Three football scholarships celebrated at National Signing Day event for FHS

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the most exciting moments for any high school student-athlete is when they receive a scholarship offer from a college or university.  Years of hard work have led to this moment. However, nothing is official until they receive their National Letter of Intent. The signing of this letter confirms the attendance of the student-athlete and the commitment of the college or university to the student-athlete. 

This day is called National Signing Day.  This is the date when all high school student-athletes sign their letters of intent committing to play sports at the colleges they will attend.   

Faga’itua High School celebrated National Signing Day on February 2, 2022 with 3 of their football student-athletes at DDW Restaurant.

The student-athletes who received scholarships are as follows:

1. Starlight Lotulelei, son of Wendy and Edward Lotulelei of Tafuna. Signed with Coach Kurt Taufaasau at New Mexico Military Academy in Roswell, New Mexico;

2. Gafa Faga, son of Fiaau and Peter Faga of Vatia and Alao. Signed with Coach Kurt Taufaasau at New Mexico Military Academy in Roswell, New Mexico; and

3. Jared Lotulelei, son of Salu and Haloti Lotulelei of Satala. Signed with Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota.

The student-athletes are players with the Fagaitua High School Viking football team.

Present at the ceremony with the student-athletes were their parents, local Education Department assistant director Dottie Tuisamatatele, football coaches, family and friends.

Even while the ceremony of signing their National Letter of Intent, head football coach Pooch  Taase was receiving emails from colleges with offers for other Fagaitua High School football players.

Congratulations to Starlight, Gafa and Jared for your accomplishments in the classroom and out on the football field.  Faamalo atu le Toa ole Vasa

Group photo of Fagaitua High School student-athletes — Lotulelei, Gafa Faga, and Starlight Lotulelei — posing with family members and others during the school’s signing ceremony, where the student-athletes signed their letters of intent committing to play sports at U.S. based colleges. The Fagaitua High School ceremony was held at DDW Restaurant. [photo: Fagaitua High School]