MANGILAO (UOG) — The University of Guam is expected to confer degrees to 198 students at its Fanuchånan (Fall) 2025 Commencement Ceremony, to be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, at the UOG Calvo Field House.
This graduating class includes 134 students earning bachelor’s degrees and 64 earning master’s degrees.
Commencement address
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and visual storyteller Manny Crisostomo will deliver the commencement address. Crisostomo has dedicated his career to documenting Pacific Islander cultures and the lives of CHamorus in Guam and the diaspora.
This marks Crisostomo’s second time serving as UOG’s commencement speaker. He first spoke to the UOG’s graduating class of 1989 — the same year he won the Pulitzer Prize for his photo essay “A Class Act, The Life and Times of Southwestern High School,” which was published in the Detroit Free Press. It documented the challenges faced by teenagers in a racially diverse community that was contending with drugs, violence and economic hardship.
Crisostomo’s multimedia work has also earned national and international recognition, including the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for his photo documentary on Hmong refugees, “The Leftover People.”
His photography books “Legacy of Guam: I Kustumbren Chamoru, Guam From the Heavens,” and “Journeys to the Heart: Pacific Islanders Celebrate Their Indigenous Cultures,” have helped shape the visual narrative of island life and indigenous identity. His most recent book, a redesigned second edition of “Journeys to the Heart” was published in 2024.
“Manny Crisostomo’s career, awards, and advocacy remind us of the power of storytelling to capture our history, affirm identity, and drive social change,” said UOG President Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez. “As a son of Guam who continues to remain connected to the island, we are honored to welcome him back to UOG to inspire our graduates as they step into their own stories and impact their communities.”
Honorary doctorate
International human rights lawyer and author Julian Aguon will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the ceremony. Aguon is the founder of Blue Ocean Law and a leading voice in climate justice, decolonization, and Indigenous rights in the Pacific and beyond.
A Pulitzer Prize finalist and Right Livelihood Award laureate, he is also an educator, essayist, and mentor dedicated to training the next generation of advocates from the Pacific and beyond. He is the author of “The Properties of Perpetual Light” and “No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies.”
“Julian Aguon’s work reflects the values we uphold at UOG — courage, service, and a deep commitment to justice,” said Dr. Enriquez. “It is fitting to recognize his leadership and dedication to pacific island peoples and humanity at a time when our region needs it most.”
Attendance to the Fanuchånan 2025 Commencement Ceremony is by ticket only. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on the UOG YouTube channel and Facebook page.
