The History of the Pacific Islander Student Commission
In advocacy of pursuit of higher education, cultural awareness and community empowerment!
The Pacific Islander Student Commission was started in the late 1990’s, when Pasifik Islander students at the University of Washington started a movement to create a new ASUW commission that would serve a growing Pasifik Islander student population. The students from Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, and the Philippines felt that the existing Asian Student Commission did not address the needs of their cultures and sought to identify ways in which a new commission would provide greater support for their communities. Then, in culmination of these students hard work and determination, on March 9th, 2000, the ASUW Board of Directors passed BOD BILL #002, which created the Pacific Islander Student Commission (PISC), and a legacy for Pasifika students at the University of Washington.
As a part of the Associated Students of Washington (ASUW), PISC is made up of the nine collaborative and collective communities of Pasifika here on the University of Washington’s campus: API Cares, AnakBayan Seattle, the Filipino American Student Association (FASA), Hui Hoaloha ‘Ulana, Micronesian Islands Club (M.I.C.), Pi Nu Iota sorority, Pacific Islander Opportunity Network for Educational Equality and Representation (P.I.O.N.E.E.R.), Pacific Islander Partnerships in Education (P.I.P.E.), and the Polynesian Student Alliance (P.S.A.). Our diverse membership welcomes Pasifik Islander people from all walks of life, and we strive to increase cultural awareness and empowerment through political, educational, and social events. PISC aims to raise awareness and empower change for Pasifik Islander issues and identity, and to increase solidarity amongst our various island communities. We also hope to provide the rich support and resources for Pasifik Islander students’ success and growth here.
Although our home islands in Pasifika are thousands of miles away from Seattle, we maintain the spirit and community values within ourselves as we navigate through the vast ocean of higher education. Join us in our canoe journeys as we reach our destination of a more empowered future.
We are many. We are one. We are Pasifika!
– Santino Camacho, PISC Director 2016-2017
Past PISC Directors
- Letauaeletise Hunkin 2020-2022
- Theana Lynn Mariano Aromin 2019-2020
- Tulili Tuiteleleapaga-Howard 2018-2019
- Katrina Salazar Punzalan 2017-2018
- Santino G. Camacho 2016-2017
- Daniele Meñez 2015-2016
- Carmen Borja 2014-2015
- Taylor Ahana 2013-2014
- Chasmon Tarimel 2012-2013
- Apa’au Talalemotu 2011-2012
- Natalie Santos 2011-2012
- Derek Edamura 2010-2011
- Benjamin Lealofi 2009-2010
- Mario Teulilo 2008-2009
- Christina Pelesasa 2008-2009
- EJ Butin 2007-2008
- Malaelupe Samifua 2006-2007
- Patrick Pineda 2005-2006
- Mavis Tevaga 2004-2005
- Paulo Pontemayor 2003-2004
- David Palaita 2002-2003
- Ane Phillips 2001-2002
- Vanessa Matautia 2001-2002
- Michael Tuncap 2000-2001