The University of Guam recognized the accomplishments of one of its largest graduating classes during the Fañomnåkan (Spring) 2017 Commencement Ceremony at the UOG Calvo Field House this afternoon. UOG conferred 325 degrees--262 undergraduate degrees and 63 graduate degrees.

The largest number of graduates came from the UOG School of Business and Public Administration, which conferred a combined 80 undergraduate degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, Public Administration, and Criminal Justice and 26 graduate degrees from its Master of Public Administration program.                                        

In his welcoming remarks, UOG President Robert Underwood encouraged the graduates to understand their unique perspectives in approaching the challenges ahead through the lens of their island education.

“This is why you graduates are more special than any other university graduates in the world,” said Underwood. “Because you are prepared to build new economies; to develop new products; to write new books; to engineer new buildings; to make new laws; to struggle against injustice and unfairness. And you’re all doing it within the context of an island university fully aware of our challenges but fully energized by our potential.”Douglas Chin, Attorney General of Hawaii

Take a Stand and Speak Up

Commencement Speaker Doug Chin, Attorney General of Hawaii challenged graduates to take a stand, recalling his own experience of taking on President Donald Trump’s executive order banning entry of travelers from several mostly Muslim countries. As a result of Chin's challenge, a federal judge in Hawaii suspended the executive order. The case is currently awaiting a ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“There will be moments in your adult life—unique moments—when you see an injustice, when you see one person or many persons being treated unfairly,” Chin said. “That will be your moment to speak up and say something or write something or do something. In that moment you will remember all the good lessons your loved ones taught you about what is right and what is just and what is fair.”

“You will remember this institution and how it challenged you to push yourself to get out of your comfort zone and to engage in critical thinking,” Chin said.

Math Major Named Valedictorian

Class valedictorian Russell Lee, who graduated with a bachelor of science in math in just three years, talked about his unique experience as a math major and implored his fellow graduates to keep learning.

“It’s not about understanding everything,” said Lee. “It’s the drive to seek understanding that should move every person in this room. Just keep learning. Keep moving forward.”

For more on the Fañomnåkan (Spring) 2017 Commencement Ceremony, visit www.uog.edu/spring-2017-commencement. The ceremony was streamed live and can be viewed on the official UOG Facebook page.