MAGS’ top Pasifika students were acknowledged and celebrated at the annual Pasifika Celebration Dinner on Thursday, 26 October.
Vaimoana Va’ai won the Year 13 Award for Academic Excellence, and William Sharkey was named Top Year 13 Pasifika Boy (they are pictured left with Year 13 Girls Dean Ms Katie McColl). Vaimoana, Fia Jones and Head Boy Denzel Robertson were announced as having won University Scholarships for 2018.
The Year 12 Academic Excellence award went to Roselynne Va’ai, who was also named Best All-Round Year 12 Student, and Excellence Awards were made to Tara Pickering and Rosarina Pillissi. Elijah Manu was named Top Year 12 Pasifika Boy.
The Year 11 Academic Excellence Award went to Hannah Jones with Excellence Awards to Theresa Anisi, Kalyah Atai and Siana Vagana. The Top 11 Pasifika Boy was Nathan Su’a Chang; the Best All-Round Students in Year 11 were Maraea Ah Kuoi-Atmore and Aka Bloomfield.
The Best All-Round Pasifika Students for 2017 were Deputy Head Girl ‘Alosi Bloomfield and Aaron Fa’asalafa.
The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Services to the Performing Arts went to Liam Akeli and Vaimoana Va’ai for their achievement and service in Music, Drama and Dance.
The Pasifika Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards were Javvier Pitovao for Rugby League and ‘Alosi Bloomfield for Football.
The evening included speeches by Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm, guest speaker Inspector Fata Willie Fa’anene of the Waitakere Police, and Head Boy Denzel Robertson. There were performances by the Samoan Girls’ Cultural Group and Cook Islands dancer Lausapai Nikoro, and the Year 13 Taualuga.
A special tribute was paid to Mrs Siutu Ah Kuoi (above right), who has been involved with MAGS for 47 years through her children and grandchildren.