Excitement, anticipation, and Guam pride filled the air as the University of Guam (UOG) delegation arrived in Long Beach, California, for the opening day of the 2026 Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference (SACNAS 2026).

For many of the students, the trip represents a series of firsts: their first national scientific conference, their first opportunity to present research to a national audience, and, for some, their first experience traveling to the mainland United States.

The grant funded delegation arrived ready to make the most of the experience, beginning with group activities, conference registration, and pre-conference mentoring designed to prepare students for the opportunities ahead.

Cheryl Sangueza Ph.D., UOG professor and a part of the leadership team for the grants that brought the students to SACNAS 2026 including Guam NSF EPSCoR, NSF Navigating Home and the SEAS Alliance, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, NextGen COMPASS and BES-RENEW says that the energy from the students was powerful.

“Many of them, it’s their first time to SACNAS conference. Some of them, it’s their first time stateside. So the energy has been super, super exciting,” said Sangueza.

This year’s Guam delegation is the largest on record, with 68 participants.

The experience began even before students arrived at the conference venue. After a lengthy journey from Guam, the delegation boarded a bus to its hotel, bringing together students, researchers, and mentors eager to experience everything the conference has to offer.

Austin Shelton Ph.D., the director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant and also co-principal investigator for the SEAS, EPSCoR E-RISE, Navigating Home grants encouraged the next generation of Guam scientists to take advantage of the opporutnities for growth and development during SACNAS 2026. 

“The students are going to be presenting to people from all over the world and from some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country, and this could bring great opportunities for them in thier educational and career paths,” said Shelton. “Our students are not just showcasing thier research but the growing capacity of our programs and the entire University of Guam.”

Among those participating is UOG student Jarome Scott, who is pursuing a biomedical, pre-dental track, who is a student under the Guam NSF EPSCoR E-CORE program.

“Traveling to the States for the first time was quite an experience: the long flights. I never flown before, so experiencing those 14-hour flights, having to just experience the cold weather, a big culture shock compared to Guam,” Scott shared.

Despite the challenges of traveling so far from home, Scott said the opportunity to connect with fellow students has already made the experience worthwhile.

“It definitely taught me a lot of things, especially just things to take away from the conference and just to be there, present,” he said.

An important highlight of the delegation’s opening activities was a pre-conference mentoring session, where students received guidance on navigating the conference, building professional relationships, and making the most of their time among scientists and researchers from across the nation.

The Guam delegation also connected with fellow Pacific Island representatives from the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through the SEAS Islands Alliance, strengthening a network of island researchers working to increase representation and opportunities in STEM.

Sangueza emphasized the importance of these partnerships, which bring together students and researchers who share experiences shaped by island communities.

The conference also provides opportunities for students to build confidence, develop professional skills, and establish relationships that could influence their academic and career paths.

As the conference gets underway, Sangueza said the delegation is looking forward to the scientific presentations, networking opportunities, and activities that will bring students together with researchers from across the country.

For the University of Guam, participation in SACNAS represents a continued investment in developing the island’s future scientists and expanding opportunities for students from Guam and the greater Pacific region.

SOME PICTURES OF THE STUDENTS IN ACTION!