La'au and Tiose Palotomeo from the village of Saipipi are grateful parents. 

On Monday, their 18-year-old daughter, Nur Patolomeo, was awarded her full-scholarship award courtesy of Miss World Samoa, Alalamalae Gabriela Lata Alaifaiva Polamalu. 

The inaugural scholarship award was funded by the 2019-2020 Miss World Samoa pageant’s “Beauty with a Purpose Scholarship Award” which will become a yearly prize.

The scholarship covers a whole year’s tuition fee for recipients including fees for national examinations. 

Nur, a Year-13 student at Amoa College in Saipipi, Savai'i was among the three recipients of the award. 

The award was presented by the school’s Principal, Papali'i Fa'aiutaua Andersen, to Nur., in the presence of her parents, teachers, and students at an assembly on Monday. 

Speaking on behalf of the school, Mrs. Andersen noted their gratitude to the Miss World Samoa organisation for choosing their school as a reward recipient.

"We chose Nur because she never fails to try," said Mrs. Andersen. 

"Starting from her first year at Amoa College, we have witnessed how hard she tries to become better at school each year. 

"Even with the little that her family has, she keeps pushing herself to work hard and it really shows through her performance in the classrooms and her results. 

"Keep at it and use the scholarship wise."

Upon receiving the award, Mr. Patolomeo said how grateful she was for her daughter’s award. 

"This will be a great help for us, as we will need not to worry about Nur's tuition fees for her final year. Finding money to provide for the whole family and to send our children to school is not easy, but it is our duty as parents to do so,” he said.  

"However, this scholarship awarded to Nur will help us a lot and we are happy to know that she will continue on school this year without having to worry about her school fees."

He took the opportunity to thank the school for choosing his daughter.

“I know it was not an easy decision to make, but we are grateful,” he said. 

Outside of the school hall after receiving her award, the 18-year-old was smiling with happiness. 

"Seeing my parents happy is such a great thing," Ms. Palotomeo said. 

"I can only say that I am grateful and that I am happy."

Nur Patolomeo is taking the subjects of Biology, Food and Textile Technology (F.T.T), English, Maths, Samoan, and Computer Studies. 

She said she will try her best to make good use of the award given to her. 

"This is a blessing for me and my family," she said. 

The money paid by Ms. Patolomeo's family for her school fees in the first term was also refunded and returned on Monday. 

The other two recipients were Primary school students from Siumu Primary School.