20 UOG students receive RCUOG travel awards 

Front row from left (kneeling): Jude Tenorio, Lidio Fullo, Jeffery Seo, Amarah San Nicolas, Ednaco Berwyn, and Napu Cruz.  Back row from left: Capt. Jesse Lee Fontanilla, Bert Magallano, Khloe Miranda, Gohan Calunan, Gavin Whitt, Elaine Cases, Gabriel Aguon, Joseph Aquino, Gavin Pangelinan, and Noel Degracia. (UOG)

Twenty University of Guam students received Research Corporation of the University of Guam travel awards for education related travel in 2022. The recipients will travel to Japan, the CNMI, Germany, and the U.S. mainland to conduct or present their research projects, participate in internships, or enhance their academic experiences through cultural exchange.  

Sophomore Nico Valencia, who is pursuing a biology degree, will travel to Connecticut in May to participate in the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s eight-week Summer Research Internship Program. Nico has been assigned to Dr. Renato Polimanti’s lab at Yale University where will learn about computational biology and psychiatric genetics.  

Townsend

Biology major Seanna Bataclan will travel to Oregon in June to participate in June an eight-week summer internship at Oregon Health University where she will work under Dr. Katharine Zuckerman on mobile health equity for children with autism. 

Graduate student Abram Townsend will present his thesis research on the genetic diversity and population connectivity of blue corals in Guam at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Bremen, Germany in July.

Anthony

Graduate student Colin Anthony will travel to Japan as a visiting research student at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan in September. While at Tohoku University, Colin will continue his research on coral ecology and physiology as well as assist Dr. Cheryl Lewis Ames with her research on marine invertebrate development and biodiversity, learn new laboratory and data analysis techniques, provide guest lectures, mentor students, and network with local academics.  

D’Amy Steward, also a graduate student at the Marine Laboratory, will travel to Saipan six times in 2022 to conduct field research for her thesis project focused on restoring coral reefs through improved restoration techniques. A NOAA Ruth Gates Coral Restoration and Innovation Grant supports her work. She will maintain and monitor experimental plots on Saipan and collect critical data on coral survival, environmental conditions, and health. 

Steward

In March, 15 UOG Army ROTC cadets traveled to the CNMI for an opportunity to develop leadership skills. Cadets led JROTC cadets at Tinian High School in field training exercises and physical fitness. Cadets who received travel awards include Noel Degracia, Khloe Ann Miranda, Gavin Pangelinan, Joseph Aquino, Lidio Fullo, Gohan Calunan, Jeffrey Seo, Gavin Whitt, Amarah San Nicolas, Gabriel Aguon, Bert Magallano, Jude Tenorio, Napu Cruz, Elaine Cases, Berwyn Ednaco. 

Valencia

“The team here at RCUOG is delighted to play a small role in supporting these students and their academic endeavors,” said Cathleen Moore-Linn, executive director of RCUOG. “It is exciting to learn about the positive contributions they are making toward scientific discovery, leadership development, and their individual achievements. This is an impressive group of students.”

Bataclan

RCUOG offers travel awards to students using mileage accrued from purchases made with the RCUOG official credit card in accordance with Public Law 32-019. RCUOG has supported a total of fifty-five travel awards since 2017. (PR)