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Sen. Shelley Calvo and colleagues honor middle school dancers with certificate after cultural-heritage competition win
Summary
Sen. Shelley Calvo presented Certificate No. 344-38 recognizing middle school students for taking first place in the cultural-heritage competition’s Konta Lalai Janbaila category, praising the students for preserving Chamorro language and traditions and inviting teachers to accept certificates for absent students.
Sen. Shelley Calvo presented a certificate of recognition to middle school students on behalf of the 38th Guam Legislature for winning first place in the Konta Lalai Janbaila category at a 2026 cultural competition.
"You are carrying forward the voices of our island, our island's ancestors," Calvo said, addressing students and families and urging the students to take pride in preserving the Chamorro language and traditions. Calvo introduced the certificate as Certificate No. 344-38 and said it was sponsored by her and Sen. Sabina Perez and certified by legislative leaders.
Calvo thanked teachers, cultural practitioners and families for their role in guiding the students. "To the teachers, cultural practitioners, and families, Sedoos Masi, your guidance and dedication make moments like this possible," she said, invoking the Chamorro value of inafamalik—working together to uplift the community.
During the presentation, Calvo named several students who were called up to receive certificates and asked teachers to accept awards on behalf of those who were absent. Named students included Abigail, Shekinah Medina, A'Lelia Quintaniza, Jasmine Noggin, Sofia Amoiti, Ria Finch, Michael Titano, Jaber Diwa, Ashton Nelson, Danae Saint Nicholas and Matthew Paragas; teachers and advisers were also recognized.
Another senator invited by Calvo offered brief remarks congratulating the students and their families, praising the achievement and encouraging them to remain rooted in their culture. A student representative thanked the senators and staff for the recognition and said the competition fostered camaraderie and self-expression through song, dance and chants.
The ceremony concluded with instructions for teachers to collect certificates for absent students and a group photo with the honored students and guests. No formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript of this presentation.
