In September Fehi'a Kava (17) will enter Brown University in the US on scholarship to study Bio-Chemical Engineering and her family believe that she will be the first Tongan student to enter the famous Ivy League university.

She is the grand daughter of 'Epalahame Kifi Lousiale Kava of Kolomotu'a, Tongatapu and his wife Temaleti of Tu'anuku, Vava'u and the daughter of US Marine Corps Captain Sione Lousiale Kava of American Samoa.

Fehi'a of South Sacramento, San Joaqin Valley, California, is accepted to Brown University on a full scholarship (US$44,000 per year) for four years to pursue a degree in Bio-Chemical Engineering.

Fehia wanted to follow his father's footstep into the United States Armed Forces. Her father, Sione, said that she had been accepted to West Point and the Air Force Academy but her brother David, who is now in his third year at West Point was against her choice because there was "a possibility that she would end up on the front line of a war somewhere".

Sione said that "after much thought and deliberations, Fehi'a decided to honor her brother's wish, taking up her second choice at Brown University."

Brown University is a private university located in Providence, Rhode Island and was founded in 1764.