A trailblazing scholar of Pohnpeian, Chuukese and Chamorro heritage was honored with a $10,000 scholarship, showcasing his commitment to advancing education and celebrating cultural diversity.

20-year-old ivan Blanco embodies One Micronesia - his roots stretching from the shores of Pohnpei to the beaches of Saipan the waters of Chuuk, and he’s now setting them here in Guam.  “I was born and raised in Pohnpei for about eight years, and then, we then moved to Saipan, and then I went to school up until 8th grade, and then went down to Chuuk—lived there for four years to attend Xavier high school–so it was from Pohnpei, Chuuk, and now I’m currently here in Guam," he shared.

Each move from every island not without hardship at first for Blanco–nevertheless, shaping his journey into a mosaic of experiences, each piece collected in a new place, contributing to his storied identity.  And holding it all together was a resounding cultural value he shared with his fellow Micronesians, giving him a deep sense of self. 

He said, “Growing up in Pohnpei, I already got the cultural distinctness. So, very similarly, all these cultures all work in hand together. For example, right–CHamoru, Pohnepeians; I believe, within our blue continent, we all value respect, and that’s something that really comes up. It wasn’t too difficult because I was raised in an environment where I was surrounded by my family, my relatives, my community members who were also in my range of, you know, like Micronesian.” 

It was in these places, surrounded by strong community, where Blanco discovered his passion for academics.  “When I graduated from Xavier High School, it was a non-traditional graduation due to COVID-19; I went to Saipan and was just hanging out at home–I didn’t know what to do…but not knowing that my father and Dean Camacho had already started enrolling me in UOG. So, during my first at UOG, I was taking classes virtually in Saipan," he said.

Blanco eventually able to attend his UOG classes in person.  But when the financial burden of pursuing higher education was seemingly too heavy for him and his family, the young man proving his resiliency. 

Ivan, now a junior in the University of Guam’s business administration program,  the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship from the Pacific Basin Group: Rotary Club. 

 “I am truly grateful to the Pacific Basin Group, Rotary Club, for providing me the opportunity to continue my education. My mother, being a single parent, raising my younger siblings–I never wanted to burden her with my financial debts, so looking for scholarships has always been my only way to fund my education," he said.

Ivan also juggling  being a working student–the UOG student working at Vice-Speaker Tina Muna Barnes' office.

“This environment that I’m in really gives me a perspective of policy-making–currently, we’re working on diversifying the economy with trans-shipment, and there are just so many things such as modernizing our regulatory practices, laws here in Guam, attaching that to business. I feel like this opportunity allows me to see more in-depth into our economy so, that it will assist me in pursuing opening up a business in the near future. So really compiling all this together," he said.

He now hopes to share his knowledge and pour it back into the communities that got him where he is today.   “I’ve always told my family I’m not sure when I’m going to graduate, but given this opportunity that Rotary gave me, I can say confidently that I will graduate soon. So, with my education, I aspire to return back home and be able to look at ways of starting up a business so that I’m able to serve my community–but not just Saipan–because I want to serve our entire blue continent through businesses and providing job opportunities," he said.