Kross Galago, Thurston High School graduate in Springfield, Oregon, with a 3.50 GPA. He was Pacific Islander Club President in middles school and high school. He enjoys the Ukulele, and Hula as he is Native Hawaiian. At Thurston he participated in Varsity Football and Track. and volunteered with Foster Youth. He now attends Southern Oregon University and plays on the football team.
Feleti Martinez Afemui is a 12th grader at Faith Bible Christian School in Hillsboro, Oregon. He is a Strong and Natural leader, is genuine, has a keen sense of humor, is intelligent, talented and demonstrates Kindness to all. He is also a good Athlete.
Laynie Tuimauluga is a 11th grader at Camarillo High School, Oxnard Unified School District in CA has a 3.25 GPA and she excelled in English 2, AVID, and Stage Band. She is a hardworking, talented singer and ukulele player. She also participates in Water polo, softball, and volunteers in the community with her church.
Kylie Tuimauluga is a 3rd year student at Utah Valley University. She has a 3.57 GPA and is in Honors. She enjoys Art, Astronomy, Humanities and is earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Art and Design. She plays on the Soccer and track teams and volunteers in community with her church.
Serene Naluai graduated from Avalon K-12 School located on Catalina Island in the Long Beach Unified School District in CA. She excelled in AP US History, Pre-Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and was the Valedictorian of her class. She is Responsible, diligent, efficient, inquisitive, has a passion for learning, and a great work ethic. She is Native Hawaiian/Tongan. She participated in Varsity Basketball, Volleyball, Restorative Justice Club, Women’s Forum, Student Government. She is now attending University of California, Santa Barbara.
Anikka Rose Allones is an 11th grader at El Camino High School, Oceanside Unified School District, CA has a 3.93 GPA and enjoys Biology, Spanish, Earth/Space, Dance Biology. Extraordinary, interpersonal and brilliant young lady She served as an NPIEN intern earlier this year and we appreciate her support.
Gabriel Ofisa is now in the 10th grade at Alta High School, Canyon School District, Sandy, Utah. He moved from American Samoa to California to Utah and is now at Alta High School. He was a school leader in Middle School and High School. He started as a 9th grader on Varsity Football.
Lessei Perelini is in her 2nd year at the University of Auckland in New Zealand!. She is originally from Pago Pago, American Samoa where she was a Samoana High School graduate. Her Major is Criminology, Politics and International Relations and she is taking courses in Global Issues, Pacific Studies, Samoan Language, Sociology.
Ta'iuta Uiagalelei is a 2nd year student at Concordia University in Irvine, CA. She has a 3.26 GPA and is taking courses in Liberal Studies, Child Development; Philosophy, Writing and Research, and Inroduction to Teaching, Her professors commend her for her suggestions and solutions which support the Problem solving process.
Matalina Levi is graduate of Cypress High School, Anaheim Union High School District now enrolled at California State University, Fullerton. She has a 3.88 GPA and enjoys Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, Spanish 4, and Physics. She is a Hula Dancer and student of Polynesian Arts, strong work ethic, intelligence, sense of community, tutors peers, volunteers in the community.
Meleane Masaniai is a graduate of Saddleback High School, Santa Ana Unified School District where she had a 3.683 GPA. She is now enrolled at San Francisco State University. Her classes included International Baccalaureate classes: Honors English, AP US History, ROTC, Leadership, and Spanish. She has a bright, sunny demeanor and pushes her own comfort zone.
Anshali Lala Growing up Pacific Islander it was rare to find representation in media. Anshali is pursuing a career in the media industry where she will work to provide diversity and inclusion in media. She is attending the University of California, San Diego and majoring in Communications with a minor in Business.
Falemei Sanft Falemei’s goals are to finish this year off with a 4.0 and to get into a 4 year university. Being the first in both her immediate and extended family to attend college is what motivates her most. Of all her cousins, none of them have gone to college. They graduated from high school and went straight to work…. but she’d like to be the one to take a different route and show her younger cousins another path that they can decide on taking after high school.
Amelia Sete is a first-generation Tongan American college student, She was the first in her family to attend Chabot College, the first in her family to transfer to CSU East Bay, and now she is going to be the first in her family to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. Her parents left Tonga to emigrate to the United States for greater opportunities and she dedicates her accomplishments to them. She wants to become a high school counselor to support Pasifika students in graduating high school and potentially continuing on to college.
Taufa Setefano Her educational goals include being in schools as a teacher and administrator. She is a first-generation college student from a low income family who grew up in the Pacific Islands diaspora. She is the co-founder of Nesians Unite, a student led club that was established at Chabot College in Hayward, California in 2017. Through learning about her people, she has had a deeper sense of gratitude for all of her ancestors and everyone who came before her because these from home follow into the classrooms with her. We all have lessons we can teach one another.
Radhika Chand has earned two associate of arts degrees and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Human Services. With the desire for a Master’s degree, she plans on being someone open and available to the Pacific islander youth and providing guidance in bettering their mental health. Just physical health is essential, so is one’s mental and emotional well-being and this is something she wants to promote for future generations to come.