Grace Anne S. Dela Cruz, a junior nursing major at the University of Guam, has been named a 2025 Truman Scholar, becoming the first nursing student in the university’s history to receive the prestigious national award.
Dela Cruz, who also minors in public administration, was selected from an applicant pool of 743 candidates representing 288 institutions nationwide. She is one of just 60 students chosen for the honor this year and the 22nd Truman Scholar in UOG’s history, according to a press release from the university.
“Receiving this scholarship reminds me that my work does not go unnoticed,” Dela Cruz said in the release. “It humbles and inspires me to know that the work that I do has made a difference, and that with this new opportunity as a Truman Scholar, I can continue to do so.”
The Truman Scholarship, created by Congress in 1975 as a living memorial to President Harry S. Truman, awards $30,000 toward graduate studies for college juniors who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and commitment to public service. Recipients also gain access to leadership training and a network of change-makers.
Dela Cruz currently serves as secretary for the 63rd UOG Student Government Association and represents the university in the 35th Guam Youth Congress.
Overcoming self-doubt during the application process was a significant hurdle for Dela Cruz, who credits her mother for providing crucial encouragement.
“I remember telling her I didn’t think I was good enough to apply for this scholarship, but she pushed me to do it anyway because she believed in me,” Dela Cruz said in the release.
In an interview with The Guam Daily Post, Dela Cruz said that support reflects her family’s lasting influence on her education and career path.
“My family, at least they always wanted me to go into something with healthcare, but at first I wasn’t really interested in that,” she said. “I think it was much later where I developed my own personal passion for it, especially after gaining research experience and seeing what healthcare looks like on Guam.”
Dela Cruz’s achievement marks a milestone for UOG’s nursing program and may inspire future healthcare students to pursue similar recognition.
“I think it would inspire more students to apply for the Truman Scholarship,” she said. “It would remind not just nurses, but people in healthcare that what they do is a public service. It may not feel like it because we work with one client at a time, but we really are giving back to the community with the health and care we can provide.”
UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez praised Dela Cruz for exemplifying the university’s values.
“This recognition speaks to Grace Anne’s distinction above other candidates, her passion for community service and to the mentorship that surrounds her,” Enriquez said in the release. “As our 22nd Truman Scholar, this is a proud moment for our Triton community – especially our nursing and public service programs – and a reminder of the talent we’re growing right here at home.”
Looking ahead, Dela Cruz plans to pursue a doctoral degree in public health. She is particularly passionate about addressing healthcare accessibility and affordability issues on the island.
“A lot of people choose not to seek medical attention because of not being able to afford the services,” she said. “I think it’s really important that we all have access to healthcare. So, when I do go into my graduate studies, I hope to contribute to that conversation.”
She also hopes to address gaps in national health research that often exclude Guam.
“For my graduate studies, I do want to focus more just on, for example, implementing certain national surveys that are done in other states, but not on Guam,” she said. “A lot of the times these surveys, they’re done every year, but Guam is rarely included in them. And I think it would shed some light on some of our more overlooked demographics.”
After completing her graduate studies, Dela Cruz envisions returning to UOG to help address faculty shortages.
“One of the ways that I’ve thought about giving back to UOG was coming back as a potential faculty,” she said. “I would love to come back and help save the future healthcare workers of Guam.”
For Dela Cruz, whose family immigrated to Guam, the recognition carries special meaning.
“My family isn’t indigenous to the island. They immigrated here years ago without having that many connections in the community,” she said. “It really does mean a lot, and I hope that students in the future just see that there’s so much opportunity and so much hope and really the sky is the limit. There is nothing that’s impossible with hard work.”
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