From left, Frances Pakingan, a junior majoring in accounting, and Nonilon Santos, a senior in Business Administration, each holds a $500 scholarship check from the Filipino Ladies Association of Guam after they received the award Tuesday, March 26, on campus at the University of Guam 

From left, Natividad Bui, with the Filipino Ladies Association of Guam; Mark Duarte, Director of Financial Aid, University of Guam; Randall Wiegand, UOG Vice President, Administration & Finance and Chief Business Officer; Nonilon Santos, FLAG scholarship recipient; Frances Pakingan, FLAG scholarship recipient; Dr. Gena Rojas, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success, UOG; Bheng Crisostomo, FLAG President; and Bhing Prangan, FLAG Co-Chair; attend the awarding of FLAG scholarships on Tuesday, March 26, on campus at the University of Guam. 

Filipino Ladies Association of Guam members and officers join University of Guam officials during the award of scholarships to Frances Pakingan, a junior majoring in accounting, and Nonilon Santos, a senior in Business Administration on Tuesday, March 26, on campus at the University of Guam. 

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Santos and Pakingan took separate, but similar paths. 

Pakingan is a junior majoring in accounting. Driven to make the most out of her life as a student, she started earning college credits when she was a junior at John F. Kennedy High School under a dual-enrollment program between the Guam Department of Education and UOG. See this link https://www.uog.edu/_resources/files/forms/duale_checklist_083017.pdf 

Santos, a UOG senior, earned her foundational courses via an associate’s degree track at Guam Community College while earning her Business Administration major at UOG. She wanted to graduate quickly, she said, because she was concerned the cost of college might go up if she didn’t hurry.  

The two stood out in their pursuit of a fast-tracked college education when they applied for a scholarship from the Filipino Ladies Association of Guam (FLAG).  

Santos and Pakingan’s work ethic as students and high academic performance were part of what gave them the edge in the selection, according to FLAG. 

They received a one-time award of $500 each from FLAG during a brief gathering attended by Acting UOG President Randy Weigand; Dr. Gena Rojas, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success; and Mark Duarte, Director of Financial Aid.

Santos worked three side jobs while attending college classes up until she became a senior. She said she is now focused solely on her academics. After graduation, she plans on securing a job that will lead her to becoming a financial analyst and later as a financial advisor. 

Pakingan plans on enrolling in the all-online Master of Accountancy program at UOG as soon as she finishes her undergraduate degree next year. The Master of Accountancy program aligns with her goal to become a Certified Public Accountant. 

Dr. Gena Rojas, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success, recognized Pakingan and Santos as examples of college students on a fast lane.