Master of Micronesian Traditional Knowledge

Donald Benavente Mendiola is an indigenous expert who has made significant contributions to the community in traditional practices as a yo’åmte (traditional healer), master weaver, and fa’fa’nague (teacher) of CHamoru language. Since his early childhood, Mendiola was recognized by his elders as having the gift of healing and began his service in herbal remedies, massage, and spiritual healing by the age of 9.

As a counselor and guide with Pineksai Haya, a youth cultural immersion program, he has helped youth build awareness and a better understanding of who they are and to gain more self-confidence.

Mendiola has been teaching the CHamoru language for more than 49 years, including more than 33 years in the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System. He teaches cultural studies at Hopwood Middle School in Saipan, including traditional healing and weaving, and perpetuates his knowledge further by providing training and workshops for other educators.

In 2009, he wrote and published “Åmot Chamorro, a Historical Snapshot of the CNMI’s Medical Herbs and Shrubs” to promote first-hand knowledge about herbal remedies to future generations.

Doctor of Humane Letters

Dr. John Ray Taitano will also be delivering the commencement address. Read his biography here.

Patrick Ubal Tellei, Ed.D. 

Doctor of Humane Letters

Patrick U. Tellei, president of Palau Community College, is the longest serving chief executive of any higher education institution in the Pacific region. Tellei has come to be known for the educational opportunities he has made possible for the people of Palau and the wider region of Micronesia and the many agreements he has brokered with universities and colleges that consistently enhance academic excellence and island progress.

Beyond research and education, Tellei has served as a delegate and secretary to the 2nd Constitutional Convention for Palau, as a catastrophic relief coordinator for Super Typhoon Bopha Recovery, as a governing board member of the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, and as a member of the negotiating team for the Compact of Free Association for Palau. He has also served as an ambassador for Pacific Island-based institutions in regional, national, and international forums. 

Tellei earned his Doctor of Education from the University of San Diego in 2005, with his dissertation focused on workforce development in Palau from pre-contact to 1999.

Throughout his career, he has been a supporter of the practice and transmission of island wisdom and traditional lifeways within educational settings and beyond. As an advocate and adviser to national, regional, and international leaders, Tellei has emphasized the importance of education to addressing the critical challenges of our time.

• All expected attendees who are feeling ill, have symptoms of COVID-19, or have potentially been exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, are prohibited from attending. 
• All expected attendees who are currently in quarantine or isolation by DPHSS are prohibited from attending. 
• Guests: Sit with your group; allow one chair spacing with next group.
• Follow all COVID-safety signage and instructions.
• Mask wearing is not required, but highly encouraged.
• Wash or sanitize hands frequently and maintain social distancing when possible.
• Shaking of hands, kissing, or other physical contact is discouraged.

Graduates should arrive by 12 p.m. and meet at the cafeteria inside the Student Services Center. 

Guests should arrive no earlier than two hours prior to the ceremony.

Yes! The commencement will be streamed live on the UOG Facebook page at www.facebook.com/UniversityofGuam.

The ceremony will be approximately 3 hours.

Within the Field House, no refreshments will be provided, available for sale, or permitted for consumption. Attendees may bring and consume water in the Field House. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase in the Triton Store for consumption outside of the Field House. The Triton Store is located in the Student Center directly across from the Calvo Field House and will be open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gifts, snacks, drinks, UOG merchandise, and general merchandise will be available for sale at the Triton Store, located in the Student Center directly across from the Calvo Field House. The Triton Store will be open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No. All guests should remain in their seats during the ceremony. Professional photographers will take a photo of each graduate crossing the stage as well as a posed shot of each graduate holding his/her diploma. These photos will be available for download, free of charge, on the UOG's Flickr account in the weeks following commencement. 

Photos from commencement, including posed portraits of each graduate, will be available in high resolution for download, free of charge, in the weeks following commencement on UOG's Flickr account.