Amata Proud of West Point Appointment for American Samoa Daughter, Taylor Jessop

Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Aumua Amata was notified by the West Point Admissions Office that they are offering an appointment to Miss Taylor Va'alele Jessop to be a Member of the Class of 2019. Taylor is the daughter of Tricia and Douglas Jessop, Jr. of Gataivai and Faga'alu and a student at South Pacific Academy. She is also the granddaughter of Sonny and Vera Thompson and Douglas and Helen Jessop.

Amata is very proud of Taylor as she has already been accepted to the Air Force Academy and now to West Point, two of the most prestigious schools in the United States preparing young men and women to serve as officers in our Armed Forces. She is thrilled for Taylor and her parents and wishes her the very best as she prepares for this great challenge.

"It is a great honor to be accepted into one of our military academies and we are extremely proud of Taylor," Amata said. "This achievement is a testament to her hard work and the work that her parents, teachers and community have done to prepare her for the future. Job well done Taylor," concluded Amata.

Taylor comes from a family with strong ties to our Armed Forces on both sides, including two West Point graduates, Uncle Sonny Thompson, Jr. and Aunt Leafaina Tavai Yahn. Several other family members such as CW5(R) Henry Jessop have also served, or are serving in the Armed Forces.

The United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point ranks in the Top Ten Best Colleges in the nation as reported by Forbes. Its mission is to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, and Country; and are prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army. The Academy provides a superb four-year education, which focuses on the leadership development of cadets in the academic, military, and physical domains, all underwritten by adherence to a strict code of honor.