UOG Nursing Student Tera Blas Awarded Johnson & Johnson Scholarship: Tera Marie Ruder Blas, a senior nursing student at the University of Guam and president of the Student Nurses Association of Guam (SNAG), was awarded the Johnson & Johnson Our Race to Health Equity Diversity Nursing Scholarship. Blas is among 100 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students nationwide to be awarded the $2,000 scholarship this year.

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The Johnson & Johnson Our Race to Health Equity Diversity Nursing Scholarship is part of a broader initiative by Johnson & Johnson to address disparities in healthcare and promote diversity within the nursing profession. By investing in the education of BIPOC students, the program seeks to cultivate a workforce that is reflective of the diverse populations it serves.

Blas, who also serves as the president of the Student Nurses Association of Guam (SNAG), said “I feel very fortunate to be the only recipient from the island of Guam and proud to represent the UOG Nursing program. As a full-time student who has been working part-time since my freshman year, this scholarship provides me with the financial help I need to finish nursing school this upcoming spring semester. I am beyond grateful to the sponsors at Johnson & Johnson!”

According to Dr. Yvette Paulino, Dean of the Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health, the achievement highlights the University of Guam’s commitment to fostering excellence and diversity in nursing education.

“We are incredibly proud of Tera for being recognized and awarded the Johnson & Johnson scholarship,” said Paulino. “This is not just a reflection of her hard work and commitment but also of the supportive environment we strive to create at the University of Guam. We are extremely proud of her and are excited for her future contributions as a local health professional.”