By Staff Writer
The National University of Samoa graduation last Friday broke new academic grounds when it awarded for the first time Masters of Science degrees.
There were overall nine Masters conferred and two were for Science studies.
Bernadette Patila Amosa and Tina Taitaifono Mareko will go into the NUS history books as the first recipients of Science Masters.
Development Studies made up most of the graduates with Masters with a lone bestowal for one Master of Education.
The NUS graduated more than 400 students from the Certificate level up to Diplomas, Bachelors and Masters.
Studies in Education dominated the conferral of awards for teaching at Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Adult levels.
Graduates in the Health Sector was another notable success count with Nursing Diplomas, Post Graduates Diplomas and Bachelors in Medicine dominating with more than 100 who completed studies.
There were 11 new doctors who completed medicine studies at the Bachelors level.
Studies in Commerce graduated more than 80 presented with Bachelor degrees including holders of commerce diplomas.
One of the Bachelor degree holders completed her studies at Otago University in New Zealand and opted to graduate in Samoa at her Le Papaigalagala Campus.
The two universities have established academic links to make the conferral in Samoa possible.
Other academic achievements included in the graduation were in Samoan Studies, Science, Development Studies, Agriculture, Computer and Customary Adjudication.
The Friday graduation packed the University Gymnasium with parents, families and friends.
It is the first of two graduations held by the NUS during the year with the second scheduled towards the end of the year.
The ceremony is mainly for the Foundation Students who will continue on to higher studies either at the Le Papaigalagala Campus or overseas under scholarship.
The Head of State High Highness Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II and also Chancellor of the NUS was present.