A total of 38 students will be participating at the Vaka Pasifiki Education conference next week in Honiara, thanks to the support of a local industry.
A statement yesterday said that 20 education students from Solomon Islands National University (SINU) are being given partial scholarships by a local company, Pasifiki Services Limited (PSL) towards the students’ registration to attend the conference.
The rest, 18, are senior high school students from nine secondary schools who are given full scholarships by Kokonut Pasific Solomon Islands (KPSI) to attend the conference.
In passing on the scholarship funds to Dr Jack Maebuta of USP Institute of Education, representative of both PSL and KPSI Bob Pollard expressed his pleasure in supporting the SINU education students as well as the senior high school leaders.
According to Mr Pollard, “Both the PSL and KPSI support the development of future and emerging leaders of Solomon Islands.”
The statement added that hopefully, this grant to the students will allow them to be inspired by the ideas they hear and the people they meet at the conference.
In receiving the scholarships, Dr Maebuta said, “Solomon Islanders are thirsty for higher education and by exposing these students to such an academic conference, this will pave the way for the students’ further academic aspirations.”
Dr Maebuta thanked Mr Bob Pollard for the wisdom of sponsoring students to attend the conference.
According to Dr Maebuta, “This is the right direction. By engaging students as the beneficiaries of education, we’re putting students at the centre of all the debates and discussions at the conference.”
The high school students selected to attend the conference are:
1. Quistalfie Galo, head boy of King George Sixth School
2. Leah Aitorea, head girl of King George Sixth School
3. Buare Paul, head boy of Betikama Adventist College
4. Anna Tema, head girl of Betikama Adventist College
5. Timothy Doedoke, head boy of St Joseph Tenaru
6. Jenny Uri, head Girl of St Joseph Tenaru
7. Ryan Pauku, head boy of St Nicholas College
8. Hazel Oatasia, head girl of St Nicholas College
9. George Fasi, head boy of Selwyn College
10. Ruby Saeki, head girl of Selwyn College
11. Chris Simata, head boy of Su’u Secondary School
12. Webster Sikiasi, head girl of Su’u Secondary School
13. Indie Honimae, Female School Captain of Florence Young Christian School
14. Michael Keniomoea, Male School Captain of Florence Young Christian School
15. Warren Pugemoana Tinohitu, head boy of Honiara High School
16. Susan Urikeni, head girl of Honiara High School
17. Elijah Tekulu, head boy of Panatina Community High School
18. Rian Marion, head girl of Panatina Community High School
The two days conference will start on 5th and finish 6th next month.
By LESLEY SANGA