Guam Legislature adopts resolution honoring University of Guam accounting team for AGA 2024 win

Vice Speaker Tina Rose Munoz Barnes presented a legislative resolution Dec. 16, 2024, recognizing the University of Guam accounting team and their faculty adviser for winning first place in the Association of Government Accountants' 2024 Government Finance Case Challenge.

The resolution, numbered 616-37 L.S., commends Dr. Doreen Crisostomo Munia, the team's faculty adviser, and students Alvin Tinoso, Caitlin Villa and Ilaria Williams Duenas for conducting a citizen-centered financial analysis of the state of Maine and for placing first in the undergraduate competition. "I am so honored to do this resolution," Vice Speaker Tina Rose Munoz Barnes said as she read the measure and called the students and their adviser to the dais.

The University of Guam team analyzed Maine's finances across areas the competition rubric highlighted, including education, economic development and workforce training, health and human services, public health, transportation safety and development, and natural resources protection. The resolution notes the students prepared revenue and expense breakdowns and an economic outlook as part of their submission and that each team member received a $1,500 award.

During the presentation, a faculty member in the chamber urged newly seated senators to consult publicly available agency summaries when reviewing budgets and audits. A student representative who accepted the resolution on behalf of the team thanked their faculty adviser, saying, "we couldn't have done it without doctor Doreen Crisostomo, who has honestly guided us throughout." The student remarks were offered from the floor after the formal adoption.

The resolution text states it was "duly and regularly adopted by the 37th Guam Legislature on [the] 16th day of December 2024." The legislative action is a formal commendation and does not direct specific follow-up tasks or appropriate funds. Copies of the adopted resolution were ordered transmitted to Dr. Crisostomo Munia, the students named in the measure, the dean of the School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Guam, and the Speaker's office.

The item was presented as part of a holiday session at the Guam Congress Building; discussion focused on recognition and the students' recommendation that public, compact agency financial reports (available on the Office of Public Accountability website) be used by legislators preparing to review budgets.

The presentation highlights the University of Guam's presence in national government-finance education competitions and recognizes the students' work in producing a multi-topic, citizen-focused financial analysis of a U.S. state. No further legislative action, budgeting, or programmatic implementation was recorded for this resolution.