NIPEN Expresses Concern and Sympathy for Victims

The NPIEN Board of Directors expresses sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Samoa, and concern for those affected by this disaster and their loved ones both back home and here on the US mainland. In the greater Long Beach (CA) area, we commend the efforts of ministers of the many churches who are organizing relief efforts. Listed below are drop-off sites. NPIEN will dedicate its electronic resources to disseminate information, and strategize how to best help the community. We welcome your suggestions www.npien.com npien.mail@verizon.net:

The following is from the Tafesilafa'i website:

PACIFIC ISLANDS DISASTER RELIEF - DROP-OFF SITES


AREA DROP-OFF SITES


MASTER-SITE: Samoan Congregational Christian Church of South L.A.
1249 E. Carson St.
Carson Ca. 90745
(310) 513-1930
CONTACT: Kennedy Mailo

_______________________________________
BELLFLOWER
LAKEWOOD 5420 Clark Avenue
Lakewood, Ca. 90712
(562) 866-5416
CONTACT: Rev. Andy Leavasa
_______________________________________
SAN PEDRO 1137 So. Palos Verdes Street
PALOS VERDES San Pedro, Ca. 90723
ROLLING HILLS (310) 514-1428

CONTACT: Rev. Luulau Gafa
_______________________________________
LOMITA Kanana Fou Samoan Congregational Christian Church
TORRANCE 25304 So. Narbonne Ave.
BEACH CITIES Lomita Ca. 90710

CONTACT: Rev. Setefano Young
_______________________________________
ORANGE COUNTY 13931 Barney Street
Garden Grove, Ca. 92843
(714) 591-2307
CONTACT: Tina Vito
_______________________________________
LONG BEACH Second Samoan Church
655 Cedar Avenue
Long Beach, Ca. 90802
(562) 628-9282
CONTACT: Rev. Pouena Tagaloa
______________________________________________________________

We will be holding a Memorial Service tomorrow, Thursday at 6:00 P.M.
Location: South Bay Church
1725 E. Carson Ave.
Carson, Ca. 90745
(310) 835-1684

God Bless you and your family,
Together we WILL make a difference!
Katrina Hidalgo
TAFESILAFA'I
www.tafesilafai.org
www.mtdn.com/tafesilafai
www.facebook.com/tafesilafai

NPIEN Thanks Linaka for a Successful Luau!

NPIEN members participated in the 6th Annual Linaka Luau at Monte Verde Park in Lakewood, CA. Linaka Polynesian Performers Director Linda "Linaka" Vaca and Sales Development Director Ernest "Eleneki" Saucedo generously invited NPIEN to partner with Linaka in fundraising and marketing for the event. We received a percentage of the tickets sold by our Board and Staff. NPIEN also donated towards the raffle, including tickets to Los Alamitos Race Course, the Santa Ana Zoo, the Ice House Comedy Club, admission to the NPIEN Education Conference, Cookie Lee Jewelry, and other items. All NPIEN Board members were present, including President Falanai Ala, Martha Donnenfield, Eugene Mafi, Aileen Tanimoto, Rita Scanlan, and Staff members Tino Andres, Chief of Staff, Lopaka Faria, Judy Ann Sanchez, David Brown, Qb Keju, Femila Ervin, and many of our loyal NPIEN members and their families. Atonio "Tony" Kavea helped secure the roast pig for the luau, which also featured a menu of barbecue chicken, macaroni salad, and rice. Lorraine Telles of Cookie Lee, NPIEN Silver Level Sponsor, joined us as a vendor. There are 70 members of the Linaka Polynesian performers, and we saw a medley of dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, and New Zealand. Hope Thompson performed the traditional Samoan taualuga dance, accompanied by NPIEN board and staff members and community members. This was a great evening of fun and celebration of culture. We thank Linda Vaca, Ernest Saucedo, and the Linaka Polynesian Performers for allowing us to participate in and benefit from the luau.

Westmont Admissions Counselor Honored

From Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA:

Westmont Admissions Counselor Honored
August 12th, 2009

The College Board honored Olympia Tuliaupupu, Westmont admission counselor and liaison to diversity outreach, with the Ned Tibby Award at the board’s 29th Annual Summer Institute on College Admissions and School Relations in San Diego, Calif. Each year the board awards an outstanding member of the Summer Institute class for their commitment to the aspirations and values of admissions work and high potential for leadership.

Tuliaupupu, who graduated from Westmont in 2006, was admissions coordinator for Campus Accelerated Program for Adults at University of La Verne before she accepted the position at Westmont last January. At Westmont she has also worked as conference operations manager and gift planning assistant.

“As a Samoan-American I am especially interested in encouraging Polynesians and other underrepresented students to consider the benefits of a college education,” says Tuliaupupu.

“Olympia Tuliaupupu combines a profound commitment to others with a level of effective leadership skills beyond her years,” says Philip Ballinger, director of admissions at University of Washington and dean of the faculty for the Summer Institute. “The college admissions counseling profession possesses a gem in Olympia.”

“Olympia is a woman of passion and substance,” says Deren Finks, dean of admission emeritus at Harvey Mudd College and dean emeritus of faculty for the Summer Institute. “She displays enthusiasm and boundless energy. I am proud she has chosen a career in higher education. Her talents will serve students well.”

Tuliaupupu, 25, will attend the College Board’s Western Regional Forum in La Jolla, Calif., Feb. 27-28, 2010, where she will conduct a session as part of the formal conference program.

The award, first given in 1986 by the Guidance and Admission Council of the Western Regional Assembly of the College Board, recognizes the many contributions of the late Ned Tibby. Tibby was director of the College Board’s Denver Office, associate director of the Western Regional Office, Educational Testing Service-Berkeley associate and a high school counselor. He was known as an estimable professional with an abundant sense of humor and a kind, generous spirit. A mentor to many in the enrollment management field, Tibby had a special interest in identifying and training newly hired admissions personnel.

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,600 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations

NPIEN ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

The following will be recognized at NPIEN's 8th Annual Education Conference on November 14, 2009 at Paramount High School, Paramount, CA.

Christina Diaz Student Scholar Award Winners
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Stella Maluia, Paramount High School (HS) West, Paramount Unified School District (USD), Jordan Suyeto, North HS, Torrance USD, Maile Tauai, Paramount HS, Paramount USD, Cherrae Tedtaotao, Paramount HS, Paramount USD, Henrietta Toleafoa Paramount HS, Paramount USD, Fa’aputu Va’afuti, Long Beach Poly HS, Long Beach USD

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Marie Aluesi, Will Rogers Middle School (MS), Lawndale School District (SD), Adrien Burgo, Prarie Vista MS, Hawthorne SD, Diana Enosa, Roosevelt MS, Compton USD. Manumaa Finau, Will Rogers MS, Lawndale SD, Poaloi Halalilo, Prarie Vista MS, Hawthorne SD, Pene Halalilo, Prarie Vista MS, Hawthorne SD, Uriah Dillon Leiataua, Roosevelt MS, Compton USD, Noel MacDonald, Prarie Vista MS, Hawthorne SD, Inoke Raikadroka, Prarie Vista MS, Hawthorne SD, Manase Raikadroka, Prarie Vista MS, Hawthorne SD, Natalia Cerilyn Su’a, Roosevelt MS, Compton USD, Carlene Tausinga, Will Rogers MS, Lawndale SD, Eurydice Tuala, Roosevelt MS, Compton USD, Herby Tuala, Roosevelt MS, Compton USD, Malanah Walker, Roosevelt MS, Compton USD

The recipients of the Dr. Alofa Tanuvasa Community Award will be announced at a later time.

Sevia Ma’ae Educator Award Winners
Stephanie Carter, Teacher, Stanford Middle School, Long Beach USD, Aileen Tanimoto Matsuura, Teacher, Paramount High School, Paramount USD

All award winners and one guest receive complimentary admission to the conference and awards luncheon. Visit www.npien.com to register on-line.

LINAKA/NPIEN LUAU TICKET SALES END 9/1/09

The 6th ANNUAL LINAKA LUAU Featuring the Linaka Polynesian Dancers will take place at Monte Verde Park, 4626 Shadeway Road, Lakewood, CA on Friday September 18, 2009. The authentic luau Dinner starts at 5:00 p.m. follwed by a Show 7:00 p.m. Tickets for Adults are $25, Children under 12 are $16. Your donation benefits NPIEN's many outreach programs. www.npien.com (562) 496-2319