by Krystal Paco

Guam - 60 years ago the University of Guam first opened its doors as the Territorial College of Guam. "I'm so proud when you think back of the humble beginnings when the College of Guam first started," noted Florida Sanchez.

She vividly remembers the Quonset huts in Mongmong where her husband, Dr. Pedro Sanchez, served as dean and later as the Territorial College of Guam's second president. Sanchez says the college had less than a dozen professors teaching the basics of math, English, and carpentry. Fast forward 60 years and she's amazed at the college's growth.

Dr. Lorraine Yamashita, wife of the university's first president Dr. Antonio Yamashita, says the college was threatened for closure after the faculty and dean failed to meet eye-to-eye. Thankfully, her husband stepped in and provided the leadership to stabilize and grow the institution, as well as establish the Micronesian Area Research Center and the Marine Lab. "The transformation of the university is amazing; it started as the Territorial College then the College of Guam in '63, and then through his leadership we developed it into the Guam College and then the University of Guam in '68," she said.

10th UOG president Dr. Robert Underwood says he was only 3 years old when the college first opened its doors. He's happy to see that the college has transformed from an adjunct high school to what it is today. At the most recent graduation commencement the university celebrated its 14,000th graduate. Said Underwood, "There isn't an office there isn't a school there isn't a hospital, there isn't a business in Guam or Micronesia that doesn't have at least one UOG graduate working there. This is the Triton impact on this island."

In honor of Founders Day, Campus Lane behind UOG was renamed to Presidents Lane as well as a Founders Day recognition ceremony where the families of the college's first presidents, the first Guam Legislature, and the original founder, Dr. Jose Palomo, were honored. Tomorrow night the college will host a black-tie University of Guam Founders Day gala at the Hyatt Regency Guam.