Nine out ten ASCC recipients of the American Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund are seen here after receiving their awards earlier this month. APIASF, the nation's largest non-profit provider of college scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islands Americans, works to create opportunities for students to access, complete, and succeed after post-secondary education. (Photo: J. Kneubuhl)
Nine out ten ASCC recipients of the American Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund are seen here after receiving their awards earlier this month. APIASF, the nation's largest non-profit provider of college scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islands Americans, works to create opportunities for students to access, complete, and succeed after post-secondary education. (Photo: J. Kneubuhl)
10 ASCC Students Awarded Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarships
March 16, 2015
By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer
Students at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) can now access a new financial resource in the form of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF). On Friday, March 6th, ASCC held a recognition ceremony for the first ten students from the College to receive this award. APIASF received applications, advertised in the ASCC in-house publication 411 between July and October of last year, and last month the organization announced the award recipients from ASCC. APIASF stipulates that these students must apply their award of $2,500 each to educational expenses/cost of college attendance (i.e. the cost of tuition, fees, housing, local transportation, books and allowable expenses).
The initial ten ASCC recipients of the scholarship are Kimberly Duterte, Uperesa Fakava, Kimberly Iosefo, LeOndre Leau, Anne-Marie Seui, Dominic Shimasaki, Ina Tupufia, Siuila Frances Uele, Suitonu Ofisa and Imelda Te’o. At the recognition ceremony, organized by the ASCC Student Services Division, the group received commendations from ASCC Acting President Dr. Rosevonne Pato, ASCC Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Kathleen Kolhoff-Belle, and APIASAF President and Executive Director Mr. Neil Horikoshi. Though not physically present, Mr. Horikoshi conveyed his greetings and congratulations all the way from Washington, D.C. via the internet.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APIASF is the nation's largest non-profit provider of college scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islands Americans (AAPI). APIASF works to create opportunities for students to access, complete, and succeed after post-secondary education. The organization strives to develop future leaders who will excel in their career, serve as role models in their communities, and ultimately contribute to a vibrant America. Since 2003, APIASF has distributed more than $70 million in scholarships to AAPI students across the continental US and in the American Pacific territories. APIASF manages three scholarship programs: APIASF's general scholarship, the APIASF Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) scholarship program, and the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“While the APIASF has been in place for several years, the program has initially focused on institutions within the continental US,” explained Dr. Kolhoff-Belle. “Recently, they have sought to extend the program to the US territories, and ASCC meets their definition of an Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). We welcome their participation in the financial resource programs available to our students who meet their criteria. We encourage all ASCC students to find out more about this opportunity.” Dr. Emilia Le’i, ASCC Dean of Student Services, said that interested students can submit their applications to the APIASF during the fall semester, and APIASF will announce the successful applicants the following spring.
For more information on the on the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, visit their web page at: www.apiasf.org.