DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN SAMOAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL TO SPEAK AT ASCC COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer
The American Samoa Community College will hold its Spring 2004 graduation this Friday, May 21st, at 10 a.m. in the College auditorium. This semester’s 74 graduating class members have chosen to dedicate their commencement ceremony to the US forces currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they have picked "A Generation of Peace" as the theme for the event. The ceremony will also feature words of wisdom from a daughter of American Samoa who has made local history through her distinguished record of service in the US military.
US Army Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn Vaitautolu-Langford will give the commencement address on this special occasion. The first-ever Samoan woman to attain the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and also an ASCC graduate, Ms. Vaitautolo-Langford will join a number of guest distinguished speakers at the ceremony, including the Honorable Governor Togiola Tulafono.
"Along with the rest of American Samoa, we take great pride in Lt. Col. Vaitautolu-Langford’s distinguished military service," said ASCC President Dr. Adele Satele-Galea’i. "Given the high percentage of young people from American Samoa who choose the Armed Forces as their career option, I feel confident that everyone attending the commencement will find her address highly stimulating and especially relevant to these times."
The daughter of Chief Vaitautolu Liugalua of Faleasao, Manu’a and his late wife Simeamao Fiaseu-Vaitautolu of Masausi, Evelyn graduated from Samoana High School and ASCC before enlisting at the American Samoa U.S. Army Recruiting Station. She completed her Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, and then served in American Samoa’s U.S. Army Reserve with Bravo Company, the 100th Battalion, and the 442nd Infantry as a 71L Administrative Specialist. Over the course of her 21 years in the Army, she rose to the ranks of Major and, last year, Lieutenant Colonel.
"We welcome Lt. Col. Vaitautolu-Langford back home," said Dr. Satele-Galea’i, "and I thank her for accepting our invitation to speak to the ASCC graduating class of Spring 2004."