Good Samaritans at St. Mary’s

By Diedre Fanene 10 February 2016, 12:00AM

The St. Mary’s College Class of 1990 has returned to the school to give back through two scholarship awards valued at $2,670.

The President of the Class, Fiaailetoa Charlotte Brunt, and members of the class were present during a school assembly yesterday to present the awards to Year 13 students, Mary Elizabeth McFall and Sieni Paina.

The scholarships honour the memory of a member of the class of 1990, Hanna Leota, who has passed on.  

The award covers tuition fees, exam fees, school uniforms and stationery.

Fiaailetoa said the awards is a way for them to give back to the school that shaped and moulded them into the people they are today. 

 “We know that there are some special young ladies who are very academically gifted but their families face hardship where they cannot afford to pay their school fees and everything that they need,” she said.

“So we wanted to do something to give back to our school. We decided to give a scholarship and give a young lady an opportunity to be able to concentrate on her studies and not worry about how her school fees are going to be paid.”

Fiaailetoa said the idea is to give the future of Samoa an opportunity.

“I feel that when I see someone who is very academically gifted and their families are in hardship, I really believe that they should be given a good opportunity.”

Asked how the award winners are selected, the President said they rely on information provided by the School Principal and teachers.

One of the scholarship recipients, Mary McFall, is the daughter of the late Hanna Leota.

“When they called out my name this morning, all I could think about was my mother,” she said in tears. “I really miss her a lot and I wish she was here with me physically, but I know that she is with me in spirit.

“This scholarship is such a great help, my grandmother and I just want to say thank you to the class of 1990 for their support.

“I hope that one day the Lord will fulfill all that you given to me today in one way or another.”

Sieni Paina was equally grateful.

“It is such a blessing to be able to get this so that my family can be at ease in paying for my school,” she said.

By Diedre Fanene 10 February 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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