Story Category: Regional News »

The American Samoa Society, headquartered in Washington, D.C., selected Miss Samara Marion Lupelele Schaff, daughter of Mr. Kevin Jon Schaff and Mrs. Christina Maiava Schaff of Southern Maryland (Cobb Island and LaPlata), as the American Samoa Junior Princess for the 2012 Centennial celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival. During the American Samoa Society Coronation and Reception at Ft. Meyer, VA on Saturday, March 10th, Samara performed a Samoan Princess (Taupou) Ceremonial dance “Taualuga.” The following day, the Washington DC Samoan Congregation church bestowed her with the honorary title “Teineolemosooipala.” Samara’s mother, Christina Maiava Schaff, a US Army veteran born in the US territory of American Samoa and current resident of Cobb Island and La Plata, Maryland, held the American Samoa Princess title in 1999.

The Cherry Blossom Festival® Princess program in Washington, D.C. will commence on Saturday, April 7th, until Saturday, April 14th. The National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) plays a unique role in the National Cherry Blossom Festival® by sponsoring a series of events that highlight educational and cultural exchange programs for the Cherry Blossom Princesses who are college students or young professionals selected by state/territorial societies and embassies to represent them. Today the festival is a cooperative effort of many organizations including the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., the DC Mayor’s office, the National Park Service, the Japan America Society of Washington DC, and NCSS, just to mention a few. This is an exciting year for NCSS as it marks the 100th Anniversary of the flowering of the Cherry Blossom Trees in our Nation’s Capital, the 64th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Princess Educational and Cultural Exchange Program, during the 60th Anniversary of The National Conference of State Societies. Every year since 1948, the 50 states and 6 territory societies have selected young women between the age of 18 and 23 to represent their states and territories in the princess program. Over 3,000 women have participated in the program since 1948, including daughters of Presidents, Congressmen, Senators and Governors. The mission of the program is to draw on government, cultural, military, business leaders and female role models working in the nation's capital to provide the Princesses with an exciting experience in Washington, D.C. The Princess Program continues to inspire women of accomplishment. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia is the first Princess elected to serve in the United States Congress. Joining her in the Senate side is Senator Lisa Murkowski who now serves for the State of Alaska.