Standing in front of a packed Calvo Field House, Ardiente gave a speech that started with a moving confession: “I told my mom she’s getting VIP seating because the Student Government Association president gets VIP seating for commencement, but the truth is, we did it. I love you, Mom.” 

Ardiente was named the valedictorian of the Fanuchånan (Fall) 2025 class and in her address, she spoke of growth, perseverance, and most importantly, purpose. For Ardiente, her “why” has always been rooted in family and in encouraging and inspiring a sense of belonging in the people around her.

 

Not Your Traditional College Student

The journey to graduating top of her class as a first-generation student with a perfect GPA in public administration was an unexpected one, as Ardiente doesn’t consider herself a traditional college student, let alone a typical valedictorian. 

Ardiente finished high school with a 2.5 GPA and no interest in student organizations. After graduation, she enlisted as an infantryman with the Guam Army National Guard where she learned basic life skills, as well as the importance of stepping up and staying disciplined. But after six years of service, she was compelled to venture in a new direction and even though her military benefits allowed her to travel just about anywhere, she chose to attend UOG to stay close to family and see what higher education had to offer.

Though she did not know exactly what she wanted to major in, Ardiente remembers being in awe by how driven many of her classmates in her First Year Seminar course were. They were determined to do well in their classes so they could ultimately become teachers or nurses or engineers. The go-getter attitude was one Ardiente could respect and relate to.

“My mindset towards college was to take initiative, get involved, get the grade, and if it’s meant to be, if it's meant for me, then it will be,” Ardiente says. 

 

Into the Fold of Triton Life

Ardiente was committed to fully immersing herself in all the opportunities available at UOG. She was a senator for the 62nd Student Government Association, later becoming the vice president for the 63rd SGA and the president for the 64th SGA. During her run for senator, she crossed paths with Professor Ronald Aguon, who was impressed by her enthusiasm and convinced her to become a public administration major.  

“I just was drawn to the fact that he, as a professor, didn't know me, but he was just so welcoming,” Ardiente recalls. “From there, Professor Aguon mentored me throughout my time at UOG, along with Dr. Gena Rojas, who was also a public admin faculty and the advisor of SGA at the time.” 

In addition to SGA, Ardiente joined a number of other student organizations—a total of twenty-five, to be exact. From the Chuuk Student Organization to the Soroptimist Sigma Society, Ardiente strengthened connections with many of her peers and forged several lasting friendships along the way. 

 

A Heart of Helping Others

At the core of all of Ardiente’s decisions and undertakings is the simple, yet powerful principle of helping others. 

Part of her reason for studying public administration came from a desire to help struggling families and was influenced by her own upbringing. Ardiente and her five brothers were raised by a single mother who was unable to complete high school. “Ever since I was young, I always thought, ‘How can I help families like mine get out of situations like this?’ Then I stumbled across public administration,” she shares.

Ardiente’s involvement in SGA granted her a way to meaningfully impact the student experience and uplift their voices. In addition to enacting initiatives like Project Periodt, which funded campus-wide availability of feminine product dispensers, Ardiente was often present at legislative hearings to provide student-centered testimony on legislation that directly affected their education at UOG. 

And in her involvement with the over two dozen student organizations that she joined over the course of her undergrad career, Ardiente leaned into each one to better understand how to best contribute to their causes and assist them with any problems they faced. 

“I like talking to people,” Ardiente says of her helpful nature, “and I have no problem showing up for those that I care about.”

 

What the Future Holds

The next big step for Ardiente is Georgetown University, where she will begin a master’s program in public policy this Fall. Looking even further ahead, Ardiente is not afraid to set her sights high. A PhD, a position in Congress to represent the people of Guam, a run for the U.S. presidency—these are all possibilities for her. But regardless of what Ardiente ends up choosing to do, she guarantees that she will continue to move with intention, never losing sight of the importance of making a difference in the lives of those around her.