatalo amata ma fa’aiu le fa’amoemoe o le fanau. O ia lea sa ia mua’i tima’ia le fanau i le autu o le latou aso faapitoa, “E fa’aeaina le Onosa’i.” Ua ia fa’ailoa ai o le onosa’i e matua tigaina, ma ootia ai le tagata, ae afai e te tu ai pea ma taumafai, e fa’amanuiaina lou taunuuga.”

“O lea ua oo mai i vaitau ua uma ai le “tik tok” lea e masani ona va’aia o fai fa’ata’aloga e outou. E te toe te’i ane i luga mai lau moe sa e tofa ai i le po, ua le toe i ai Mama e tapena maia lau mea’ai. Ua le toe maua se taimi fa’alue ma nofonofo e fa’atalitali le mea’ai e tapena e ou matua mo le aiga atoa. O le taimi lenei ua tatau ona e osotatau i mea e fai a le aiga, aua ua e tagata matua.”

“E faaeaina le Onosa’i! Le onosa’i lea sa fa’ailoa mai, O mea mamafatu e tupu ai le onosa’i, o le onosa’i e tupu ai le amio a o le amio e tupu mai ai le fa’amoemoe. E te toe te’i ane ua i ai oe i se olaga fou, o le olaga ua e tuto’atasi ai mai le tausiga a nai ou matua. Afai e te le’i mafaufauina lea suiga fou, e mafai ona e fa’apea ane, sa e moe miti.”

“O le taimi lenei ua fa’apa atu lau puta o loo e nofonofo ai ma le fiafia, e te ola fa’alagolago i nai matua ma latou tapenaga ma sailiga i le olaga, ua tatau ona e sagai ane e sailia lou lumana’i ma ia aofia ai nai ou matua i lau fuafuaga o lou ala fou.”

“E pei ona ta’ua e le Lutena Kovana i lana saunoaga i le Laumua o le Liona, ‘Afai e le’i faia sau fuafuaga, e leai se mea o i ai, ia e malosi lou fa’atuatua o lo’o i ai lou Atua e na te fa’asoasoa maia mafaufauga lelei mo oe ma lau savaliga, ia lelei lau fa’alogo ma le usita’i i lana ta’ita’iga’.”

“E pei foi o le isi lauga a le Afioga le Kovana Sili fa’au’uga o le matata eseese, O le taimi na fuafua ai o le aga atu i le taua, fetaua’i i le tafa o taua, na fa’afia ai ona to’otuli ma tatalo. Ua iloga ua mana’omia le Atua e tapasaina le folauga. Ua soloa’i ai mai taimi faigata.”

“Onosa’i e maua ai le amio lelei, pe afai e fia fa’aipoipo nisi, e lua mama ua taga’i mamao i ai ina fa’atauina e mama e le tamaita’i fa’aipoipo. Muamua o le mama o le fa’amau. Ua iloa ua i ai se tasi ua faufautane i ai. Mama lona lua o le mama fa’aipoipo ua mae’a le filifiliga o ia lea ua fai ma ona to’alua.”

“Peitai o le mama lona tolu, e leai se tino o le mama, ae maise manaomia ai le tagata atoa i le tino ma le agaga, Ia matua mautu le mama o le Onosa’i. I le tama ma le teine e matua mana’omia tele lea mama mai le amataga o lea feagaiga. Le onosa’i lava lea e tasi e tatau na ia te ia, ona mautinoa lea e a’o manuia ou faiva o le a e alo atu i ai.”

“A mana’omia ona faia se suiga i lou ola taumafai, sui ma le toto’a o lo’o fesoasoani lou Atua ia te oe i lau folauga. Tatalo ma saga Tatalo. O le Mata’u i le Atua o le amataga lea o le Poto.”

I le saunoaga fa’apitoa a le Kovana Sili, Lemanu Peleti Mauga, sa ia fa’ailoa ai, “O le aso lenei o le fiafia, o le aso o le fa’afetai i le vasega o matua ma fanau sa taumafai mai mo le sailiga o le atamai, 12 tausaga o a’oa’oga lenei ua fa’ai’uina ua silimea ai le seuga a le tautai seu, aua ua a’e malo faiva o le fanau lea e to’a 233, o Toa o lenei tausaga fa’au’u.”

“Lea ua tatou va’aia ua toe taliu mai i fanua nisi o le Laumua o le Toa sa fa’alele atu aua se ‘ai o le taumafaiga a faia’oga ma le laumua i Tafuna nei, lea ua toe alaala atu i luma nei, e tapea se upu tima’i mo outou le fanau fa’au’u o lenei tausaga. O se mitamitaga lena o le Malo, le pa’ia o aiga, ae maise lava o matua ma matua fa’aleagaga. I latou sa tu’i le mulipapaga aua taumafai a le fanau i le po ma le ao.”

“Ua le gata la i le fofoga fa’apitoa o le aso, ae ua patipatia e a outou sui na vala’aulia fa’apitoa lo outou tausaga ma matati’a fo’i ua outou ausia. O le taimi lenei e fa’ataoto ai alafua e tatau ona savalia i lou lumana’i. O le fesili, ua e sauni?”

“O lo ua oo mai le taimi e mafai ai ona tatou o atu i fafo ma fa’asoa atu mea ua tatou iloa i na fo’i uso o le a tatou milo fa’atasi i suesuega o le atamai, poo le galulue fa’atasi i falefaigaluega, poo le tutu fa’atasi e tautua le malo e ala i vaega au, poo fea lava e te i ai, poo le a foi lau mea e fai, aua ne’i galo ia te oe lou amataga.”

“E tele lava lau fa’asoa e fia maua fo’i e la uso ua soifua i fafo, aua lava ne’i e faapea ane o tatou e le iloa se mea e le vaega o soifua tumau i fafo.E matua leva ma totoe au mea matagofie na e te ola ma oe, o lo’o fia maua e isi o na mea uma e o tatou uso i fafo. E tele lou sao e fa’ailoa ia i latou le ola fa’atuatua ma tapua’i i le Atua. Ola fa’aaloalo, ma le ola fa’alogo i matua ma aiga. Usita’i, o le olaga o le tama ma le teine Samoa e iloga ese ai o ia mai olaga o fanau sa soifua a’e lava i latou i atunuu i fafo.”

“Aua ne’i fa’ailoa atu i fafo nisi uiga e le mafai ona tauleleia ai oe ma le mea na alu atu ai. Ia faagesegese i le ita ae le o le lotoa. E i ai taimi e fiu ai e tau tatala se faitoto’a o mea o e mana’o ai, ae le mafai, Onosa’i! Lea ua me’a timata ai lo outou upega fagota e le susuga le fa’afeagaiga. Ia fa’autauta ma ia fa’atuatua o au tatalo e tali mai lava le Atua.”

“O isi la e ola a’e i fafo e tasi le gagana ua latou iloa lelei, ae o tatou e tele gagana ua tatou maua i o tatou laufanau ma lo tatou soifua fa’atasi ai. O le gagana Samoa, gagana Tonga, gagana Filipino, gagana Fiti, gagana Tokelau, Gagana Niue, ia se’i va’ai la i ai. O na mea uma o fa’amanuiaga.”

“Afai o le a efilifili e galue, galue malosi, fa’alogo ma usita’i. Onosa’i i mea e tigaina ai, e tupu ai le amio. E te iloa ai le tele o mea lelei, a i ai mea sese, vaai poo le a le a’oa’iga sa e maua mai ai.”

“Aoaoga atu i nisi o lo’o e tau atu ai i ou ala, o i ai se mana’omia ina ia amio lelei, pe silafia mea lelei, tatalo e fa’amanuia mai le Atua i le vala’au ia te ia. Ieremia 3:33 vala’au mai ia te a’u ona ou tali atu ai lea ia te oe, ma ou fa’ailoa atu ia te oe o mea tetele e te le o iloa.”

“Aua nei galo ia te outou lo outou fa’asinomaga, pe a o’o ina fa’amanuia le Atua i lau taumafaiga ma ou ala.” Ona mae’a ai lea o le tima’iga a le afioga le Kovana i le fanau fa’au’u.

Na tolaulauina le fanau ua maua togi maualuluga i le vasega fa’aiuaso. Ua fa’ailoa mai ai e to’a lima i latou ua maua togisili ua tofu ma le GPA 4.0. O i latou nei: John Rod Allen, o se alo e fa’asino ia Patrick Fritz Allen ma Sa Unutoa Allen. O tamaitai masaga o Jade Peleiupu Kruse ma Jewel Marlen Kruse, o alo tamaitai masaga e fa’asino ia Pr Donald ma Hope Kruse o Aua ma Pavaia. O le sui lona fa ua ausia le togisilia o Mareko Sam Francis Solofa, ma o ia o le alo e fa’asino ia Monique Solofa ae fa’asilisilia ai lava lona faafetaia o si ona tina matua o Cecilia Solofa. O le tamaitai mulimuli e to’alima i ai sui nei o Milo Elsie Vaelua, o sse alo e fa’asino ia Aloese mam Ola Vaelua.

O i la’ua na avea le tulaga lua o le vasega e to’alua fo’i i la’ua Caroline Tavita ma Fiaigoa Aotearoa James Taai.

O i latou ua ausia togi e maua ai sikolasipi a le Malo o Amerika Samoa sa tolaulauina lea e Mrs Donna Gurr ma sa fa’ailoa mai ai le tamaitai o Milo Vaelua o le a tauavea kosi o le Business i le Iunivesite o Nevada, Las Vegas.

Mareko Solofa o lo ua talia nei e tausailia lona fa’ailoga i le biology i le Iunivesite o San Francisco. Jewel Kruse ua mae’a filifili e ave ana kosi Business ma e ulufale ai i le iunivesite o Irvine i Kalefonia. Jade Kruse ua filifili e avea lana Architecture i le Iunivesite o Nevada Las Vegas.

Savaliolefilemu Collins ua filifiia e ave lana Health Science i le Saint Martins University. Runi Tuimavave ua filifili e ave lana kosi o le Health Science i le Southern Oregon University. Caroline Tavita e ave lana kosi o le Health Science i le ASCC. Fiaigoa Ta’ai e ave ana kosi o le Chemistry i le ASCC. Sinive Aupa’au e ave lana kosi o le Business i le ASCC. Meghan Paletoaga e ave lana kosi o le Biology i le ASCC. Donnie Omani e ave lana kosi o le Nursing i le ASCC.

O le sui na togisilia i le SAT o Tavita Kuki e 1300. Na soso’o lea ma sui e to’alua e ta’i 1200 o la’ua togi na maua i le SAT Jade Kruse ma Milo Vaelua. O e na maua togi 1100 ua lisia mai ai Jewel Kruse, Savaliolefilemu Collins, Sandralei Ho Ching ma Judethaddeus Atuatasi. O isi uma sa tai 1000 ma fa’asolo mai i lalo togi na maua.

O togi maualuga o le ACT na maua lea e Milo Vaelua, Jade Kruse, Jewel Kruse, Mareko Solofa e ta’i 20, ma le ta’i 19mna maua lea e Mapesone Laulu ma Fiaigoa Ta’ai. Tulaga tolu i le vasega fa’aiuaso na maua lea e Sinive Auapaau, tulaga fa o Savaliolefilemu Collins, tulaga lima o Rhodalyn Tarray. Tulaga ono o Runi Tuimaseve, tulaga fitu o Grace Uso, tulaga valu o Lucille Auveve ma le tulaga iva o Abish Schroeder Autele ma le 10 o Taiulu Petelo.