On Friday evening last week, Pacific Horizons School kicked off the high school graduation season this year with its biggest graduating class yet – 9 seniors, bid farewell and turned their tassels to open a new chapter in their lives.

This year’s coverage of the 2017 high school graduation season — for Valedictorian and Salutatorian — is brought to by Paramount Builders, a local company that prides itself in promoting education and investing in the territory’s children and students.

The PHS graduation ceremony was held at the Lupelele Church of Christ in Iliili.

Class Valedictorians went to Sharon-Netosi Ah Ping and Nina Bianca Lucero Vergara, who gave the final speech.

Principal Caroline Tuiolosega told Samoa News, “Our valedictorians have been friends since childhood. And they will be delivering the valedictorian address together.”

First up however was the Class Salutatorian, Jack Tuiolosega – who delivered heartwarming and emotional welcome remarks to families, friends and advice to his classmates of 2017.

He said, “We are finally going to move on to the next stage of our lives, their will be good times and bad times more like school and just like school we will make it through.”

 “Continue to learn, grow and work hard… Tonight the nine of us graduate… Lets do this!”

The two valedictorians, followed with their joint speech — expressing their heartfelt gratitude to all the parents especially their own for the love and support and shaping them to be who they are today. Sharon said in their speech, “Put our hands together for our parents here tonight. To you we say sorry and we say thank you.”

They thanked their teachers on campus and those who do not teach there no more on behalf of their class. They said, “We couldn’t have done it without you… You have helped us come this far and for being so persistent… all the tough love dealt with us over the years… you taught us how to grow and how to think outside ourselves and to appreciate.”

They concluded thanking their principal Mrs. Caroline Tuiolosega and their classmates of 2017, “Mrs. T, you have welcomed us and walked with us to take our first steps on these school grounds and now we are taking our last steps out of the doors… To the seniors, your outstanding achievements have been seen today and this is not the end.”

The Congressional Recognition was awarded to all 9 graduates, which were presented by the Office of Congresswoman Aumua Amata.

On behalf of the American Samoa Government, Senator Fai’ivae Iuli Alex Godinet presented the ASG Scholarship Award to Sharon-Netosi Ah Ping.

Presentation of Diplomas is David Willis, Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, DOE Director Dr.Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, PHS Board Chair Richard deSaulles. 

Congratulations to the Valedictorians and Salutatorian of Pacific Horizons Class of 2017! Malo lava!

See inside for further details of the PHS graduation.

Find out more about the school by calling 699-5787 or logging on to their website at www.pacific-horizons-school.com