Ms. Faavela Ah Sam, has received a scholarship from McDonalds American Samoa that will enable her to begin classes this fall at Brighnam Young University in Hawaii. Ms. Ah Sam, 19, will major in Social Studies with the goal of eventually entering law school. (Photo: J. Kneubuhl)
Ms. Faavela Ah Sam, has received a scholarship from McDonalds American Samoa that will enable her to begin classes this fall at Brighnam Young University in Hawaii. Ms. Ah Sam, 19, will major in Social Studies with the goal of eventually entering law school. (Photo: J. Kneubuhl)
McDonalds Awards College Scholarship to ASCC Graduate
July 27, 2016
By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer
Each spring the McDonalds Corporation of American Samoa generously funds five scholarships to local high schools students who will attend the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) and one scholarship for an ASCC graduate to meet the cost of continuing their college studies off-island. ASCC spring 2016 graduate Ms. Faavela Trianna Ah Sam, 19, of Faleniu recently received the good news that she is this year’s recipient of the McDonalds college scholarship.
Thanks to the scholarship, Ms. Ah Sam will begin her studies this fall at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Hawaii as a Political Science major. Born and raised in American Samoa, she is the daughter of Mrs. Alefa and Mr. Sione Ah Sam. Faavela attended Pavaia’i Elementary School and Tafuna High School before majoring in Liberal Arts at ASCC. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Business Club, and the Y2Y Coalition while in high school, and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at ASCC.
“I like Political Science because I’m interested in politics and mainly law,” said Ms. Ah Sam. “I plan for my Bachelors degree in Political Science from BYU to be my entrance to law school. I like Political Science because it’s a major that can be a transition to the career I want, which is to become a lawyer.” Miss Ah Sam said she looks forward to becoming an intern at a law office, and gaining experience with each position that leads up to becoming an actual lawyer. “I want to start from the bottom so when I get to the top I know what to expect, and how to handle anything that comes my way,” she said.
With the milestone of her Associate of Arts degree from ASCC now completed, Ms. Ah Sam looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead. “Life is like a race,” she said. “We all have to make it to the finish line, but it all depends on us and it doesn’t matter how slow or how fast we go, as long as we keep going, never look back, and never stop.”
ASCC Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le’i congratulated Ms. Ah Sam on her award, and on behalf of the College’s administration and faculty, wished her the best of luck. “We also thank the McDonalds Corporation for their generous support of tomorrow’s leaders and professionals in our community,” said Dean Le’i, “and we remind all ASCC and local high school students that if they do their best, then they may also qualify for scholarship assistance to fulfill their educational goals.”