Upulasi Rosalia Satala Logovii has been named the Chanel College's dux forf the 2020 academic year.

The 18-year-old was announced the college’s top student during a prize-giving ceremony on Monday at the school compound in Moamoa.

She dedicated her award to her late father, Satala Logovii, who passed away in August this year after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.

"To my dear father, I hope I made you proud today, we all miss you. I hope you're here with me. All I ever wanted was for my dad to congratulate me in person," she said with tears in her eyes in an interview with the Samoa Observer.

"All the success I'm getting today, I dedicated to my hardworking parents, they have been struggling every year in order for me to have a good future. 

“And most importantly, this is for my late father who has set off on his one-way flight to heaven on August 27 this year. I hope I made him proud this year.”

Upulasi is from the villages of Vaiusu and Lotofaga Safata and has been a student at the college for five years. Reminiscing on the journey she has taken, she said her life has had its obstacles.

"I have been in Chanel for five years, I have been through so much, starting from Year 9 up to Year 13. My life has been full of obstacles that I had to overcome over the years. 

“This year is the hardest year for me, I have been so much especially because it is the year that I lost my dad, my motivator. 

“I am proud that I was able to stand my ground and overcome it by faith and trusting myself that I can do it.”

Aspiring to become a lawyer one day, Upulasi revealed that an accident involving her older brother that led to his death, compelled her to seriously consider becoming a lawyer. 

"I want to be a lawyer in the future and I'm hoping to establish that. I have a brother who is our eldest, he died due to an accident, and we never got the justice we deserved so it has driven me to become a lawyer," she said.

She has three brothers and is the only girl in her family. 

In a farewell message to the college and its staff and students, she said she hoped the new principal will achieve the college’s goals.

"I hope that the new principal will do everything to accomplish their goals and to be honest, I am going to miss this College," she said.

"I want to thank my grandparents Rosalia and Makalio, all my families in Samoa and overseas, my friends and above all my mum, she is the strongest and bravest woman I have ever seen. 

“I have never seen her weeping since my dad left us.”

Upulasi came first in History, Computer, Samoan, English, Geography and Visual Arts.