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Fa’asao graduate Mydori Nomura makes college Deans List, two consecutive years

Mydori  Nomura, a co-salutatorian from Fa’asao Marist High School graduating class of 2010, is still hard at work, pursuing her dreams through education. She is now attending St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, where she is engaged in an ambitious double major, pursuing Corporate Finance and Finance Services/ Risk Management.

A talented athlete, Mydori was also a member of the women’s volleyball team during her first year, but it was her academic effort that earned Mydori a spot on the prestigious Dean’s List two years in a row.

Considered one of the top schools in the nation, St. Mary’s was founded in 1852 by Marianist brothers and priests. It is the first institution of higher learning in San Antonio and the oldest Catholic university in Texas and the Southwest. A nationally recognized master’s level school, St. Mary’s is ranked among the top colleges for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News and World Report.

The school was named by Washington Monthly as first in the nation in the category of Master’s Universities for promoting an ethic of service to country; fostering scientific and humanistic research; and performing as an engine of social mobility.

A place on the Dean’s List of St. Mary’s University is a significant accomplishment, but Mydori didn’t stop there. The hard-working sophomore was recently invited to participate in St. Mary’s University National Society of Leadership and Success for students with academic accomplishments of a 3.0+ GPA.

As Mydori has maintained a GPA of 3.8 for the past two years, she accepted.

In addition to her other accomplishments, Mydori is receiving an academic scholarship from St. Mary’s for $10,000, as well as a Marianist scholarship for $3,500. She was reconsidered by the ASG Scholarship Committee after her first year at St. Mary’s and was also awarded an ASG scholarship.

Recently, Samoa News was able to interview the college sophomore, who spoke with passion about her experiences, and her ultimate goals.

She said, “Living here for the last two years has taught me to become more independent, understanding and open to new people and cultures. (She noted that she loves the beautiful city of San Antonio, with its historic Spanish influence and roots).

“My transition to the mainland was not as hard as I had imagined” she said, while admitting she was really excited to attend college and be on her own.

At the same time, she experienced the feelings so common to many who leave the safe and secure confines of home and community.  She said, “At times, I did get homesick. However, I knew why I was in school and remembered all the hard work my parents put into raising me — to be successful and to never give up.”

As of September this year, Mydori chose to focus on academics and her career path. While she still loves the game, she declined the invitation to once again join the women’s volleyball team. She noted that she “learned a lot from being on a college team” but her scholarship was an academic scholarship, she said, so the move made sense and was in line with her academic goals.

When asked about her long term goals, Mydori told Samoa News, “I want to be a professional consultant for professional athletes and also work with at risk children — to push them in sports, as well as academics, and to teach them how to budget their money.”

Her motive is simple: “I want to help Samoan athletes succeed because I know how it feels to be away from your people, family and culture. The pressure to succeed can be overwhelming and knowing that there is someone who understands your situation helps. I want to be that person who helps.”

Her parents, Lydia Faleafine Nomura and Peter Nomura have also received word that Mydori has been accepted into the St. Mary’s Study Abroad program and will be spending her 2012-2013 Spring Semester in Spain. Mydori said of this latest development “I’m really excited to travel to Europe, to be in another environment and experience a different lifestyle.”

Her mother told Samoa News, “I’m so excited for her.” Samoa News would like to add that we are excited for her as well, and wish Mydori Godspeed on her journey.