The American Samoa Community College (ASCC) will hold its 75th Commencement Ceremony this Friday, December 17th, beginning at 10 a.m. outdoors on the lawn adjacent to the Multi-Purpose Center. This semester, 117 prospective ASCC graduates will receive their degrees and certificates, although the final number may vary depending on final examination results. Invitations have gone out to government and community dignitaries to join the Board of Higher Education, the ASCC administration and faculty, and the families of the graduates in celebrating this milestone occasion in the lives of the College’s Class of Fall 2021.

As with every ASCC Commencement Ceremony, this Friday’s program will feature a keynote address by an alumnus who has gone on to become a distinguished member of the community, as the College will welcome Mrs. Leilani Francis Iulio, Co-Founder and General Managing Partner of local financial services business Lima Fesoasoani, to share her insights. Mrs. Iulio, daughter of Silulu Julius Sialega Alama and Fiona Tuiletufuga Opetaia Alama, cites Tafuna, Nu'uuli and Tufuiopa, Apia in Samoa as the villages she calls home. Her educational journey has taken her from Manulele Elementary and Fa’asa’o/Marist High School to ASCC and the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  In addition to her work at Lima Fesoasoani, she also attends the Aua Maria-Fatima Catholic Church as well as Fatuoaiga International Holy Family Parish, and participates in the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce.

The life-long partner and wife of Ailua Aukusotino Iulio, Leilani is the mother of six children ranging in age from seven to 23. Two of Mrs. Iulio’s daughters have followed in their mother’s footsteps and graduated from ASCC. They are Louaivasa Talamoto Laulu, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society who graduated Cum Laude in spring 2018, PTK member, and Tinou Fiona Laulu, also a PTK member and Cum Laude ASCC graduate in the spring of this year. “We’re honored to have Mrs. Iulio join us as our keynote speaker,” said ASCC Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le’i. “She has taken her experiences with ASCC and gone on to higher education, and now she’s a prominent business professional in our community. I’m sure she has gained a unique perspective which I look forward to hearing her share.”

The ASCC Building and Grounds staff has been working hard this week preparing the ceremony area outside of the Multi-Purpose Center, which will offer ample covered tent space to accommodate all of the dignitaries, the graduating class, and their families and friends. “The setup will be familiar from the last couple of ASCC Commencements,” said Dr. Le’i. “We anticipate the parking area immediate adjacent to the ceremony will fill up pretty quickly, so we encourage the public to take advantage of the ample parking available a short distance away in the Gymnasium parking lot.”

For more information about the 75th ASCC Commencement Ceremony, contact the ASCC Division of Student Services at 699-2722, extension 0004.