Faculty members and administrators of the American Samoa Community College highlighted faculty accomplishments of the last 12 months at a Recognition Dinner at the Nighthawk/Country Club .
The theme for the occasion was “unchain the elephant,” or in other words don’t be satisfied with just being average, but rather, be the one who is not afraid to address “the elephant in the room.”
The first awards of the evening went to the 17 academic departments at ASCC for a successful year of instruction in 2015.
Department chairpersons or faculty representatives accepted awards on behalf of their departments.
Individual instructors were presented special awards.
- Dr. Siaumau Eliapo Ropeti of CAPP/ELI was recognized for completing her PhD;
- Mr. Poe Mageo of Fine Arts for placing two short stories in regional literature compilations;
- Mr. Kuki Tuiasosopo of Fine Arts for advising both the ASCC chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society and the ASCC Glee Club;
- Mrs. Regina Meredith-Fitiao of Fine Arts for facilitating the grant project Perpetuating Samoan Traditions by Teaching Samoan Practices, as well as providing artworks in the public and private sector;
- Science chairperson Dr. Randel De Wees for his facilitating the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation grant;
- Dr. Daniel Chang for facilitating the BUILD EXITO grant;
- Mrs. Toaiva Fiame Tago for advising the PTK and organizing its food drive for Hope House; and
- Mr. Derek Champion Helsham for advising the Psychology Club and the club’s book drive on behalf of the Tafuna Correctional Facility library.
- The final round of awards focused on outstanding community service activities.
- The Samoan Studies,
- Trades and Technology,
- Teacher Education,
- Criminal Justice and
- Business departments all were awarded for activities performed by their respective student organizations.
- The Fine Arts department picked up an award for its successful theatrical production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”;
- Language and Literature for bringing author Lani Wendt to speak on campus;
- Science for facilitating the 2015 Student Science Symposium;
- ACNR for its Science Student Internship;
- Social Science for organizing a talk by former Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin; and
- CAPP/ELI for setting an example of timeliness in submitting internal documents.
