Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This year, home of the Navigators, Pacific Horizons School held their 18th Annual Commencement ceremony last week, on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Malaeimi Stake Center. There were 11 graduates, who were welcomed to the evening ceremony by PHS leadership, teachers & staff, and special guests, which included Lt. Gov. Talauega E. V. Ale, as well as families and friends of the graduates.

DOE Acting director Teresa Atuatasi and the Lt. Governor presented the graduates with their diplomas and special awards during the ceremony.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Suluai-Mahuka, who was the 2021 Territorial Teacher of the Year. She is a graduate of Samoana High School and the ASCC, and obtained a Masters in curriculum studies in 2016 from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She was recognized through a 2022 Educator Innovation Award for creatively teaching students about climate change and empowering them to be stewards of our blue planet. In her keynote address she encouraged the graduates to take charge of the own lives and create their own paths on their journey.

2023 PHS’ highest honors went to Valedictorian Ms. Bianca Alena Perez Serrano and Salutatorian Mr. Addyelle Kein Jagon Dizon. Both gave addresses to the Class of 2023 during the ceremony.

Ms. Perrez Serrano will be pursuing her advanced studies in the Philippines majoring in Pre-Law. She was Vice President of PHS’s National Honor Society, placed 3rd among all seniors in the territory’s math competition, placed 2nd in the Island-wide NHD group exhibit category, and gave varsity soccer a try!  She has also maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her high school career.

Addyelle Kein Jagon Dizon is the recipient of Southern Utah’s International Founder’s Scholarship which covers 85% of tuition costs. He is planning to attend Southern Utah University in the fall and major in Computer Science. his year, he served as the school’s National Honor Society’s President and placed 2nd overall in the Territorial Math Competition.

During her graduation speech, Ms. Perrez Serrano spoke of life’s successes coming from not fearing the real world, and as ‘navigators’ they “always and always weather these storms.”

A quote from the Salutatorian speech rounded off the PHS graduation ceremony when he told his fellow graduates, "Life is a journey, enjoy the trip. Aim for the sky but move slowly. Those little steps make the journey complete and rewarding.”

All graduates received the Congressional Recognition Award from Congresswoman Uifa'atali Aumua Amata, which was presented by a representative of the congresswoman’s office. Other honors included the HS Fidelity & Navigator awards, and ASG scholarships.

All graduates will be going on to higher learning institutions, local and off-island, including pursuit of military careers in the U.S. Armed Forces — Air Force and the Coast Guard. Engineering, law, biology, medicine, and business studies are just some of the careers being pursued by these young students.

Of special mention is Daniel Wang, who is the recipient of the Cornell Tradition Fellowship and the Cornell Grant with will cover 100% of his college costs. He will be attending the prestigious Cornell University in the fall to pursue a degree in Business Economics.