Mr. Pita Rapi Vaouli of the Spring 2022 graduating class of the American Samoa Community College was chosen as the New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar by the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society.
His scholarship will help with his academic career this fall at California State University at Los Angeles, where he plans to study Electrical Engineering.
Vaouli, 19, is the son of Tune and Louisa Vaouli. Prior to attending ASCC,
A 2020 graduate of Tafuna High School, Vaouli joined the ASCC Alpha Epsion Mu chapter of the PTK in fall 2021 and for the spring 2022 semester served as the chapter’s President.
Under his presidency, the ASCC PTK chapter organized donations to the Tonga Relief drive earlier this year, and also made donations of food and snacks to the doctors and nurses at LBJ Hospital during the Code Red
lockdown.
These activities took place while the ASCC campus was closed to most students, faculty and staff. The PTK continued to meet regularly online to organize its community service projects, and even participated in the virtual PTK Pacific Regional Convention.
“The PTK’s sustained involvement with the community could have only happened under the leadership of a President like Pita,” observed ASCC PTK head advisor, Mr. Kuki Tuiasosopo.
“He conferred regularly with the advisors, while maintaining open communication with his PTK officers and members. PTK offers a chance to develop leadership skills and a positive attitude, and Pita is a great example of this. On behalf of my co-advisors, Dr. Ernie Seiuli and Mrs. Amete Moefiainu, I congratulate Pita for being selected as one of the recipients of this prestigious scholarship.”
