This semester’s graduating class is the largest in UOG history and is expected to include 320 students earning bachelor’s degrees and 55 earning master’s degrees.

Commencement Speaker: Palau President Whipps 

The commencement address will be delivered by His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. President of the Republic of Palau. Now serving in his second term, President Whipps has committed to continuing the progress made in improving his nation’s public health, safety, education, and related infrastructure. His administration is expanding Palau’s tourism markets, a strategy that is beginning to yield positive results with increased visitor numbers and new international routes—such as Qantas' new service between Brisbane and Palau.

President Whipps brings over 30 years of experience in business management. Prior to his presidency, he served as CEO of Surangel & Sons Company, transforming it from a small retail store into a diversified enterprise employing more than 600 people. His dedication to community service is evident through his active participation in numerous civic organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on economics from Andrews University in Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

“This historic graduating class exemplifies the perseverance, excellence, and spirit of our Triton community,” said Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, University of Guam President. “These graduates are not only achieving personal milestones — they are also fueling our professional workforce with fresh talent, knowledge, and innovation that will drive progress across Micronesia and beyond.”

Event Details

Attendance to the ceremony is by ticket only. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on the UOG Facebook page.

For more information, visit: https://www.uog.edu/commencements/fanomnakan-2025.