Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he has nominated Ms. Vaimalu Rosita Vaiau to be a Page in the Congressional Summer Page program this year from June 7 – 27, 2009.  Ms. Vaimalu Vaiau is currently a junior at Faga’itua High School.  She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kitara and Etevise Vaiau of Alofau and Aunu’u. 

The Congressional Page Program provides opportunities to junior year high school students to study in the Page School while serving as support staff for the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Page School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  The Pages are paid a salary that averages about $420 per week before deductions for federal and state taxes, social security and Residential Hall fee are taken out.  Students are required to live in the supervised House Page Residence Hall.

 “I want to congratulate Vaimalu Vaiau on her nomination to participate in the Congressional Page Program,” Faleomavaega said.  “If accepted, she will only be the second student from American Samoa to have studied and work as a Congressional Page in the U.S. Congress.” 

“Vaimalu made a very compelling case with her application and the convincing recommendations of her advisor and teachers at Faga’itua High School.  She is a well rounded student with very strong academic background and participates in a lot of community and extracurricular activities.  She has a very bright future ahead of her and I am very pleased to nominate her to the Congressional Page School.”

 “I also want to congratulate Vaimalu’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kitara and Etevise Vaiau, and her teachers and counselors at Faga’itua High School for their part in advising and encouraging this young lady.”

“Finally, I want to especially acknowledge the other five students who submitted applications for consideration in the Congressional Page Program.  They were all highly qualified students with very competitive backgrounds.  Unfortunately, there was only one vacancy and I could only provide one nomination – to which I nominated Vaimalu,” concluded Faleomavaega.