Letter to the Editor: "UPWARD BOUND DEJA VU"
December 01, 2007

Editor, Samoa News

Dear Editor,

First I want to commend the staff of the Upward Bound Program as well as the President of ASCC and her staff for successfully getting their grantee status changed. I am reminded of the facts of this case by our Delegate's press release this week about the latest funding for the (UBP) Upward Bound Program.

The release mentioned the change in ASCC's grantee status in 2003, but overlooked the most important fact, which was that UBP actually LOST all of its funding that year. As the parent of school aged children I remember reading about it in the Samoa News back then and it was of great personal interest to me.

As it turned out, somebody did get the UBP funding restored that year, just by being persistent and refusing to give up even though others had abandoned UBP. If that funding had not been restored back in 2003, who knows where ASCC's Upward Bound Program would be today?

What happened was that when the UBP director could not get any help for his program through normal channels, he reached out to Aumua Amata as a last resort, and she went to bat for ASCC's Upward Bound Program at the U.S. Department of Education. Even though it was not really her job, she got the UBP back onto the radar screen. Later Amata was criticized by others who publicly credited themselves with restoring the funding.

Months went by and then, one day, the Director of the Upward Bound Program sent Aumua Amata a letter of thanks for restoring the program's funding which I also read in the Samoa News.In his letter dated Oct. 1, 2003 to Aumua, Seiuli Hipa Neria said, "I have received great news this morning about our proposal being funded. I know you have been behind this ever since we sought your help. My staff and I want to thank you for your great work. Our American Samoan students will again receive college preparatory services Upward Bound has been provided."

Seiuli continued, "Great work our dear friend! You will hear from us again. May God continue to bless and watch over you and the work you do for our people. With much appreciation, (signed) Hipa Neria and UBP Staff."

A small note of delayed thanks, Aumua, from a local parent.

Sami Tafaoata