Author: Erika Pagsisihan

This May, as we celebrate Nurses Month, we are especially proud to honor the graduating students of our nursing program. You have shown extraordinary compassion, strength, and perseverance—qualities that define not only great nurses, but incredible human beings.

Your commitment to caring for others, even in the face of challenge, is inspiring. You leave our university ready to serve, to lead, and to heal. As you step into the world of healthcare, know that you carry with you not only your education, but the deep appreciation and pride of our entire community.

This Nurses Month, we proudly recognize Tera Marie R. Blas, a graduating senior in our Nursing Program and a shining example of leadership, compassion, and academic excellence.

Tera has served as a dedicated member of the Student Nurses Association of Guam (SNAG) for over 2.5 years, currently leading the organization as its President (AY 2024–2025). She also represents her cohort as Nursing Class Representative (Spring 2023) and continues to amplify student voices in and beyond the classroom.

Her leadership has been recognized through numerous honors, including the Cohort 2025 Nursing Leadership Award, the 2024 SNAG Excellence Award, and her selection as a Guest Speaker and Panelist at the Guam Nurses Association Leadership Conference 2025.

Tera is also one of this year’s recipients of the Society of Emeritus Professors and Retired Scholars (SEPR) Scholarship, marking her second SEPR award.

A heartfelt congratulations to our UOG Endowment Foundation scholarship recipients who were recognized and celebrated during the Spring 2025 UOG Nursing Pinning ceremony!

👏 Larissa Rupley, recipient of the Charles Parent Nursing Scholarship
👏 Edrico Reyes, recipient of the James and Young Hee Ji Scholarship

Your hard work, compassion, and commitment to care are an inspiration. We’re proud to support your path to becoming future healthcare heroes. 🩺🌟

A heartfelt congratulations to our UOG Endowment Foundation scholarship recipients who were recognized and celebrated during the Spring 2025 UOG Nursing Pinning ceremony!

👏 Christine Lu, recipient of the Christine P. Lewis Memorial Fund Scholarship and the JFK Class of 1969 Scholarship
👏 Anita Gamazon, recipient of the IT&E Overseas Scholarship in honor of Margarita Dueñas Perez and Jaime Felipe Tuquero

Your hard work, compassion, and commitment to care are an inspiration. We’re proud to support your path to becoming future healthcare heroes. 🩺🌟

🎉 Congratulations to our UOG Endowment Foundation scholarship recipients who were honored during the 2024–25 Student-Athlete Awards Reception! 🌟

🏀 Yoonji Seo, Triton Award recipient for Women’s Basketball, was also awarded the Society of Emeritus Professors & Retired Scholars Scholarship.

⚽ Isabella Clement, Triton Award recipient for Women’s Soccer, is a proud recipient of the Lauren McCluskey and James Whippy Scholarships.

Their dedication on and off the field inspires us all. 

The University of Guam Endowment Foundation is proud to announce a $50,000 endowed gift from former UOG Board of Regent Christopher Felix to establish the Rosario Tamares Felix Scholarship. This meaningful gift honors the memory of his late wife, Rosario “Rose” Tamares Felix, and reflects the couple’s shared commitment to education, faith, and community.

This endowment will fund two $1,000 scholarships annually—one for an undergraduate student and one for a graduate student majoring in accounting—supporting students who reflect Rosario’s values of compassion, perseverance, and service to others.

Rosario Tamares Felix was known for her grace, selflessness, and unwavering spirituality. She was a source of light for many, dedicating her time and heart to organizations like Rainbows for All Children Guam and LifeWorks Guam, where she advocated for children and families experiencing trauma and hardship. Even during her battle with illness, she remained courageous and faithful—a true embodiment of quiet strength.

Christopher Felix, a respected business leader and community advocate, served on the University of Guam Board of Regents from November 2013 to November 2019, following his appointment by Governor Edward B. Calvo. During his tenure, Felix chaired the Student Affairs, Scholarship, Alumni Relations, and Honorary Degree Committee for four years and led the Physical Facilities Committee from 2017 to 2018. His leadership helped guide student support initiatives and enhance campus infrastructure—efforts that continue to benefit the UOG community today.

The University of Guam’s Nursing and Health Sciences Program received a cutting-edge boost thanks to a generous donation of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets—technology that is quickly transforming how nursing students learn and prepare for real-world clinical scenarios.

These VR headsets will allow students to engage in immersive simulations that mimic a variety of patient care environments. From practicing emergency procedures to honing communication and critical thinking skills, the technology offers students a safe and controlled space to refine their abilities before entering clinical settings.

The headsets were funded by the Guam Area Health Education Center (AHEC) through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Pathways for Youth (WPY) Program. This support is part of the PAVE Project, a $2 million, 3-year initiative involving AHECs across seven states and U.S. territories. The grant, awarded to the National AHEC Organization (NAO), aims to promote healthcare career exploration and activities for youth ages 14–21. Guam Regional Medical City is one of the participating sites, with the VR sets provided through the partnership of Maui County AHEC and the Hawaii Pacific Basin AHEC.

The UOG School of Health and its Nursing Program continue to explore innovative teaching tools that enhance student experience and readiness. With the support of valued partners like AHEC and GRMC, the university is better equipped to prepare students to meet the complex demands of modern healthcare with confidence and competence.

The University of Guam and the Endowment Foundation extend heartfelt thanks to the Guam AHEC and all partnering AHECs for their forward-thinking generosity and commitment to building the next generation of healthcare professionals.

On April 16, 2025, the University of Guam Triton Athletics and Field House Department gave 3 scholarship to two women’s basketball players and one men’s basketball player. The players received the Gage Johnson’s Scholarships, named for the UOG Athletic Hall of Fame member who donated $2,000 dollars to Triton Athletics through the UOG Endowment Foundation to be given to men’s and women’s basketball players.

Gage Johnson, who played basketball for UOG back in the 1967-68 season and was the first UOG player to average 21 points a game for a season and was the first player for the Tritons to score 40 points in a game. Johnson who now lives in California and this is his 3rd donation of $2,000 since being named to the UOG Hall of Fame 3 years ago.

The players who received the scholarships were Marie Duenas and Kai Quidachy who received $500.00 scholarships each and Tristan Valdes for the men’s team who received a $1,000 scholarship.

Zenaida Asuncion-Nace, CPA, Ph.D., MBA, AIF®, CrFA, CFE, CGFM, a distinguished University of Guam (UOG) adjunct professor and alumnus, has been recognized for her exceptional commitment to UOG’s 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign. During her tenure as UOG’s comptroller from 2007 to 2019, Dr. Asuncion-Nace played a key role in advancing the university’s efforts to raise funds for essential campus infrastructure and academic resources. Her donation of $2,616 amassed through the 60-hour club contributed to UOG’s vision of transforming its campus into a vibrant, 21st-century learning environment.

Dr. Asuncion-Nace’s illustrious career spans both the public and private sectors. Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and an MBA from UOG, in addition to several professional certifications, she has demonstrated unparalleled expertise in her various roles, including serving as Chief Financial Officer for Todu Guam Foundation.

Along with her daughter, Dr. Asuncion-Nace’s support of UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez’s Tulos Mo’na Capital Campaign will bolster an endowed fund dedicated to the institution’s building maintenance. The university is deeply appreciative of their philanthropy, which will significantly aid in furthering UOG’s mission to provide world-class education and foster groundbreaking research opportunities.

Then University of Guam and the UOG Endowment Foundation remains grateful for the ongoing generosity of its alumni and supporters. To learn more about how you can contribute to the Tulos Mo’na Capital Campaign, please contact the UOG Endowment Foundation at (671) 735-2957 or visit give.uog.edu/waystogive/.

The University of Guam is the proud recipient of a benevolent contribution of $200,000 from Goodwind Development Corporation.

As part of its 60^th Anniversary Capital Campaign (2012-2017), the UOG Endowment Foundation made an appeal to its community business partners for their support in bringing a vision for the 21^st Century Campus to fruition. This campaign would help provide funding for necessary facilities to help create an enhanced campus life that would instill pride in our community and region. This would provide new spaces for students to strive for excellence and for faculty to conduct world-class research.

In 2014, Goodwind Development Corporation (GDC) joined other individuals and businesses in this campaign endeavor. As visionary partners, GDC pledged $500,000 and provided an initial $100,000 in commitment.  In 2025, the university expects to have construction completed on four new buildings: Dr. Lucio C. Tan Student Success Center, School of Engineering Building, the Margaret Perez Uchima School of Health Nursing Annex, and the Water Environmental Research Institution Facility.

“The University of Guam extends its extreme gratitude to Goodwind Development Corporation for its amazing generosity towards the Dr. Lucio C. Tan Student Success Center that will benefit students and our community at large for years to come,” said President Anita Borja Enriquez. “We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Lucio C. Tan and his family for their vision, support, and unwavering commitment to the success of future generations.”

The contribution from Goodwind Development Corporation reinforces the enduring legacy of Dr. Lucio C. Tan and his family’s support for the University of Guam. The Tan family’s previous philanthropic efforts, including a $1 million donation in 2003, have helped shape the university’s facilities and programs, leaving an indelible mark on its community.

To find out how you can forge a lasting legacy with the University of Guam Endowment Foundation, contact us at (671) 735-2957 or visit our website at give.uog.edu/waystogive/.