Avele College

thumb|Opening of Avele School, 12 June 1924, 1924, Samoa, by Percy Williams. '''Avele College''' is a secondary school in Vailima, a suburb of Apia in Samoa.

The school was founded in 1924 as a residential secondary school, and officially opened on 12 June 1924 by Administrator of Western Samoa George Spafford Richardson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19240620.2.14 |title=New School at Avele. |work=Samoanische Zeitung |volume=24 |issue=25 |page=3 |date=20 June 1924 |access-date=13 June 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> In 1957 it was converted to a regional post-primary agricultural college, intended to serve students from across the South Pacific.<ref name=Press1957a>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19571015.2.148 |title=Western Samoa To Have Agricultural College |work=The Press |page=15 |date=15 October 1957 |access-date=13 June 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> The school was originally boys-only, and female students were not admitted until 1996.<ref name=SO2024a/>

In 2010 the school's library was destroyed by a fire.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/193869/samoa-fire-service-investigates-a-fire-at-local-college |title=Samoa fire service investigates a fire at local college |publisher=RNZ |date=24 November 2010 |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref>

In May 2016 the school was closed for two weeks and threatened with permanent closure<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/303818/samoa-govt-threatens-college-with-permanent-closure |title=Samoa govt threatens college with permanent closure |publisher=RNZ |date=13 May 2016 |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref> after a series of brawls with students of rival Malua Fou College<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304046/samoa's-avele-college-to-reopen-after-student-brawls |title=Samoa's Avele College to reopen after student brawls |publisher=RNZ |date=17 May 2016 |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref> which saw 22 students charged.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/303130/samoa-police-charge-22-students-over-brawls |title=Samoa police charge 22 students over brawls |publisher=RNZ |date=5 May 2016 |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref>

The school celebrated its centenary in June 2024.<ref name=SO2024a>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/109597 |title=Avele College's 100th birthday officially opens |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Talaia Mika |date=12 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref>

==Notable alumni== * Anapu Solofa, politician * Vaʻai Kolone, former Prime Minister of Samoa<ref name=SO2024b>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/109631 |title=A.C.O.P.A. honours former students |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi |date=12 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref> * Tom Marsters, King's Representative of the Cook Islands<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/109597 |title=Cook Islands HOS part of Avele College celebrations |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi |date=9 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/109659 |title=Sir Tom Marsters recalls Avele days |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Talaia Mika |date=12 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref> * Paul Wallwork, weightlifter * Tuiloma Pule Lameko, politician * Don Opeloge, weightlifter * Kolone Alefosio, athlete * Olo Fiti Vaai, politician

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://avelecollege.edu.ws Official website]

Category:Schools in Samoa Category:Buildings and structures in Apia