The Pasifika Awards Dinner on October 20 was not only a celebration of student success but also a time to farewell two MAGS staff members who had enabled that success through their passion and drive.
Pasifika Initiatives Coordinator Mrs Anisi and Dr Haslam, the Pasifika Health Science Academy Coordinator, are retiring, and the dinner was a time for them to reflect on their achievements and for staff members to pay tribute to their efforts.
Both spoke about the importance of uplifting Pasifika students and how that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of their families, and the Senior Leadership and the Board of Trustees at MAGS.
First up though at the event, which was MC’ed by Maeva Fe’ao and Brian Vaai, there was recognition of Pasifika students’ success in NCEA, Scholarships, sports, arts, service and in the Health Sciences Academy. Khalen Quensell and Catherine Makasini also performed a Tau’olunga at the beginning of the night.
Khalen Quensell and Brendan Akeli-Wright were named Best All-Round Pasifika Students in Year 13, while Khalen and Jake Lauese were the Top Academic Year 13 Students.
Kiva Carr won the inaugural Quensell Cup, donated by Khalen Quensell, a peer-nominated award for meaningful impact by a student.
Manumea Matautia won the the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Services to MAGS Pasifika, while the Komiti Faufautua Innovation and Leadership Cup went to Brendan Akeli-Wright and Erich Retzlaff.
Khalen Quensell won the The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Performing Arts, and she and Epeli Prescott won the Ulugia-Pua Award for Outstanding Services to Mount Albert Grammar School. Catherine Makasini and Brendan Akeli-Wright were presented with the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership.
The Top Year 13 Pasifika Sportswoman was Emina Tiatia, and the Top Year 13 Pasifika Sportsman was Jirah Esekia.
The Year 12 Best All Round Pasifika Student was Fuarosa Ripley.
Erich Retzlaff and Lavinia Craig gave the Year 13 Address, both expressing thanks for the guidance and expertise of MAGS teaching staff. Erich also spoke about honouring the generations that had gone before and had enabled students to succeed with their love and sacrifices.
The Year 13 Taualaga wrapped up proceedings with a dance in honour of Mrs Anisi.
You can see the full list of winners here
