The American Samoa Community College (ASCC) will hold its 66th Commencement Ceremony this Friday, May 19, beginning at 10 a.m. in the College’s Gymnasium. As always, the ASCC Student Services Division has invited a distinguished member of the community to give a keynote speech sure to inspire the young men and women who have completed their degrees and certificates in the spring of 2017. This semester’s keynote speaker is a proud graduate of ASCC, who stood there 20 years ago as the Valedictorian of the College’s first fall graduating class in 1997.

Born and raised in American Samoa, Elinor Matuaifaleese Lutu-McMoore is the daughter of High Chief Afoa Leulumoega Lutu and Etenauga Lam Yuen-Lutu.

Presently, Elinor serves as Acting Meteorologist-In-Charge (MIC) with the National Weather Service office in American Samoa, where she began as a Meteorological Technician in 2005. Elinor attended elementary school at Iakina Seventh Day Adventist Elementary, and graduated in 1996 from Samoana High School. Immediately after graduation, she enrolled in ASCC at age 16, where she joined the Student Government Association, and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. After ASCC, Elinor attained her first Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego, and then served as an intern for the late Congressional Delegate of American Samoa, Faleomavaega Eni Fa’auaa Hunkin. 

While working at the weather station, in 2008 Elinor received an opportunity to become a Meteorologist, but only if she completed a four-year program in two years. Motivated by the need for Samoan meteorologists and by the National Weather Station’s mission of saving lives and property, Elinor accepted the offer and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

She received her Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology in 2010 and was chosen as the student speaker for the commencement ceremony, alongside former President Obama’s sister, Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, the keynote speaker. A Proclamation signed by former mayor of Honolulu, Mr. Muliufi Hanneman, was given to Elinor for being the first Samoan in the history of the state’s university to earn a degree in Meteorology. In December of 2012, she obtained her Master of Public Administration degree, also from UH Manoa, graduating with honors and as a member of the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs & Administration - Pi Alpha Alpha.

Elinor and her husband David McMoore have four children — Byron, Darius, Daniel and Kireina-Netanayah. Aside from her many family and village obligations, she loves to spend time with her family and children, immersing them in the Samoan culture and teaching those important values and beliefs that were ingrained in her. She credits God, her Samoan culture, the support of her family and everyone she has met in her life for all of her accomplishments.

“Elinor represents a fine example of the diversity of talents among our local youth,” said ASCC Dean of Student Services Dr. Emilia Le’i. “Her accomplishments should be of particular interest to our students with an interest in entering the science professions, and we look forward to her joining us for this special occasion.” For more information on the 66th ASCC Commencement Ceremony, contact the Division of Student Services at 699-9155, ext. 376.