Three gold medals for Tongan USP graduate [1]
Thursday, March 30, 2017 - 17:20
High academic achiever Mrs Petina Ulakai Vi was awarded three gold medals at the University of the South Pacific (USP) special awards ceremony last night.
Petina who was the most outstanding Bachelor of Education graduate, as well as the most outstanding in her two majors of Education and Literature and Linguistics told Matangi Tonga that to win a gold medal “you have to have the highest GPA overall” which is 4.
But her achievement was not easy as she completed her studies into three semesters in order to return to Tonga with her husband, also studying in Fiji, to help care for his ill mother.
“We wanted to go back as soon as possible to help with her care-giving.”
“So it was a cramped three semesters because my husband was also taking a full load too and it included summer and winter courses but we were able to finish.”
Petina was an Assistant Teacher at Tonga College and started her studies in 2013 at the USP campus in Tonga. She then received a scholarship through the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarship to finish her studies at USP in Fiji.
Petina now plans to return to Tonga to continue teaching.
“I will definitely return to teaching. I am eager to implement what I’ve learnt in University.”
She also plans to further her studies in the future. “I do plan to continue postgrad hopefully in the field of linguistics.”