The candidates who were nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland are: 

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY: 

Mr. Benjamin Le’i, Senior, Marist High School, the son of Matt and Emilia Le’i  from the Village of Tafuna; 

Miss Trude Ledoux, Senior, Samoana High School, the daughter of James and Lillian Ledoux from the Village of Pago Pago; and 

Mr. Sonny P. Stevenson, Senior, Samoana High School, the son of Alo Paul and Sharon Stevenson from the Village of Pago Pago. 

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY: 

Miss Florence Haro, Senior, Fagaitua High School, the daughter of Agaalofa and Anamaria from the Village of Tula; and 

Miss Flora Kaiva, Senior, Samoana High School, the daughter of Salefao Lautoa and Fetuisaute Maria Kaiva from the Village of Fagatogo. 
 
U.S. AIR FORCE AND NAVAL ACADEMIES: (the following students were nominated to both academies): 
 
Mr. Washington Tapuai Mailo, Senior, Samoana High School, the son of Albert and Liliu Mailo from the Village of Tafuna; 

Miss Nicole Shanahan, Senior, Samoana High School, the grand-daughter of  Nuuese L. and Matamulisesula S. Punimata from the Village of Vaitogi; 

Mr. Uilisone F. Tua, Senior, Samoana High School, the son of Tua Falemanu and Pisao Tausaga  from  the Village of Fagasa; 

Miss Jennifer Vaita, Senior, Tafuna High School, the daughter of Gaualofa Frank and Malia Vaita  from the Village of Tafuna; and 

Miss Mafuta Christina F. Ta’ala, Senior, Tafuna High School, the daughter of Talamesi and Satui Ta’ala from the Village of  Iliili. 

Miss Ienisei L. Mata’utia, Senior, Fa’asao High School, the daughter of HTC Laie  and Ienisei Mata’utia from the Village of Tafuna. 

U.S. AIR FORCE, MERCHANT MARINE, AND NAVAL ACADEMIES: 

Mr. Niclaus Taula’i, Senior, LTC Robert G. Cole Junior Senior High School in Fort 

Houston, Texas, whose father is currently on active duty in the Army, is the son of 

Master Sergeant Maturo Fa’afeu’u and Debbie Mae Taula’i of Fitiuta. 

Currently, two of Faleomavaega’s past nominees, Mr. Augustino Suafo’a and Mr. Conan Alailima, are attending the U.S. Naval and Military Academies, respectively.  Suafo’a, the son of Augustino and Fina Suafo’a of Leone, is scheduled to graduate from the Naval Academy in May.  Alailima, the son of Leiataua Birdsall and Marlene Jahnke Alailima of  Tafuna, is in his second year at West Point. 

Faleomavaega concluded, “As always I wish all the candidates the best of luck in pursuing their goals of becoming cadets or midshipmen at the academies and then as career military officers.” 

Candidates who are successful in gaining admission to one of the service academies, which are ranked among the top rated educational institutions in the United States, can look forward to being challenged academically as well as physically.  They will also receive a four-year education valued at approximately $250,000 and a career as an officer in the military.