Established through the generosity of longtime Guam resident and environmental advocate Vance Stanley Eflin, the scholarship will provide $7,000 per year for up to four years of undergraduate study, totalling as much as $28,000 toward a student’s University of Guam education. As funding continues to be available in future years, additional students will be selected to receive this scholarship, expanding its impact on the next generation of environmental leaders.

Eflin moved to Guam in 1988 after earning a master's degree in Environmental Economics from Clemson University. He continued his studies in Marine Biology at the University of Guam and went on to work with the Guam Environmental Protection Agency and private companies, contributing to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices throughout his career. His love for Guam's natural environment extends beyond his professional life. An avid hiker, gardener, beachcomber, and adventure traveller, Eflin has spent decades appreciating the island's natural resources and believes strongly in preparing the next generation to protect them.

Through the scholarship, Eflin hopes to support students who share that passion and want to make a difference through environmental research, education, leadership, and policies that protect and preserve Guam's environment for future generations.

“The Vance Stanley Eflin Environmental Scholarship is an investment in both our students and the future of our island.” Said Dr. Anita Borja-Enriquez, President of the University of Guam. “Through this scholarship, Mr. Eflin creates a meaningful connection between his lifelong passion for environmental stewardship and the next generation of scientists, engineers, researchers, and leaders who will shape a more sustainable future for Guam.”

The scholarship is open to University of Guam students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science, Engineering, Biology, or Chemistry. Incoming UOG freshmen may be considered for selection provided there is a nomination letter from a teacher or counsellor, and they submit 2 letters of recommendation attesting to their interest in environmental studies and a desire to make a difference in the world. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in environmental studies and a desire to make a positive impact. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA while continuing in an eligible field of study to receive the scholarship in subsequent years.

"We are incredibly grateful to Vance Eflin for his generosity and his commitment to both our students and our island," said Katrina Perez, Executive Director of the UOG Endowment Foundation. "Visionary benefactors like Vance create an impact that reaches far beyond a scholarship recipient. By investing in students who are passionate about environmental stewardship, he is also investing in the future health and sustainability of Guam."

Through the Vance Stanley Eflin Environmental Scholarship, Eflin hopes his investment will not only help a student earn a college degree, but inspire a future environmental leader committed to protecting the island he has called home for nearly four decades.

For more information regarding this scholarship or how you can create your own legacy of stewardship like Mr. Eflin please contact our office at (671) 735-2957 or email info@uogendowment.org or the University of Guam Advancement Office at (671) 735-2995/1 or email advancement@triton.uog.edu.