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Fa’asao Marist High School bids farewell to 65 graduating Seniors

 Fa’asao Marist High School graduating class of 2022
“What seems like the end, is an exciting beginning”
tony@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Paramount Builders is proud to sponsor coverage of all of the 2022 American Samoa High School Graduations, and wishes all graduates a successful journey into the future. Be Safe.  On Saturday morning, June 11, 2022, the families and friends of the 65-member 2022 graduating class of Fa’asao Marist High School (FMHS) gathered at the Fatu-O-Aiga Catholic Hall to not only celebrate their accomplishments, but to bid their final farewell in a commencement ceremony that was full of love and spiritual encouragement.

The commencement speech was delivered by Toleafoa Kathryn McCutchan, who is not only an alumni of Fa’asao Marist, but has worked and led in various positions of not only the local government, but also within the Catholic Diocese system.

McCutchan emphasized to the graduates that “survival mode starts now.”

 “Survival mode means defining your goals, you need to have goals, decide what you want to be. What career do you want to have, whatever it is that you want to be passionate about – Find that dream job that you want. Envision yourself working in that job – Where do you see yourselves in the next 10 years, you guys will be almost 30 by then.”

McCutchan continued, “You need to know where you’re going, or you’ll never get there. Now that you have goals, your next step is discipline and commitment, that’s all it takes – Survival is giving yourself time. Time to grow, time to mature, time to prepare yourselves emotionally, not just academically.”

She concluded, “I hope that when you embark on your exciting beginnings, you will live a purposeful and meaningful life. True desire in the heart is God’s proof sent to you beforehand to let you know what is yours. Claim it! – Hard work pays off.”

On behalf of Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Lt. Gov.Talauega Eleasalo Ale congratulated the Seniors and their families.  “As much as you’ve sacrificed and as much as you’ve worked, we need to celebrate. The accomplishments of our students is an accomplishment for all of us and for all of you who gave for their success.”

Talauega noted that the government has been trying to get everything back to normal as safely as they can in order for students to get the education they deserve, and thanked the parents, families and friends for their support.

 “To our graduates, your patience, determination, and perseverance during these difficult times have made you reach the top of the hill. Graduating from high school is always a difficult thing, but doing it during a pandemic and recent collections of Code Reds, that was quite something.”

He continued, “Governor Lemanu and myself did not like and did not wish for us to remain in Code Red, and we’re very concerned about the fact that many of you students who are staying at home trying to learn your school lessons alone would not get the benefit of the education you deserve, which is why we pushed to have schools reopen, and we pushed to have graduations like this happen.”

The FMHS Class of 2022 has three Co-Valedictorians and one Salutatorian.

Class Co-Valedictorian Siulagi Benjamin Su’a graduated with an accumulative GPA of 3.98. He has quite a number of achievements after competing and placing in various island wide competitions, including Science Fair, HOSA, and Math Competition. He plans to join the U.S Coast Guard and continue his education afterwards, majoring in Criminal Justice and History. He hails from the villages of Pavaiai, American Samoa and in Samoa, Apolima-Uta and Lalomanu Aleipata.

FMHS Co-Valedictorian: Siulagi Benjamin Su’a. [photo: Tony Gasu]

Co-Valedictorian Christiana Fa’afeai Florence Snow Tafao Nu’usila, also with an accumulative GPA of 3.98, was the President of the Student Government Association. She participated in various island wide competitions such as Young Writers and National History Day. Her plan is to enlist in the U.S Air Force and continue her education afterwards, majoring in Criminal Justice .She hails from Pago Pago, Fagatogo, Faga’itua and Manu’a.

FMHS Co-Valedictorian: Christina Fa’afeai F. Nu’usila. [photo: Tony Gasu]

Co-Valedictorian Peal Eunice Miranda Munoz graduated with an accumulative GPA of 3.98 and placed 3rd Overall in the Island Wide Science Fair. She placed 1st in Science Symposium Overall and she represented American Samoa in Hawai’i and was ‘recognized’. Her plan is to attend the American Samoa Community College and pursue Nursing. She hails from the villages of Leone and Faleniu.

FMHS Co-Valedictorian: Pearl Eunice Miranda Munoz. [photo: Tony Gasu]

Salutatorian Alysa T. Torres graduated with an accumulative GPA of 3.92. Her plan is to attend the University of Hawaii, majoring in Accounting. She hails from the villages of Pago Pago and Fagasa.

Most Rev. Bishop Peter H. Brown accepted the 65 graduates as the graduating class of 2022 for Fa’asao Marist High School after they met all requirements for graduation under the Catholic Education School System, in accordance with the Catholic Board of Education, the American Samoa Department Of Education, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

All 65 graduates received the Congressional Award from Congresswoman Uifa’atali Aumua Amata, who attended.