UOG Honors Inaugural Triton Outstanding Employee Award Recipients

UOG Honors Inaugural Triton Outstanding Employee Award Recipients

UOG Honors Inaugural Triton Outstanding Employee Award Recipients


9/25/2026
Faculty Award Recipients: University of Guam leaders and colleagues recognize Ernesto J. Guades, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at the School of Engineering, as a first-quarter recipient of the Triton Outstanding Employee Award. From left: Joseph B. Gumataotao, Chief Human Resources Officer; Roseann Jones, Dean of the School of Business & Public Administration; Sharleen Santos-Bamba, Senior Vice President and Provost; UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez; Guades; Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Business Officer; Hiroshan Hettiarachchi, Dean of the School of Engineering; and Cris Czar Perez, UOG Employees Association president. Not pictured is second-quarter faculty award recipient Maria Claret Ruane, professor of economics at the School of Business & Public Administration. Photo courtesy of the University of Guam.
Staff Award Recipients: University of Guam leaders and colleagues recognize Triton Outstanding Employee Award recipients Lorenzo Eduvala and Paul Yamanaka. From left: Gena Rojas, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success; Sharleen Santos-Bamba, Senior Vice President and Provost; UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez; Eduvala, Second-Quarter Staff Award Recipient; Yamanaka, First-Quarter Staff Award Recipient; Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Business Officer; Joseph B. Gumataotao, Chief Human Resources Officer; Tanisha Aflague, Interim Associate Director of Extension and Professor of Nutrition; and Cris Czar Perez, UOG Employees Association President. Photo courtesy of the University of Guam.
Supervisor Award Recipients: University of Guam leaders recognize Triton Outstanding Employee Award recipients Marlena Pangelinan and Janet B. San Nicolas. From left: Cris Czar Perez, UOG Employees Association President; Sharleen Santos-Bamba, Senior Vice President and Provost; UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez; Pangelinan, Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and First-Quarter Supervisor Award Recipient; San Nicolas, Program Coordinator III with Enrollment Management & Student Success and Second-Quarter Supervisor Award Recipient; Gena Rojas, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success; Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Business Officer; and Joseph B. Gumataotao, Chief Human Resources Officer. Photo courtesy of the University of Guam.
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The University of Guam recognized six faculty, staff, and supervisors for exceptional service and performance during its inaugural Triton Outstanding Employee Award Recognition Ceremony on Sept. 25 at the Dr. Lucio C. Tan Student Success Center.

Sponsored by the Office of the President and coordinated through the University’s Human Resources Office, the Triton Outstanding Employee Award recognizes employees who go above and beyond the expectations of their roles and contribute to the success of UOG students, colleagues, and the University. Recipients are selected by a committee of faculty, staff, administrators, and students from across campus and receive a $500 cash award, a certificate of appreciation, and other prizes.

The first- and second-quarter recipients are:

  • Faculty: Dr. Ernesto J. Guades, associate professor of civil engineering, first quarter; and Dr. Maria Claret Ruane, professor of economics, second quarter.

  • Staff: Paul Yamanaka, extension associate II with the College of Natural & Applied Sciences, first quarter; and Lorenzo Eduvala, protocol and Board liaison officer and acting director of EEO, Title IX, and ADA coordinator, second quarter.

  • Supervisors: Marlena Pangelinan, vice provost for institutional effectiveness, first quarter; and Janet B. San Nicolas, program coordinator III with Enrollment Management & Student Success, second quarter. 

“The strength of the University of Guam comes from our people and their commitment to our students, one another, and the communities we serve,” said Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, UOG President. “Through the Triton Outstanding Employee Award, we celebrate employees who demonstrate excellence in their work and embody the spirit of Inadåhi yan Inagofli’e — respect, compassion, and community.”

The University also recognized all first- and second-quarter nominees for their contributions to UOG.

Faculty nominees were Dr. Guades; Dean Olah, Professor of Professional Teacher Preparation at the School of Education; Albert R. Valentine, Assistant Professor of Global Resource Management at the School of Business & Public Administration; and Dr. Ruane.

Staff nominees were Maria Caringal, Senior Student Academic Counseling Specialist with Enrollment Management & Student Success; Angela Dueñas, Administrative Assistant at the Marine Laboratory; Eduvala; Kayleen Kanemoto, Junior Data Control Clerk with the Office of Information Technology; Gus Meno, Electrician II with Facilities Management & Services; Jude Camemo, Maintenance Worker with Triton Athletics and Field House; Yamanaka; Mye Ganan-Flores, Administrative Assistant at the Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center; Aaron Restuvog, Safety Officer; and Debbie Toves, Administrative Officer at the School of Business & Public Administration.

Supervisor nominees were Venus Ituralde, Student Behavioral Counselor Supervisor and Wellness Coordinator with Enrollment Management & Student Success; San Nicolas; and Pangelinan.

President Enriquez, Senior Vice President and Provost Sharleen Santos-Bamba, and Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Business Officer Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez provided welcoming remarks during the ceremony.

The Triton Outstanding Employee Award supports Tulos Mo’na Strategic Pillar 3, “Enrich the Employee Experience through Inadåhi yan Inagofli’e,” which emphasizes respect, compassion, community, employee recognition, and a positive workplace culture.

The University will continue recognizing employees through the Triton Outstanding Employee Award as part of its commitment to strengthening the employee experience and celebrating the people whose work advances UOG’s mission of Ina, Deskubre, Setbe — to enlighten, discover, and serve.