FHS CLASS OF 2012, 132 strong

The Fagaitua High School Vikings held their Commencement Exercises this past Thursday morning with 132 Seniors receiving their high school diplomas. The theme for the Class of 2012 was ‘Optimism is the Faith that Leads to Achievement’.

The Invocation was led by Reverend John Salilo Fano of the CCAS Fagaitua. Master of Ceremonies was Vice-Principal of Fagaitua High School, Sua’ese ‘Pooch’ Taase, while special remarks were made by Attorney General Fepule’ai Arthur Ripley Jr.

This year’s 2011-2012 Valedictorian was Ginnethon Naumati Patu Pa’u’ulu and the Salutatorian was Rasela B. Ta’ala.

In his special remarks, Attorney General Ripley spoke briefly to the class of 2012, reminding them to be responsible and move forward.

“Celebrate your graduation today, but celebrate safely and responsibly like the young adults that you are. Tomorrow, or maybe next week, you will continue your preparation... and hard work ... to fulfill your dreams, your hopes and your vision of your life’s journey,” said the Attorney General.

“I pray that you will find peace within yourselves and that you will find your vocation or your calling in life, because that is what will make you happiest... finding and doing what you love best.”

He told them “Always remember, the shoulders and the sacrifices of those who helped you realize your dream today. Say thank you and I love you to your parents, to your family, to your friends, for tomorrow you will be making more contacts with new friends and new teachers. Also always remember the help of our spiritual compass and the faith in God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

“I congratulate you all and wish you all a successful journey forward. God bless you all, God bless the United States of America and American Samoa,” he said.

Confirmation of this year’s 2011-2012 Fagaitua High School Senior Class was made by the American Samoa Department of Education director designee Dr. Jacinta Galea’i, and the Conferring of Diplomas was done by Attorney General Ripley, Honorable Representative Larry Sanitoa, Reverend Fano, Vice-Principal Taase and Dr. Galea’i.

Awards presentations:

Valedictorian Award:

Ginnethon Naumati Patu Pa’u’ulu

Salutatorian Award:

Rasela B. Ta’ala

ASG Scholarship Award:

Ginnethon Naumati Patu Pa’u’ulu

Rasela B. Ta’ala

Claudine T. Samuelu

Arona To’alepai

Ricardo V. Gonzales

Ta’ita’itama Youth in Action Leadership Council Scholarship Award:

Lisa Pe’a

Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Award:

Taimane  Luafutu

Ricardo Gonzales

Lowell La’ulu

Arona To’alepai

Necia Leasoon

Visa Vai’au

Melody Vaeoso

Tony Bishop

Jessebeth Ropeti

Raymond Tau’oa

Tulei Luafutu

Rosela B. Ta’ala

Dolly Sikoloni

Veronika Tagoa’i

Ginnethon Naumati Patu Pa’u’ulu

Florence Saulo & Associates Scholarship Award:

Ginnethon Naumati Patu Pa’u’ulu

Veronika Tagoa’i

Jessebeth Ropeti

FHS Alumni Award:

Ricardo Gonzales

Ginnethon Naumati Patu Pa’u’ulu

Arona To’alepai

Rotary Club Award:

Tony Bishop

FBLA Business Club Award:

Tony Bishop

Grace Senetenari

Sava’i Maloa

Ramona M. Taua’a

John Ioane

Jessebeth Ropeti

Leadership Award:

Zimmerman Enosa

Citizenship Award:

Kristy Lafita

Inspirational Award:

Arona To’alepai

Male Scholar Athlete Award:

Ricardo Gonzales

Female Scholar Athlete Award:

Faaea Fetaui Tiatia

 

EXCERPTS FROM THE SPEECH OF FAGAITUA HS VALEDICTORIAN,

GINNETHON NAUMATI PATU PA’U’ULU

 

 

“Four years ago, more than 120 plus ships anchored here in the land of the Vikings. We came, we saw and now we have conquered our mission to finish high school.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement… I want to add in more to it. Optimism and hard work is the faith that leads to achievement. There are four words I want you to remember today— Values, Hard Work, Faith and Achievement.

…These are the four words that I want you to live by starting from today. Remember graduates, all achievements come from hard work.

There is a Samoan saying that goes like “O le ala ile pule ole tautua”. Think about it and live with it.

First and foremost, I would like to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for every single thing that he has done. Father you are an awesome God. There are times that I just wanted to give up and quit school already, but your Holy Spirit keeps me going. Thank you for your protection, guidance and everything Father.

My land of the Vikings, Toa ole Vasa, if I could be an actual Genie in an actual bottle, I would wish to stay here forever… Thank you for all the good, awkward, stupid, weird and bad memories…

… You have given me the best four years of my life. Remember now, confidence, hard work, values and achievements are the keys that I want you to live by. Congratulation graduates, you made everyone proud. Malo tauivi, malo finau.”

FAGA’ITUA HIGH SCHOOL C/O 2012

1.            Alailesulu, Tasi

2.            Alefaio, Donald

3.            Amituana’i, Afalupetoa

4.            Anoa’i, Toatasi @

5.            Aulava, Antonina

6.            Barber, Robert Isaia @

7.            Berondo, Benz @

8.            Bishop, Tony #*

9.            Brown, Magamili

10.            Elisara, Tavita @

11.            Enosa, Zimmerman @

12.            Fa’anu, Fa’aao Jr.

13.            Fa’atoafe, Gapelu @

14.            Falesoani, Salevana

15.            Fano, Salilo

16.            Farani, Tuituiotoga @

17.            Fesulua’i, Sausau

18.            Fetaia’i, Raynelle @

19.            Folasa, Ronald P

20.            Fuga, Kurene Etimani

21.            Fuialoalo, June

22.            Fulu, Mercy

23.            gaoa, Falaofuta

24.            Gilbert, Raylyn

25.            Gonzales, Ricardo V. #*

26.            Ioane, John

27.            Iupeli, Jubilee

28.            Kitiona, Lorena

29.            Laeli, Simi

30.            Lafaele, Teuaililo

31.            Lafita, Kristy @

32.            Lafoa’i, Joshua @

33.            Lagolago, Aleni

34.            Lamositele, Fa’aea @

35.            La’ulu, Lowell #*

36.            Lauvao, Jeremiah @

37.            Le’iato, Mose

38.            Le’aana, Taufusi @

39.            Leasoon, Necia #*

40.            Leatigaga, Ta’afulisia @

41.            Le’iataua, O.J. Mau #

42.            Leota, Fu’a

43.            Lotoa, Taielua #

44.            Luafutu, Taimane #*

45.            Luafutu, Tulei #*

46.            Luani, Shalom @

47.            Magalei, Kassandra

48.            Makalio, Benjamin #

49.            Maloa, Savai’i

50.            Maneafaiga, Carol

51.            Maniti, TEnari

52.            Ma’o, Dreivon Thomas Austin @

53.            Mao, Tuamauga #

54.            Masau, Anita

55.            Matalio, Iosefa

56.            Mata’u, Josephine @

57.            Mata’u, Lyonna @

58.            Maulupe, Amadeus

59.            McMoore, David

60.            Milo, Sosefina

61.            Moliga, Loifofoga

62.            Moliga, Tamatoa

63.            Nansen Mikaele @

64.            Nomura, Chloe

65.            Pa’u’ulu, Ginnethon Naumati Patu +#*

66.            Pe’a, Lisa @

67.            Pese, Salamasina

68.            Pu’a, Victoria

69.            Pulemagafa Momoemamanulefati

70.            Pulou, Jennifer

71.            Ropeti, Jessebeth #*

72.            Sagapolutele, Norman

73.            Salapu, Leato

74.            Salatielu, Tapina @

75.            Samiu, Yvonne @

76.            Samuelu, Claudine T. #

77.            Satele, Karen @

78.            Sauni, Ariel @

79.            Senetenari, Grace @

80.            Sialega, Steven @

81.            Siatiu, Esekia

82.            Sikoloni, Dolly #*

83.            Simanu, Andrew @

84.            Sione, Fesuia’i @

85.            So’i, PIsone

86.            Sosene, Maefe

87.            Spitzenburg, Kalifa

88.            Stehlin, Fou @

89.            Ta’ala, Rasela B. !#*

90.            Ta’ala, Vincent @

91.            Ta’ase, Desmond

92.            Tagoa’i, Veronika #*

93.            Taua’a, Ramona M.

94.            Tauane, Toeaso

95.            Tau’ese, Derrick

96.            Taufatofua, Vaikona

97.            Tau’oa, Raymond #*

98.            Tautu, Shute

99.            Tavita, Chris @

100.            Tavita, Tavita

101.            Tema, Florence

102.            Tevaseu, Jirah

103.            Thompson, Siva #

104.            Thorpe, Richard @

105.            Tialavea, Ronald

106.            Tiatia, Fetaui Faaea @

107.            Tilo, Doreena @

108.            Tilo, Marvelous

109.            Tilo, Rhema #

110.            Tiumalu, Apisaloma J. #

111.            To’alepai, Arona #*

112.            To’elau, Fisher

113.            To’omalatai, Joseph @

114.            Tofa, Paul @

115.            Tofiga, Amosa @

116.            To’ia, Ioane

117.            Tu’upo, Kueni

118.            Tuilaepa, Valuese @

119.            Tupa’i, Eseta @

120.            Tupou, So’o

121.            Turituri, Eteuati @

122.            Tusi, Billy

123.            Unutoa, Norman

124.            Usufono, Fiatamli’i

125.            Utuao, Donovan @

126.            Vaeoso, Melody #*

127.            Vai’au Visa #*

128.            Vaisagote, Falemalama #

129.            Viliamu, Masae

130.            Williams, Leonard

131.            Willis, Tofoipupu @

132.            Willis, Tulimalefo’i @

 

KEY

+ = Valedictorian

!  = Salutatorian

# = High Honor Roll (3.50-4.0)

* =  National Honor Society Member

@ = Honor Roll (3.00 - 3.49)