The National University of Samoa held a graduation ceremony at the NUS gymnasium on Thursday morning where 186 graduates received awards ranging from certificate level to post graduate diplomas.
Amongst the graduates was Sa’u Emo Tauave, a lecturer with the NUS Centre of Samoan Studies who graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies.
Sa’u was one of three who graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies. He is joined by Tiresa Ioelu and Lauiliu Mataeliga, while Faapito Pau Ievali and Tara Patu-Fritz were lone recipients of a Post Graduate Diploma in Samoan Studies and Post Graduate Diploma in Science respectively.
The 38 year old lecturer said education is a never-ending process and encouraged Samoans of all ages to enrol and take up the wide variety of courses offered by the National University of Samoa.
“The end of one journey is the beginning of another; continuous education helps is to grow in our learning and knowledge of all things,” said Sa’u.
Sau’s wife Tusipepa Mary Tauave is also a lecture at the NUS, working in the Department of Information Technology and Systems.
Sa’u said one of the most important things about his graduation was the excitement he saw in their young son, who attended the graduation ceremony with his mother to support his dad.
“It is a blessing to know that he will remember this today and aspire to learning”.
Su’a thanked God for his guidance and acknowledged his wife and relatives for the ongoing support and for coming to graduation.

“Ua lagona lava le agaga o le fiafia i taumafaiga foi sa fau ao fau po, ia o lenei ua tau lau, e foi ai le viiga ma le faafetai i le Atua,”
“O se faamanatu foi i alo ma fanau, e faaauau pea le soifua aoaoina”.
Parents, children, and extended families of graduates flooded the NUS gymnasium on Friday morning to mark graduation day with the traditional ulas that are placed on graduates as a sign of their pride in their achievements.
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