School of Education and Guam celebrate partnership

By Amanda Blas, Staff Writer -- blas13@up.edu

UP's campus may be limited to The Bluff, but one of its programs has been thriving across the Pacific Ocean for the last three decades.

On Feb. 11, UP celebrated its 30th anniversary of the island of Guam's partnership with the School of Education with a gala at the Hilton in Guam. The graduate program gives Guam's teachers the chance to pursue higher education without having to step foot off the island.

"The celebration was a huge success," UP '65 alumnus Frank Blas, the first UP graduate from Guam, said. "I feel the program has done an excellent job, and I'm really proud of the fact that UP has extended its direction to the island of Guam through the masters program."

The gala honored both the program and its alumni and teachers as well as the increasing opportunities for Guam students who wish to continue their education.

"We raised over $30,000 for scholarships to fund continuing education among our teaching alumni and access for undergraduates that hope to attend UP," School of Education Dean John Watzke said.

Governor Eddie Baza Calvo also named UP President Fr. Bill Beauchamp an honorary ambassador to Guam.

"The significance is that the Governor recognized the President and in doing so, the cooperation between the University and Guam," Watzke said.

The Anniversary Gala was not the only way Guam celebrated its 30-year partnership. Calvo also designated Feb. 11 as "UP School of Education Day" through a proclamation, which is issued by the Governor to recognize achievements or events.

The proclamation thanked the UP School of Education for its commitment to Guam's educators and recognized the graduate program as playing an important role in raising the standard of education in Guam's classrooms.

"UP's masters program has a tremendous impact on the teachers on Guam because it's not like any other university," UP alumna Tillie Blas, who finished the Guam graduate program last year, said. "There's something about UP's teaching philosophy that encourages you to strive for higher education. If I hadn't done UP's masters program, I doubt I would have even considered going for my doctorate."

According to Watzke, the Guam graduate program came at the request of UP alumni.

"My understanding is that graduates from UP who had returned to Guam started working in schools and had asked for professional development," Watzke said. "What that turned out to be was providing a graduate program on Guam that extended our elevated education programs."

The alumni's request created more than just a program.

"When it comes to the grad program, our teachers actually travel to Guam, which is really appreciated," Watzke said. "Because of this, we all feel like we've not only formed a program, but friendships as well. This helps to sustain the program on Guam and interest among our faculty to travel to the island."

According to education professor Peter Thacker, who took part in the graduate program for the first time this year, these relationships are a big part of the Guam graduate program.

"The program affords a set of interactions very, very different than the ones you'd experience in Portland or in the mainland in general," Thacker said. "It's an interesting experience for both the students and the instructors."

With the first 30 years of the Guam graduate program is completed, the School of Education has more to think about.

"What's next with the next 30 years? The success of the 30th Anniversary Gala recognized what was accomplished and what we want to do in the next 30 years," Watzke said. "Our next goal is to develop dedicated teacher and school leader alumni groups so we can develop continuing education programs together."

Frank hopes to see Watzke's plans turn into action.

"I look forward to having UP continue to prepare Guam's students through furthering education," Frank said.