PITA Jr. 2026 Summer STEAM Bootcamp Program concludes

Source: Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation press release Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On Friday, August 14, 2026, the Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation successfully concluded its inaugural Pacific Innovation Technology Academy Junior (PITA Jr.) Summer Bootcamp at the Uifaatali Peter Tali Coleman Elementary School. The three-week STEAM initiative introduced young students to emerging technologies and engineering fundamentals, inspiring the next generation of pilots, developers, and robotics engineers for the Territory. PITA Jr. was created as a prevention strategy under the Foeoletini Foundation’s Prevention Starts With You(th) initiative, made possible mainly through a partnership with the American Samoa Department of Health Behavioral Health Services Division, with support from other government departments, the private sector, and non-government organizations. PITA Jr. expanded the Foeoletini Foundation's mission by adding technology and education as outreach tools for substance abuse prevention. “The targeted age group was 10- to 12-year-olds, students entering grades 6 through 8. We continue to witness the success of our high school students competing in off-island national and world competitions for drone and robotics, and we wanted to bring that same exposure and experience directly to our village kids. “Prevention does not always have to begin with talking about drugs. Sometimes, prevention begins by giving a child something positive to dream about, investing in their journey, and pushing them to their limits. We began this pilot program in my home district and gave our village kids the opportunity to see that these technologies and future careers are within their reach,” stated Hon. Trude Ledoux-Sunia on behalf of the Foeoletini Foundation Board of Trustees. Ledoux-Sunia continued. “We are grateful to everyone who believed in our program by giving our village youth an opportunity to experience technology in a practical and meaningful way.” Students participated in hands-on lessons that focused on 3D printing, drone technology, and robotics. For most students, the program introduced them to emerging technologies for the first time and taught them how to apply “the engineering process.” Fiafia Sunia, PITA Jr. Administrator, said the students' ability to retain a great amount of information in the last three weeks demonstrated their interest in technology and engineering, and that we should value exposing young people to technology through these opportunities early on. He also noted that the students are equipped to work in teams, understand the importance of communication, develop efficient planning skills, and know it's OK to fail and try again. “We had an average of about 33 students for the three-week program, and the takeaway of the bootcamp was witnessing how fast the students were able to comprehend and pick up the basic fundamentals. This sets them up for the next phase of routine sets of repetitions. Piloting, computer-aided design, autonomous coding, and communication skills are important because they transcend the STEAM space and will help them in other areas of their lives. My only regret is that because it is a Bootcamp, we are only scratching the surface.” Sunia stated. The boot camp closed, and each student received a book bag, school supplies, and startup robotics kits donated by The Foeoletini Foundation. They also completed a 3D-printed keychain project during the boot camp. Lastly, they received their own CODRONE Mini Drone, donated by the American Samoa Department of Education Technology Integration Division. The Foeoletini Foundation congratulated the students of the inaugural PITA Jr. Summer Bootcamp for their creativity and willingness to learn. The Foundation looks forward to creating more opportunities for American Samoa's youth to explore technology, develop new skills, and discover the possibilities of their STEAM future. The Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to the American Samoa Government partners, the American Samoa Department of Education, the American Samoa Department of Health, private donors, community organizations, instructors, volunteers, parents, and supporters who contributed to PITA Jr.'s success. The Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for victims, families, and communities affected by substance use disorder, through initiatives such as the Pacific Innovation Technology Academy (PITA), PITA Jr., Elevate Sports 684, Heart through Art, and Prevention Starts with You(th). PITA and PITA Jr. have launched a page on the Foeoletini Foundation website: www.foeoletini.org , featuring photos, videos, and background information about these programs and their impact on the Territory. Also visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/foeoletinifoundation . Section: Local News Tags: STEAM Bootcamp Program
2026-09-04 17:46:41