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SOE Alumni Association

The SOE Alumni Association supports SOE’s mission of effectively preparing educators and other education personnel for professional performance in diverse cultural contexts. It serves as a connection for which SOE alumni can give back to their alma mater by sharing their talents, resources, etc. in different SOE events. It further serves as a source for developing alumni pride, spirit, and life-long commitments to the School of Education.


SOE Alumni Association Officers. Pictured L-R: Dr. Darlene Roberto, Treasurer; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Webmaster; Dr. Lourdes P. Klitzkie, Advisor; Margaret Beem, Vice President; Martha Sudo, President; and Rose Cruz Castro, Secretary.
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SOE Alumni Association Scholarship and Grant Forms

Click on the following links to access the SOE Alumni Association scholarship and grant forms:

Sunday, November 16, 2014

IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Winners of the 2014 UOG Distinguished Alumni Awards

The University of Guam Office of Development and Alumni Affairs together with the UOG Alumni Association are proud to announce the names of the winners of the 2014 UOG Distinguished Alumni Awards! 

In September, a call for nominations was made through the media, government agencies and the private sector. Awards were to be given to one person from each of the schools and colleges that make up the University: School of Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Education, School of Business and Public Administration, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. This year, an additional category to honor a successful graduate who has served or is currently serving in the military was included. Requirements for nominees included the submission of a CV and letters of support.

20 individuals successfully qualified to be considered nominees.  Judging Criteria for the selection process consisted of the following: 1)Professional accomplishment in their respective field, 2)Does the candidate exhibit a high degree of character and integrity?, 3)Do they demonstrate civic and University involvement, awareness and concern?, and 4)Do the nominees’ achievements have local, national and/or international
significance?

Judges included the deans of the schools and colleges, faculty members, representatives of the UOG alumni association, and at-large judges from the island community who are not UOG alumni. President Robert Underwood was forwarded the names of the individuals who were selected by each respective committee, and gave his final approval for the selection of the awardees. The names of the winners were announced on November 15 at the 2014 UOG Alumni Reunion held at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa.

For more information, please contact Norman Analista, Dir., Development and Alumni Affairs at 735-2586 or 797-3333.

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2014 UOG Distinguished Alumni Awards:

BruceBest
Mr. Bruce Best
MS Biology, 1981
Energy and Remote Island Communication Consultant

“After completing my graduate degree in Marine Biology at the UOG Marine Lab, I began working as a research associate with the PEACESAT/Telecommunication and Distance Education Operation (TADEO) at UOG.  The grant writing skills I  developed at UOG  and my work experience in telecommunication and alternate energy created a unique skill set that set the framework for my many remote islands projects over the next 30 years.

My military background as a navy corpsman fueled an interest in tele-health operations for the remote islands of the Western Pacific.  Merging the last 35 years of exposure to cultural diversity and work experience allowed me to develop sustainable health and educational solutions for the remote islands in the FSM, RMI and ROP.  Many of the solar powered radios being used throughout the remote islands were installed under my direction and funded by grants through or supported by the UOG PEACESAT/TADEO office where we tried to maintain a high level of service to the region and make a difference in the lives of thousands of Pacific Islanders.

Today, I remain actively involved with a variety of tele-health groups to improve health care options in the western Pacific.  My UOG education provided me with the credibility and knowledge to continue to service the region through training and implementing sustainable health, energy and remote communication infrastructure throughout Micronesia. I would not have been able to participate in all these projects as a subject matter expert with cultural reference without the education I received at UOG.”


TomBrislin
Dr. Thomas J. Brislin
BA English Secondary Education, 1968
Associate Dean, Arts and Humanities, University of Hawaii at Manoa
“The value of my College/University of Guam education crystallized for me when I was confined to a small room for eight hours in 1972 to write my PhD exams. I found in answering the myriad questions from learned scholars in Communication, Sociology, Film, and Psychology, that I was drawing heavily from the knowledge I gained at COG/UOG. From 1964-68, it offered a true Liberal Arts education. It was smaller, and what divisions there might have been between academic areas was porous.

We took courses across the broad spectrum of “ologies.” Students – and Faculty – mixed their interests freely, whether they looked forward to a career in business, law, nursing, education, fine arts or sciences. We absorbed from each other. We left with a tremendous worldview from such a small Island; with a continuing and consuming intellectual curiosity from such a small school with such large ideas. I aced those exams. COG/UOG taught us we could make a difference. And we did.”


JohnChiu
Colonel (RET) John M. Chiu
BBA Accounting, 1983
University of Guam, Army ROTC

“Unquestionably, my years at the University of Guam were the formative years of my early adulthood. While I originally intended to go to the mainland to study, imperatives of our family business kept me on Guam. Little did I know that the decision to attend the University of Guam would eventually take my life in a wholly unanticipated direction which would alter the course of the rest of my life.  

Like most college students, I grappled with what I wanted to do in life including career choices and goals. The answer came during one of Dr. Don Soper’s evening marketing classes when the officer in charge of UOG’s ROTC program spoke to us about a career in the Army. The next day I went to see Lieutenant Colonel David Swanson and the first day of the rest of my life as a soldier and officer was set in motion.

Listening to LTC Swanson speak about an Army career gave me clarity, focus, and direction that I had lacked until that point. With his guidance and mentorship, I excelled in my military science studies, and graduated as the #1 cadet.  My time at the University of Guam directly and indirectly gave me three building blocks for my career and my life.  My ROTC training provided an unshakable foundation in military leadership, discipline, and values. The School of Business provided me with a Bachelor of Arts degree. From my family business, I was able to gain practical experience in leading people, planning and budgeting, and gain an appreciation for the day to day pressures of running a business. The skills, values, and strengths I acquired during my studies at UOG were the foundation to my successes and achievements in the military and throughout my life.”
 

LouKlitzkie
Dr. Lourdes Palomo Klitzkie,
BA Elementary Education, 1970
Professor Emeritus, Society of Emeritus Professors and Related Scholars
“The University of Guam has given me the opportunity for a life-long career in special education. Getting a bachelors degree in special education in 1970 at the College of Education equipped me with the knowledge, skills and competencies which enabled me to pursue a masters degree in special education at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in 1974.

In 1976, Dr. Michael Caldwell, special education chair, offered me a one-year position at the University to supervise student teachers. In 1977, Dr. Caldwell sent me to Utah State University under special education federal grant money to work on my doctorate degree in special education. I returned to the University in 1979 and began my teaching career in special education as an assistant professor which led to the rank of full professor until my retirement in 1998. Not long after that I was admitted to the Society of Emeritus Professors and Retired Scholars. I continue to serve the University in three endeavors: teaching, research, and public service.

I can safely conclude that as a student at UOG, I was educated to foster the growth and development of young children intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically. As a professor, I encouraged young minds to think. As an Emeritus Professor, I will continue to serve the University of Guam - the Natural Choice.”


MichaelPexa
Mr. Michael Pexa
Master’s Business Administration, 1978
Founder & CEO, Asia Pacific Financial Management Group
“I came to Guam in the early 70s, eager to start teaching for the Guam Public School System. After several years of teaching, my desire to pursue a career in investments led me back to Seattle, where I worked as a financial advisor for a Seattle based firm. My love for Guam inspired me to convince my branch manager to open a Guam branch. To my surprise and joy, he agreed and 30 years later, I’m still here.

As a financial advisor and business owner, I believe that I needed to improve my business skills. I decided to go back to school to pursue my Masters in Business Administration. The obvious choice was the University of Guam, and I graduated in 1978. My education from UOG pushed my business knowledge to the next level and gave me the opportunity to expand my network with fellow alumni. Today, the Triton tradition continues to flourish at Asia Pacific Financial. Several of our employees are UOG alumni. We also take great pride in our annual internship program where we’ve partnered with UOG’s School of Business to provide students internships. As a final testament to our faith in UOG’s talent, we are proud to say that our most recent student intern remained with us after she graduated and has become a full time employee. I’ve come a long way, and I couldn’t have gotten this far without UOG.”


ReinaSanchez
Ms. Reina Sanchez
BSW Social Work, 1990,
Social Services Supervisor I, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center
“The University of Guam has always been a part of my life. My father, Vicente Q. Sanchez, worked at UOG in the eighties and naturally I attended and received my bachelor and master degrees there.  In between the undergraduate and graduate programs I also participated in many professional development courses. So I can say I am a lifelong student of UOG.  It is through UOG that I have met many people – students and professors who have encouraged and supported me.  Without them I don’t think I would be where I am now. Thank you again for this opportunity.”

END

Saturday, November 15, 2014

UOG Alumni Awards A Success!

Dr. Lourdes Palomo Klizkie
2014 UOG Distinguished Alumni for SOE
SOE Alumni Association Officers participate in UOG's Distinguished Alumni
Awards held Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa.
Pictured L-R:  Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, SOE Alumni Webmaster & 2013
Distinguished Alumna and Grace Griffin, SOE Alumni President.  


Dr. Lourdes Palomo Klitzkie, Professor Emiita, received the SOE Distinguished Alumni Award.  Dr. Rivera accepted the award in Dr. Klitzkie's behalf, due to medical reasons.  Congratulations, Dr. Klitzkie and fellow Distinguished Alumni!  We look forward to next year's Alumni awards events!  BIBA UOG!

Friday, November 7, 2014

UOG Distinguished Alumni Awards - Nov. 15

After months of searching for potential nominees and then hours of carefully reviewing the packets of 20 outstanding individuals, the winners for the "2014 UOG Distinguished Alumni Awards" have been selected! Find out who they are at our alumni reunion on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Hilton, 6p.m. to 10p.m. For more details call 735-2586 or email nanalista@uguam.uog.edu.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

TEAM 2014 Conference a Success!


The First International Conference on Technology, Education, Assessment and Management (TEAM) was a success! The conference theme, “New Directions in Technology, Education, Assessment and Management” was highlighted in each of the conference days from October 24-26, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Guam Hotel. The conference was coordinated by the UOG Office of Graduate Studies, Sponsored Programs and Research and partner institutions of higher learning in the Philippines.

The TEAM Conference provided an opportunity for participants to share international knowledge and expertise among academics, researchers, practitioners, administrators, and other professionals. Keeping true to its theme, TEAM-building was felt throughout each of the conference days.

The first night of the TEAM Conference included inspirational messages by UOG President Dr. Robert Underwood and Jon Fernandez, Guam DOE Superintendent. There were also parallel sessions that provided insight on technology, music, culture, reflective teaching, science, mindfulness, and more. The night ended with a special musical performance by the University Singers.

The second day of the TEAM Conference provided meaningful messages by UOG SVP Dr. Anita Borja-Fernandez and Regent Antoinette Sanford. Meaningful messages were also made by the following Plenary Speakers: Dr. Kim Fong poon-McBrayer, Director of the Center for Childhood Research & Innovation, Hong Kong Institute of Education; Dr. Elsa P. Manarpaac, President of Western Philippines University, Palawan; Joseph Sanchez, Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the Guam Department of Education; and Dr. Marlon Padilla, Dean of Grade School of Arts, Science and Education, Universidad de Manila. There were also parallel sessions that provided insight on assessment, classroom environment, learning styles, tutorial courseware, conceptual development, literacy, action research, management, graduate schooling, mental health nursing, constructivist teaching, schema, and more.

The last day of the conference included inspirational messages by Dr. John Peterson, AVP for Graduate Studies, Research and Sponsored Programs; Vice President Frankie Harris, College of Micronesia, Federated States of Micronesia. Exemplary speeches were also made by the following Plenary Speakers: Dr. Jerica Liza Baculod, Director of Research Center, San Sebastian College, Philippines; Dr. Chito D. Villadolid, Director of International Linkage, New ERA University; Dr. Tito M. Cabili, Dean for the College of Education at the University of Eastern Philippines at Catarman in Northern Samar; and Dr. Leah de Asis, Director of Student Services, College of Arts and Communication at the University of Eastern Philippines. There were also parallel sessions that provided insight on early hearing detection and intervention, use of euphemisms, parental involvement, learning support, problem solving, and student motivation.

Deep gratitude goes out to all TEAM Conference steering committee members and partner institutions in the Philippines, and all the entities that joined us to make the First International Conference on Technology, Education, Assessment and Management (TEAM) a memorable event that will always be remembered! Un Dangkulo Na Si Yu’os Ma’ase’! Salamat! Kinissow! Kommol! Mesulang! Kalahngan! Kammagar! We look forward to the next TEAM Conference in Palawan, Philippines!