UOG Celebrates Class of Fañomnåkan 2026

More than half of the 369 graduates earned academic honors, marking one of UOG’s most decorated classes.

The University of Guam conferred degrees upon 369 graduates during its Fañomnåkan (Spring) 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday at the Calvo Field House, celebrating a class whose academic journeys were shaped by resilience, community, and a commitment to making a difference.

The Class of Fañomnåkan 2026 includes 309 undergraduate and 60 graduate degree recipients — including 44 in criminal justice, 35 in nursing, 34 in business administration, 28 in biology, and 13 in civil engineering. The graduating class also includes future educators, scientists, public servants, social workers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders who will help meet the workforce needs across Guam, Micronesia, and the broader Pacific.

The ceremony also recognized six Guam-based graduates who earned Master of Social Work degrees through the longstanding University of Guam partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health. Since the partnership was established in 2012, 55 students have completed the graduate program while residing on Guam, helping expand the region's capacity in social services, behavioral health, and community care.

Academic excellence was also a hallmark of the Class of 2026. A total of 194 graduates earned academic honors, meaning more than half of the graduating class completed their studies with distinction.

Enriquez calls on graduates to lead with resilience and purpose

In her commencement address, UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez reflected on the challenges the Class of 2026 overcame during their academic journeys, including the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, super typhoons, family responsibilities, employment obligations, and the realities of everyday life.

"Your presence here today is proof that resilience is not something we talk about on Guam and our region — it is something we live," Enriquez told graduates.

She emphasized that the University's investments in academic programs, research opportunities, facilities, and partnerships are ultimately investments in the future workforce and future leaders of Guam and Micronesia.

"The world you are entering needs your strength," Enriquez said. "You are the educators, scientists, healthcare professionals, public servants, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who will strengthen Guam, Micronesia, and the Pacific."

Enriquez also recognized the inaugural graduating cohort of the Master of Science in Data Science program, noting that their projects in banking, education, marine biology, and public health demonstrate how innovation can emerge from local talent and local solutions.

Valedictorian reflects on finding community far from home

Valedictorian Chia-Chia Hsieh, a chemistry-biology dual degree graduate, reflected on her journey from Taiwan to Guam and the support system she found at UOG after arriving alone at age 16.

"There were many moments during my first few years when I felt lonely and uncertain about whether I truly belonged here," Hsieh said. "But over time, UOG became the place that helped me grow the most."

She credited faculty, classmates, and friends for helping create a sense of belonging and shared purpose, particularly during recent islandwide power outages that disrupted final exams, presentations, and projects.

"As someone far away from home, those moments reminded me that UOG was not simply a university," Hsieh said. "It was a community that genuinely cared about its students."

Drawing on the University's mission of Ina, Deskubre, Setbe — to enlighten, discover, and serve — Hsieh encouraged her fellow graduates to use their education in service of others.

"Success is not defined only by personal achievement," she said. "It is also defined by how we impact the lives of others."

Hsieh's undergraduate research focused on plants significant to Pacific Island communities, work that later led to a research internship at Academia Sinica in Taiwan. She said those experiences helped her understand the connections between science, culture, community, and service.

Hsieh's journey from Taiwan to Guam reflects the transformative role higher education can play in expanding opportunity across the region. After graduation, she will attend the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, where she plans to pursue a doctor of pharmacy degree and continue her commitment to improving health outcomes through pharmacy and public health.

Findley encourages graduates to dream beyond limitations

Commencement speaker Edwina Findley drew from her own life experiences and challenged graduates to reject limiting expectations, believe in possibilities beyond present circumstances, and pursue ambitious goals with courage, vision, and determination.

 

"Dare to dream and have the audacity to dream big," Findley told graduates.

 

Throughout her remarks, Findley, an award-winning actress, author, educator, and speaker, described success not as fame or recognition, but as using one's gifts and talents to make a difference in the lives of others.

"A star is a bright light in the midst of darkness, paving a way for others to follow," she said. "A star is someone who sees a vision and makes a decision to burst out of their comfort zone, who reaches for the sky and uses their life in service of someone else."

Using the example of a mango tree, Findley reminded graduates that meaningful growth often occurs long before results become visible.

"Under the surface is where the most important work happens," she said. "Your roots are being built and growing so deep and so strong that when your fruit finally comes, there is nothing that can hold you back."

She concluded by urging graduates to use their education in service of their communities and to help create opportunities for those who follow.

"The needs are real. The work is urgent. And you are the answer."

The Class of Fañomnåkan 2026 joins a growing network of Triton alumni who have already answered that call — more than 22,000 alumni are serving in Guam, Micronesia, and communities around the world.

The commencement ceremony was livestreamed and will remain available for replay on the University's official YouTube channel and Facebook page.

 

57TH CHARTER DAY: FROM ISLAND WISDOM TO GLOBAL IMPACT

The University of Guam held its opening ceremony of its Charter Day on Thursday, March 6, 2025.  This year marks the 57th Year of our Charter Day celebration, marking the anniversary of the University’s founding in 1952 and the signing of the charter that renamed the Territorial College of Guam to the University of Guam in 1968. 

Under the theme, From Island Wisdom to Global Impact, this year's celebration looks to the future of the University's role in academics, research, and service. 

Charter Day is the largest community event held on the UOG campus every year. Thousands of people attended and enjoyed food, games, demonstrations, and activities. The celebration included live music and entertainment, cultural performances, and displays showcasing the heritage of the different student organizations, food trucks, vendors, campus tours, and more! 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

UOG graduates 217 and confers record number of master’s degrees

The University of Guam conferred degrees on Sunday to 217 graduates at its Fanuchånan 2024 Commencement Ceremony in the Calvo Field House. The number includes 116 bachelor’s degrees and its highest ever number of master’s degrees at 101.

Contributing to the increase in master’s degrees is the new Master of Accountancy program, which launched in 2022. The program has now produced a total of 30 graduates, including eight this semester. The Professional Master of Business Administration program, with 18 graduates, and the Master of Arts in Micronesian Studies program, with 12 graduates, are tallying their largest cohorts in the last 10 years. And the Master of Education in Reading program is matching its previous record with 24 graduates this semester.

On the undergraduate side, the largest number of graduates this semester is in the Bachelor of Business Administration program with 25 graduates, followed by psychology and accounting.

UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez highlighted that UOG’s history spans 72 years, and today, four new buildings being constructed on campus are a testament to its continued pursuit to expand the professionals on island in a broad range of fields.

“Our graduates are in high demand,” she said. “We have become a major trusted source of high-quality academic programs … to contribute relevant discoveries and solutions … and to advance communities.”

Commencement speaker shares journey from Agat to Silicon Valley

Delivering the commencement address was Mount Carmel Catholic School, Notre Dame High School, and San Jose State University alumna Lisa Carbullido Henderson. Henderson grew up in Agat and went on to become a certified public accountant with a more than 35-year career in Silicon Valley as an accomplished tax expert, entrepreneur, and mentor. She remembers attending the Agat library’s summer reading program, where she developed the love of reading, books, and knowledge.

“My mother always used to say, ‘An education is an open mind.' We learn in so many ways — from the classroom, from our parents and our elders, from friends, from colleagues, from experience, and from falling down and getting up. I often shared with my daughter, if anything, you must get up, dress up, and show up.”

Henderson was the first woman to lead the San Jose office of Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP, where she advised high-net-worth individuals and businesses on complex financial strategies. She has also led innovative companies focused on workforce solutions and professional development and has mentored many young professionals into leadership roles.

She encouraged the graduates to never lose their desire to learn and to always make education part of their arsenal of superpowers as they embark on their professional and personal journeys.

“You now have an incredible superpower,” she said. “Apply it in whatever is meaningful to you, your families, your community, your island, your world. Create possibilities, and let your light shine!”

Valedictorian: ‘We’ve seen each other grow in ways we never imagined’

The graduates also heard an inspiring message from class valedictorian Sophie Danielle Vlassenko Santos, a first-generation graduate in her family who earned dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and agriculture and life sciences, with an emphasis in nutrition and food science.

“Looking back on these years, we’ve seen each other grow in ways we might never have imagined,” she said. “From our first days at UOG, uncertain and eager, to this moment, we have faced challenges, celebrated victories, and experienced self-discoveries that connected us with the deepest parts of ourselves.”

She reminded her fellow classmates that wherever they find themselves after graduation, it is exactly where they are destined to be. She shared that she originally wanted to leave Guam to attend college at New York University but ultimately made the decision to stay on island. At UOG, she built lifelong relationships with her professors and with classmates who she will ultimately work alongside as dietitians. She said her community at UOG truly felt like her found family.

The livestream from the ceremony is viewable on the University of Guam’s Facebook page. Additionally, photos from the ceremony will be available in the coming weeks for download at www.flickr.com/photos/uogtritons/albums.

Source:  www.uog.edu

UOG, families celebrate Fanuchånan 2023 graduates

Family members, friends, and dignitaries from across the Micronesia region gathered to celebrate 220 graduates during the University of Guam’s Fanuchånan 2023 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, December 17, at the UOG Calvo Field House.

The commencement speaker, a former high school dropout who grew up poor, and became an internationally known motivational and keynote speaker, shared some of his most life-changing lessons. 

Dr. Samuel Betances said before he got accepted into college, he volunteered for jobs that no one else wanted, and in doing so received mentorship that encouraged him to read. 

“Read memoirs about people who had it tougher than you that bounced back and managed to excel,” said Dr. Betances, who holds a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in education from Harvard University. 

He urged the graduates to continue learning, become someone’s mentor, and be part of change for a better community. 

“The fires are raging, and it is your turn to hold the hose,” he said, receiving an enthusiastic response from the graduates, their family members, and friends.

UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez encouraged the graduates to share the University’s “values of respect, compassion and community.” 

“Give back in your capacities as new professionals, as value-added critical thinkers and problem-solvers, be represented in all industry sectors, and work collaboratively and in harmony with and through others as Triton alumni,” the President said. 

Aspiring psychologist Haley Mae M. Carreon is the valedictorian. Born in Guam and the daughter of Filipino immigrants Andy Carreon, an electrical engineer, and Shirley Carreon, an accountant, Haley Carreon credits her family’s strong support of her education since childhood. She said she practiced good time management, a solid work ethic, and the humility she learned from home. She studied psychology as her major and sociology was her minor. 

“We gather here not just as graduates but also as people who have experienced a transformative journey, molded by the obstacles we have overcome, the knowledge we have gained, and the connections we have created here at UOG,” the valedictorian said. “Today is not just a culmination of four years of hard work, it is a celebration of resilience and growth.” 

The graduates overcame almost three years of the pandemic and the devastation caused by Typhoon Mawar.

The commencement also celebrated 22 graduates who comprise the first cohort in the Master of Accountancy Program at the School of Business Administration. 

UOG Press October • Oktubre Newsletter

 

Join us for the launch of our Kantan CHamoru Children's Book Series!  “These books reintroduce long beloved songs to young readers, but they also introduce them to new musical voices who are carrying on the tradition. The Kantan CHamoru book series celebrates the musical tradition in CHamoru culture. The lyrics in each poem or song reflect key values for the community, such as the importance of respecting elders, perpetuating cultural practices, and expressing pride in one’s heritage.” – Kiana Brown, Project Manager   Pre-Order Now for $12 2023 Association of University Presses Directors Residency Report: Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero, University of Guam Press, reports on visiting five presses UOG Press Director of Publishing Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero spent the beginning of May visiting university presses on the U.S. East Coast and learning from their directors and teams as part of a press director's residency program organized by the Association of University Presses. She learned a variety of approaches to academic publishing including editorial, production, marketing, and business strategies and is excited to apply this expanded knowledge at UOG Press.    Leon Guerrero visited Princeton University Press and Rutgers University Press in New Jersey and New York University Press and Fordham University Press in New York City. She also had meetings with the directors of Temple University Press, University of Pennsylvania Press, Oxford University Press, and Columbia University Press. She ended her trip at Brown University in Rhode Island, where she learned about their exciting and innovative digital publications program.  Read the full article here! Finu’ Chamorro for Beginners by Faye Untalan Pre-Order Now for $45

Publish your writing with Songsong Stories!   What can you submit? You can submit poetry, prose, or an excerpt of a larger piece along with a short bio. You may also include a photo or artwork to accompany the publication.   All pieces published in Songsong stories will also be lined up for publication in PDN's Lifestyle section or Pika magazine.   Word limit is 600-800 words for PDN. There is no word limit for Songsong stories, but most blog pieces range between 1,600 - 1,900 words.   Your Songsong Stories submission will be edited prior and sent back to you for your final review/approval.   Where do you submit? uogpress@triton.uog.edu   When can you submit? Submissions are open year-round. View Songsong Stories Follow UOG Press on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at @UOGPress for updates and exciting news regarding our latest publicatins, Youth Empowerment Grant initiatives, upcoming art and writing workshops, and more!

Join us for the D204 Lions Clubs Thanksgiving Saturday Story Time - Nov. 4 🦃

 Register at https://bit.ly/lionsclubreading We look forward to seeing you there! 🦁🦃📚