PRESS RELEASE - NOVEMBER 11, 2015

ASCC Awards Fall 2015 In-House Scholarships

November 11, 2015

By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer

The Division of Student Services at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) has announced the recipients for the fall 2015 semester of the College’s two In-House Scholarships. In addition to recognizing outstanding academic performance, these scholarships also offer support to scholars who do not qualify for the federal PELL Grant or other financial aid resources available to most students in the Territory.

The Saili le Atamai Scholarship, a $500 award sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA), is available to students who do not have access to federal financial aid, and goes this semester to Ms. Jillianne Clemens, Ms. Maria Ioane, and Ms. Onosimo Tovola. The Presidential Merit Scholarship, valued at $500 and open for application to all ASCC students, has been awarded to Mr. Adolf Petaia.

Ms. Jillianne Clemens, 22, comes from the Philippines, attended South Pacific Academy, served for a year with the SGA, and is currently a member of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society at the College. Currently in her final semester at ASCC, Ms. Clemens also serves as a member of the Business & Professional Women of Pago Pago.

Ms. Maria Ioane, 20, is a citizen of the Independent State of Samoa who graduated from Tafuna High School, where she made the rank of First Sergeant in the Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps. Ms. Ioane has also been a volunteer caregiver at Hope House and has been active in her church, serving for the last five years as a Youth president and a bass player. She currently has the honorary role of Parliamentarian with the SGA, and is also a member of the Health Occupation Students of America campus organization, in accordance with her long-term goal of someday becoming a health professional.

Originally from Fiji, Ms. Onosimo Tovola, 19, also graduated from South Pacific Academy and has done volunteer work a Hope House. “I am grateful and blessed at how my parents have supported me through school all along,” she said, “and receiving this scholarship is like finally helping them by being able to contribute to my education through my hard work and determination.”

Presidential Merit Scholarship recipient Mr. Adolf Petaia also comes from Samoa, and is currently a member of the PTK. A Nuuuli Voc. Tech. graduate, Mr. Petaia has been active in the ASCC Business Ambassadors of American Samoa student organization, and has worked in the National Park as part of the School-to-Work program. In addition to his active school and church life, he also holds down a part-time job at McDonalds. He cites his main inspiration as his father, who he says, “has always motivated me to pursue a higher education and to become the best person that I can.”

ASCC Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le’i congratulated this semester’s In-House Scholarship recipients and wished them success in achieving their goals. “Our main mission is to serve the students of our Territory, “ she said, “but we are also proud to be an educational resource for our Pacific region and we offer what help we can to students who don’t have the same financial assistance advantages as those born locally or in the United States.” Both of the scholarships do not involve an actual cash award, but rather, is the amount deducted from each recipient’s overall costs of tuition, fees, and other expenses. ASCC awards its In-House Scholarships on a per- semester basis every spring and fall.

For more information on the College’s In-House Scholarships, contact the Division of Student Services by calling ASCC at 699-9155 and asking for extension 376.