A big celebration was held Thursday night at the University of Guam Calvo Fieldhouse to recognize the National Sea Grant College Program, officially designating the University of Guam Sea Grant Program as a Sea Grant Institute. With the new designation, UOG is now both a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution.

UOG's Sea Grant Program launched more than two decades ago and in this spring, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially approved UOG Sea Grant’s institutional designation. What this means? It will bring more resources for the program to do better marine coastal resource science and outreach with the island community.

Director Dr. Austin Shelton said the journey to receiving such a landmark institutional status, started late last year when the program underwent a rigorous review. "Just last year in October, we went through a comprehensive two-week review where we were looked at for our productivity for the type of science that were doing for the partners that we were able to bring together and the National Sea Grant Program and NOAA saw that we meet all of these standards and officially designated us as a National Sea Grant Institute," he proudly said.

The UOG Sea Grant Program is one of 34 sea grant programs nationwide and is not only the youngest, it is also the smallest.

According to Jonathan Pennock, director of the National Sea Grant College Program, the UOG Sea Grant Program demonstrated excellence in research, education, and public service dedicated to the environmentally responsible management and development of Guam’s marine and coastal resources.

To acknowledge such an achievement, a ceremony and celebration was held Thursday night at the with educational outreach, food, giveaways, and entertainment. "We really look forward the impact that we're going to be able to have here and look forward to reaching out and continuing to work with all the amazing partners on Guam to have a sustainable future for all of us," Dr. Shelton stated.