The spring 2016 Commencement Ceremony at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) will take place on Friday, May 13th beginning at 10 a.m. in the College’s Gymnasium. Pending final exam results, 132 students are scheduled to graduate with their degrees and certificates during the Commencement, the 64th in the College’s history. Honorable Governor Lolo M. Moliga, the Board of Higher Education, and other dignitaries have been invited to join the ASCC community for this special occasion, and the keynote speaker will be Dr. Robin Faumuina-Vasai, a noted local physician and an ASCC alumnus.

The daughter of HTC Taufete’e John Faumuina and Akenese Faumuina of Nu’uuli, Pava’ia’i and Leloaloa, Dr. Faumuina-Vasai graduated from Fa’asao Marist High School in 1994. While attending ASCC, she achieved a cumulative GPA of 4.0 and graduated as Class Valedictorian in 1996. After earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from Idaho State University as a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, she received her Masters of Public Health Degree with Emphasis on Maternal and Child Health from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2000.

Dr. Faumuina-Vasai received her M.D., Doctor of Medicine Degree at the age of 28, from Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica in 2005. She completed her Family Medicine Internship with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences in 2007. Later, the University of Oklahoma Family Medicine Residency Program presented her a Special award called the “Highland Quaich,” Lone Piper Award to recognize her passion for the field of Medicine. In 2011, she completed her Family Medicine Residency Training with the University of Arkansas for its Medical Sciences Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) North West Program. Dr. Faumuina was also the Chief Resident for this Family Medicine Program in 2010-2011. She is Board Eligible in the Specialty of Family Medicine.

Dr. Faumuina-Vasai is currently a Practicing Physician with the Department of Veterans Affairs at the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Tafuna. She also teaches as an Adjunct Faculty at ASCC with a special focus on the Public Health Courses for the Certificate of Public Health.  She is also a non-compensated Assistant Clinical Faculty Member with the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health with the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii-Manoa. She serves as an active board member of the American Samoa Area Health Education Center, she is certified by the US Department of Health And Human Services for Hansen’s/Leprosy Disease, and she is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

She is happily married to Stan Tui Vasai of Aua, and is a proud mother to two handsome sons, Aisali and Tuiofetoa and to a beautiful daughter, Soliaa’ana. “As an ASCC alumnus who has gone on to distinguish herself in her profession, Dr. Faumuina-Vasai can certainly share an insight or two on fulfilling one’s aspirations,” said ASCC Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le’i, “and we’re very grateful to have her as our keynote speaker.”

Among the estimated 132 graduates will be seven recipients of the ASCC Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.) degree. They are Alisi Iongi Filiaga, Sammy Moa Maiava, Leiloa Edna Seafa, Eleanor Siavii, Keneti Sionesini, Camio Penina Lavatai Smith and Luania L. Sula.

For more information on the 64th ASCC Commencement Ceremony, contact the Division of Student Services by calling 699-9155 and asking for extension 376.