“We dedicate this gymnasium to the future of our children ..."

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “Structures like this are an investment towards our students’ athletic and academic achievements,” Lt. Gov. Talauega E.V. Ale said during the dedication ceremony for the new half million dollar plus Lupelele Elementary School gymnasium last Wednesday.

The Department of Education held the dedication ceremony for the new gymnasium on June 1, 2022 and the Lieutenant Governor delivered special remarks, according to a Governor’s Office press release.

Those in attendance included the Director of the Department of Education, Talauega Samasoni Asaeli, Director of Public Works Faleosina Voight, Tualauta District Representatives: Larry Sanitoa, and Samuel Meleisea, and contractor Happy Trucking.  Members of the community included Reverend Elder Tony Hollister of the CCCAS Iliili and Tofa Luatua Taafua, representing the Iliili Village council.

 “On behalf of Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga, we’d like to thank all of you who have participated in the completion of this project,” Talauega remarked saying, “…We dedicate this gymnasium to the future of our children of American Samoa.”

He said, “Governor Lemanu and I are hopeful that this gym, and all the others like it, will stand for many years to come.

“It will serve many purposes; it will be a meeting place for our communities, and in critical times, it will be a place of refuge,” Talauega pointed out.

The contract was awarded to Happy Trucking, and construction began on November 17, 2020.  The project was completed on January 18, 2022, and the total amount awarded for the project was $686,158.

Lt. Gov Talauega thanked the faculty and staff of Lupelele Elementary School and Director Talauega Asaeli. He asked the community to work together for the upkeep and maintenance of the new gymnasium.