Ten National University of Samoa students were awarded scholarships by the Rotary Club of Apia last week, while new scholarships for students in the health sector were also announced.

The annual scholarship presentation ceremony was held at the Vodafone Samoa Conference Room in Maluafou, celebrating a tradition of educational support and international collaboration.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Apia awards 10 partial scholarships worth $1,000 per semester for two semesters to deserving students at the NUS.

This year, over 130 students applied for the competitive program. The selection committee, led by Anish Chandra and Mose Sepulona, carefully screened all applicants, with independent review by Rosa Tapusoa.

The Rotary Club of Apia also thanked their special guests—visiting Rotarians from New Zealand and American Samoa.

Adding to the evening's significance, the Rotary Club of Apia received a generous reaffirmation of partnership from their sister club in Australia, the Rotary Club of Ginninderra in Canberra. The Australian club continues to fund the Clea Salavert Memorial Scholarship, named in memory of Clea Salavert, who tragically lost her life during the 2009 Samoa tsunami while on holiday. In her memory, the Salavert family and the Ginninderra club raised funds to build and stock a community library in Lalomanu and established a scholarship for a student pursuing a Bachelor of Education at NUS.

This year's Clea Salavert Scholarship recipient graduated in April. Attending the ceremony were Brian and Sandra Goldstraw, representatives from the Rotary Club of Ginninderra, who not only announced a new recipient for the memorial scholarship but also introduced a new initiative. Impressed by the quality of applicants, the Goldstraws personally committed to funding an additional full scholarship for a student pursuing a career in the health sector, now known as the Goldstraw Scholarship.

Both scholarship recipients signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the ceremony, pledging to complete their studies and give back to their communities upon graduation.

Rotary Club of Apia President, Titilia Bese-Tuileva, encouraged all scholarship recipients to strive for excellence and to one day pay it forward by serving their communities.