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McDonald's American Samoa continues to give back

Members of the McDonald's American Samoa Scholarship Board hosted a special luncheon yesterday to honor the five recipients of this year's awards. They are: Jennet N.L. Chang, Rosanlyn E. Taulaga, Jemima T. Nafatali, O'Riley S. Leau, and Ta'avili Amosa. Four of the recipients will be attending the American Samoa Community College on scholarships of $1,000 per semester, while one will be attending the University of Hawaii - Hilo with a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 per semester). [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]
Close to $400K already awarded in scholarship monies
blue@samoanews.com

McDonald's American Samoa has done it once again, giving back to the community in a huge way.

Yesterday afternoon, members of the company's scholarship board, on behalf of CEO Tautolo Charlie Tautolo, hosted a special luncheon to honor this year's five recipients, and their parents.

The ceremony was led by Board Chairperson Delores Tautolo-Galea'i, assisted by board members Donna Gurr and Evelyn Gebauer.

The five recipients are: Jennet N. L. Chang, Rosanlyn Taulaga, Jemima Nafatali, O'Riley Leau, and Ta'avili Amosa.

Rosanlyn was not present during the ceremony and Jennet, who is currently involved in an internship off island, was represented by her mother.

In her special remarks, Donna Gurr said that McDonald's American Samoa has been offering scholarships for the territory's children since 2006 and since that time, the company has awarded close to $400,000 worth of scholarship money to fund the education of the territory's best and brightest, both at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) and various schools off island.

This year, according to Gurr, McDonald's is awarding a total of $36,000 in scholarships - $20,000 for Jennet (an ASCC graduate who will be attending the University of Hawaii - Hilo and majoring in horticulture) and $16,000 ($4,000 each for the four recent high school graduates who will be attending ASCC in the fall).

"You have proved yourself thus far, so we know you can continue to do great things," Gurr told the award recipients. "You have excelled in school so we know you are 'top of the line'," she added.

"Our hope is that you will come back and give back to the community," Gurr concluded.

When it was her turn to speak, Tautolo-Galea'i told the recipients, "Your future is up to you. We only play a role. We are background stuntmen and actors in a movie where you are the lead, the star."

She added, "Appreciate your community and always give back, but remain humble always."

Tautolo-Galea'i, who is also the daughter of McDonald's CEO Tautolo, shared her personal story about 'starting from the bottom.'

She said when she graduated in 2009 with a degree from Washington State University, she returned home to help her dad and "I was thinking, since I have my bachelor's degree, it can't be that bad. I'm going to have an office and sit around."

Boy was she wrong. According to her, the first thing her dad did when she moved back home, was put her to work at the fry station at their Tafuna location.

"Start from the bottom and earn your way to the top," she said.

Board Secretary and McDonald's Purchasing Manager Evelyn Gebauer went through the criteria and explained to the recipients - and their parents - what is expected of them, including maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 and enrolling in 12 or more credit courses per semester. The scholarship is renewable if the recipient maintains the required grades and meets all the criteria set forth by the company.

"Remedial classes do not count and you'll have to pay for those yourself," she explained.

She added that the first year of college for the recipients is already guaranteed, because if they fail to meet the minimum GPA during their first semester in college, they are given a chance to bring that grade up in the second semester.

If they fail to do so, the scholarship will be forfeited.

PROFILES:

  • Jennet N.L. Chang is the daughter of Vaimoana and Terry Chang of Faleniu. Jennet, receiving the McDonald's Scholarship for a second time, did not attend yesterday's ceremony but her mother spoke on her behalf, saying Jennet is pursuing a degree in horticulture because she aims to be the Director of Agriculture someday. Jennet has been awarded $5,000 per semester for four semesters ($20,000 total) to attend UH Hilo.
  • Rosanlyn E. Taulaga will be majoring in Pre-Law at ASCC and is a graduate of Faga'itua High School. She is the daughter of La'aloa and Gogosina Taulaga of Aoa. She was not present during yesterday's ceremony.
  • Jemima T. Nafatali is the daughter of Peniamina and Jemima Nafatali of Laulii. The 18-year-old said her love of mathematics is what drives her to get a degree in accounting. She will be attending ASCC in the fall.
  • O'Riley S. Leau, 18, of Leone and Aua, is the eldest of four boys born to Oliver and Tatima Leau. The co-salutatorian of Faga'itua High School's Class of 2017 has competed numerous times in math and science competitions during his high school years and plans to major in environmental engineering. He will be attending ASCC in the fall.
  • Ta'avili Amosa, son of David and Vanetta Amosa of Vaitogi, says he aspires to be a certified IT because "it's something American Samoa needs right now." A graduate of Tafuna High School, Amosa plans to major in computer engineering at ASCC.

For the next two academic years, McDonald's American Samoa's commitment for new and continuing students under their scholarship program totals $55,000 ($30,000 for off island students and $25,000 for those attending ASCC).