Guam Chamber to revive Dave J. Santos Scholarship Program

BY MAUREEN N. MARATITA
Journal Staff

When COVID-19 struck the world, it disrupted more than the economy. Schools, education and educational opportunities like internship programs were impacted and the Guam Chamber of Commerce is working to change that. 

Board members are bringing back the Dave J. Santos Scholarship Program to help grow young business-minded individuals into entrepreneurs and business leaders who can, in turn, help grow Guam’s economy, said William H. Calori, director and chief financial officer of Cabras Marine Corp. and its affiliates; and a member of the Guam Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

He said the call to revive the scholarship program was discussed at a meeting of the board of directors of the Guam Chamber of Commerce.

“The scholarship has had this money sitting in it,” he said. Meanwhile Guam is facing a challenge that he and other board members feel the scholarship program can help address. 

We all understand how critical workforce development is and how much of a shortage we have of young professionals and motivated individuals,” Calori said.

He said this shortage comes at a time when Guam is looking at an abundance of opportunities and those who are willing to work for it can find success at home — which is part of the goal of the scholarship program and of the Guam Chamber of Commerce.

“The jobs are here. There are so many opportunities — well-paying opportunities —available (and) we want to help grow the resource pool to fill those jobs,” Calori said.

The Dave J. Santos Scholarship Program helps college students gain higher education and experiences through its internship. The scholarship, established in 1993, was named in honor of the late Santos, a past Chamber board chairman, Guam’s 1993 Small Business Person of the Year, and a strong advocate of local entrepreneurship. The scholarship is available to eligible juniors and seniors in the undergraduate business program and to eligible graduate students in the School of Business.

One scholarship award of $1,000 per semester will be awarded and the recipient will be given an internship opportunity with the Guam Chamber of Commerce. It will require 25 hours each month of internship time and will pay $9.25 per hour.

Catherine S. Castro, president of Guam Chamber of Commerce, said the internship typically runs for one academic year. However, this year will be the exception “since it’s being revived in the spring semester.”

She said the long-standing scholarship program is still very relevant.

“People are always looking for opportunities to help with schooling,” she said, adding that the opportunity extends beyond financial support for higher education. “I think that what has been successful about the program and the people who have transitioned through … is what they’ve learned and experienced and have been able to use it in their professional lives.”

Interns get the opportunity to sit with business owners, business managers and in committee meetings for the different programs that the Chamber of Commerce runs, she said.

“Being able to keep themselves open to learning from all of the discussions that they will be exposed to is the key to getting the most out of the program,” she said.

Castro said some of the awardees have become major contributors to the community. Nathan T. Taimanglo, was a 2008 scholarship intern. After graduating went on to work at ASC Trust LLC as a marking and investment advisory manager, lead human resources at Cars Plus LLC, Triple J Enterprises Inc. and Docomo Pacific. He also served on the boards of the Guam Visitors Bureau and the Port Authority of Guam.

Taimanglo credited the program for helping him on the path of success. 

“My internship with the Guam Chamber of Commerce provided a solid foundation for jump-starting my career after college. I was able to take the incredible opportunity given to me to gain valuable experience, make genuine connections, and build a fantastic network that proved integral to my success,” he said. “I encourage anyone who is serious about their life after undergrad to apply to make the most out of the experience.”

Another former scholarship recipient, Celia Anderson, is now a business owner whose enterprise was featured recently in Guam Business Magazine, sister publication to the Journal. (See It Girl: Celia Anderson at guambusinessmagazine.com/it-girl-celia-anderson).
“I received this award when I was working multiple jobs to support my education; this scholarship provided me financial relief academically and personally,” she said.

Anderson said the benefit was not only financial. “The internship has grown my network with Guam’s business community, expanded my knowledge beyond the classroom, and opened many other opportunities.”

The Chamber instilled the value of supporting the local market, as well as her love for small businesses, Anderson said. She said the Chamber continues to reach out to her with more opportunities. “They only want success for their interns. I am grateful for the support I received and the service the Chamber does for our island.”

Calori said local businesses typically prefer to hire local employees, those who are familiar with the community and culture. The scholarship program is a good way to help grow a local work force that includes individuals ready for the challenges of entrepreneurship or managing existing companies.

He said equipping residents with the tools and knowledge so they can take advantage of local opportunities also helps grow the local economy, which keeps more people on island and addresses the issue of losing people.

“I think the more that we can help produce more individuals who have the technical skillsets … is really powerful. People want better lives, so they’re going to look for opportunities and if they can’t find something [in Guam] they’re going to look for opportunities elsewhere.” mbj