Guam Legislature presents certificates to 12 University of Guam civil engineering graduates

Senator Sabrina Salas Masnani, legislative secretary and committee chair on health and veterans affairs, presented legislative certificates on June 12, 2025, in the Guam Legislature chamber recognizing 12 University of Guam civil engineering graduates who passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

The recognition highlights the graduates’ completion of the FE exam, which the chair described as covering “14 different engineering subjects including math, ethics, material science, and structural analysis.” The certificates were approved as an official expression of the Committee on Rules and certified by Speaker Frank Blasz Jr., Vice Speaker Tony Atta and Senator Sabrina Salas Masnani.

"They didn't just pass a test, they passed a right of passage," Senator Salas Masnani said, summarizing the committee’s remarks and the Legislature’s commendation. She noted the exam’s breadth of topics and framed the achievement as both personal and a sign of the University of Guam School of Engineering’s standards. The graduates were described as entering the workforce with employers including NAFAC, local design firms and national companies.

Nestor Guadis, School of Engineering division chair, told the Legislature, "This is the first stage for them to become a professional engineer and we are really extremely happy for them. So thank you. Congratulations everyone." Vice Speaker Tony Atta added, "It's gonna be a long journey but study hard and you'll be able to get to that, that goal. It's it's gonna be an achievement that you will all be proud of for the rest of your lives."

The presentation named several graduates during the ceremony, including Christian G. Balyut, Agatha Del Castillo, Phil Kenneth S. Dela Cruz, Charlene Lisonbee, Tristan Pahella, Ethan Vargas and Nicholas Nadeau. The speaker noted 12 graduates in total; the full list of all 12 names was not specified in the transcript.

Senator Therese Jalahe and other legislators congratulated the graduates and emphasized local demand for engineers, with one speaker noting that many of the graduates plan to remain on Guam. The ceremony concluded with the chair stating the committee’s directive that the official expression of recognition be sent on behalf of the people of Guam.

The FE exam was described during remarks as the academic milestone toward professional licensure; speakers referenced the next steps after the FE (the EIT and then the PE). No votes or policy changes were taken beyond the issuance of the certificates and the committee’s formal directive to transmit the recognition.

The presentation concluded the scheduled certificate agenda item and closed without additional action or referral.