The Wellington Doctoral Scholarship, one of the university’s most competitive awards, provides three years of tuition and fees along with a living stipend of NZ$32,000 per year. It is awarded to top-ranked candidates across all academic disciplines. The Pasifika Doctoral Scholarship, also offered to Blas, recognizes Pacific scholars conducting Pacific-focused research.

Blas was among just 25 scholars selected from over 500 applicants for the July 2025 scholarship round.

“Ever since I committed to History in undergrad, I knew that pursuing a PhD was part of my path,” Blas said. “I believe VUW’s History program is a great fit, and many Pacific historians consider Aotearoa (New Zealand) as the heartland of Pacific Studies.”

She added, “Receiving this scholarship means I can dedicate myself fully to my research without financial concerns.”

Blas earned her master’s degree in Micronesian Studies in 2024 and a Bachelor of Arts in History in 2022, both from UOG. Her thesis, Resetting the Margins: Centering Nasión CHamoru in Guam History, received UOG’s Graduate Student Community Impact Award earlier this year.

She credits her mentors for helping her envision a future in academia.

“What shifted things for me were the History professors who recognized my potential and pushed me to believe in it myself,” she said. “From my very first class with Dr. Anne Perez Hattori, she didn’t just encourage me — she made me see myself differently.”

Dr. Hattori, Professor of History, Micronesian Studies, and CHamoru Studies, guided Blas throughout her undergraduate and graduate work, expressed pride in her accomplishments.

“Makaelah is an exceptional scholar whose work reflects both academic depth and a strong sense of purpose,” said Dr. Hattori. “Her success reflects the kind of academic and personal growth that UOG strives to cultivate in all of our students.”

Blas’s academic journey began with uncertainty — she explored majors in biology and political science before finding her home in history. Her passion deepened through UOG’s Micronesian Studies program, where she engaged in courses that connected her to her heritage and the broader Pacific.

Outside of her studies, Blas serves as a program coordinator at Pacific Historic Parks, working on initiatives that highlight Guam’s WWII history, and she teaches a Critical Thinking course at UOG.

She said the journey has not been easy — balancing life as a student, mother, employee, and partner — but she remains grounded in her goals.

"Pursuing my PhD is central to my goal of becoming a historian who tells Indigenous histories on our own terms, using approaches that prioritize our voices, knowledge, and experiences.”

Blas departs for Wellington next year to begin her doctoral research.