Twin sisters continue proud family tradition at St. Mary’s
A wise child makes his or her parents proud.
In the case of Magele Filipo Penn and his wife, Unasa Florenstina Penn, of Vaimoso and Lepea, it was a double celebration yesterday.
Their twin daughters, Maryann Olive and Eleanor Tausilua, had made them super proud claiming Dux and third place during St. Mary’s College’s prizegiving.
The prize giving was well attended by families, friends and supporters of the school.
The Dux, Maryann, was humbled by her achievement.
“I feel very humbled indeed to receive the Dux award,” she said. “I accept it with great respect and humility. I also give praise to our Mother Mary for her blessings. This source of divine inspiration is not only for me but for the other students as well.”
Looking back, Maryann said the journey was challenging.
“I was always placed at the lower end of the top ten positions in class,” she said. “My twin sister Eleanor Tausilua Penn was always ahead of me which upon reflection, was very good, as she provided me with a great challenge to continue to improve.”
Maryann said at the back of her mind, she always dreamt of being Dux in her final year of College.
“It’s always been a dream,” she said, “and now that it’s finally a reality, I’m so humbled.”
Members of the Penn family are no strangers to being top students at St. Mary’s and other schools.
“My sisters, Theresa was dux in 2004 and Gataiala was dux in 2015,” she said.
“My father Philip Penn was dux of Samoa College in 1971.”
As for Eleanor, she was just as excited for her sister.
“I would like to say thank you to our father, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be standing here today,” she said. “It wasn’t a very easy journey as I have to compete with my sister. If I didn’t make it, she made it, it made my family proud and I am very proud of her too.”
Maryann and Eleanor are both Science students.
They have not decided yet what they want to become.
“I will leave it to God, he has a plan for me,” said Maryann.
Their mother, Unasa, was a proud parent but she was quick to return credit to God.
CLASS AWARDS
YEAR 9 LEVEL
1st Place - Lupeoaunuu Vaai,
2nd Place - Vardia A. Caffarelli,
3rd Place - Pekina Maualaivao
YEAR 10 LEVEL
1st Place - Sophie Tualaulelei,
2nd Place - Sisifo Tini,
3rd Place - Malnnie Nofoaga Totoá
YEAR 11 LEVEL
1st Place - Telesia Lemafa,
2nd Place - Kelly Benish,
3rd Place - Monica Yuhoi
YEAR 12 LEVEL
1st Place - Janola Tofiau,
2nd Place - Charla Wendt,
3rd Place - Quenjule Slaven
YEAR 13 SOÓAEMALELAGI 2017
Religious Studies
1st Place - Vitolina Ah Kau,
2nd Place - Christina Kolo,
3rd Place - Gerbra Leiu
Gagana Samoa
1st Place - Vitolina Ah Kau,
2nd Place - Ann Metusela, 3rd
Place - Aigailetai Faafeu
English
1st Place - Maryann O. Penn,
2nd Place - Erena Ott,
3rd Place - Vitolina Ah Kau
History
1st Place - Vitolina Ah Kau,
2nd Place - Christina Kolo,
3rd Place - Akenese Ioane
Geography
1st Place - Vitolina Ah Kau,
2nd Place - Christina Kolo,
3rd Place - Francini Iuli
Biology
1st Place - Maryann Penn,
2nd Place - Angela Hazelman,
3rd Place - Eleanor Penn
Most Improved student: Hanna Han
General Excellence Award: Angela Hazelman
TOP ARTS STUDENT: Vitolina Ah Kau
TOP COMMERCE STUDENT: Gerbra Leiu
TOP SCIENCE STUDENT: Angela Hazelman
3rd Aggregate Student in Year
13: Eleanor Penn
2nd Aggregate Student in Year
13: Angela Hazelman
1ST Aggregate Student in Year
13 and DUX OF 2017: Maryann Olive Penn