Anchorage, ALASKA — Loretta Solema Ueselani is a recipient of the YWCA of Alaska Youth Scholarship Award. She is the only Samoan student receiving this honor. A special event in honor of the recipients was held on November 17, 2022 at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska.

Ms Ueselani hails from the beautiful villages of Nuuuli, American Samoa and Avao, Savaii and is the daughter of Lanutoto Taufetee-Ueselani (Nuuuli) and Ielu Ueselani (Avao, Savaii); and the granddaughter of the late Tausaga Taufete'e (Nuuuli) and Fua Tauai Taufetee (Luatuanuu, Samoa). 

She is currently a senior at West High School and at the same time freshman at the University of Alaska — and the only Samoan to be a part of this Alaska Middle College program in high school. To be selected for the program, students are required to pass math and English exams and hold a GPA of at least 3.7 or higher.

Congratulations Loretta!

[courtesy photo]