by Georgina Maka’a
When Tony Laugwaro first arrived at Divine Word University (DWU) as a young ICT student, he was surrounded by strangers.
Solomon Islanders met Papua New Guineans from different cultures, languages and islands.
“At first, we were strangers,” he recalled.
But that distance gradually disappeared.
“Strangers became classmates, classmates became friends, and friends became family,” said Laugwaro, now a private consultant and DWU alumnus.
“Our Papua New Guinean alumni here tonight are not visitors.”
Tony Laugwaro, DWU Alumnus
That sense of family was at the heart of a milestone celebration on Saturday, 22 August 2026, when DWU alumni gathered at Pagoda in Central Guadalcanal to mark the university’s 30th anniversary.
The celebration also brought major news for Solomon Islands students.
The Government of Papua New Guinea has renewed its commitment to fund tertiary scholarships for Solomon Islands students for the 2026–2030 academic block.
The announcement was made by Vaburi Riu, PNG’s Acting High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, who described the scholarship partnership as “foundational to building a highly skilled workforce, driving sustainable economic growth, and enhancing vital people-to-people connections.”
Riu said DWU was more than an educational institution. It was a bridge between the two countries.
Vaburi Riu, PNG’s Acting High Commissioner to Solomon Islands
Over three decades, she said, the university had trained professionals and national leaders from both countries, making it a key academic partner in the bilateral scholarship programme.
The evening had two purposes: to honour DWU’s contribution to the development of both nations and celebrate the achievements of its Solomon Islands graduates.
It was also an opportunity to reconnect.
The PNG High Commission plans to use the anniversary as a platform to revive the Solomon Islands–Papua New Guinea Alumni Association.
The celebration brought together former students, including alumni who had travelled to Honiara as part of the PNG delegation for the PNG–Solomon Islands Investment Conference.
For Laugwaro, their presence demonstrated that the relationships forged in the classroom continue long after graduation.
He noted that DWU graduates have gone on to hold senior positions across government, the private sector, healthcare and community leadership.
“That is something worth celebrating,” he said.
“But let us remember: a title is not a legacy. A position is not a legacy. What we do with them becomes our legacy.”
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