MANGILAO, Guam —Perseverance, hard work and leadership are words that best describe John F. Kennedy’s Class of 2018 salutatorian Seanna Bataclan.
The second-year UOG biology major has taken up leadership roles at UOG.
In September 2019, Bataclan assembled Merit students to meet with officials at the UOG Financial Aid office and the offices of Sen. Joe San Augustin and Sen. Amanda Shelton to change PL 34-151.
Public Law 34-151 was signed into law by Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo on Dec. 28, 2018.
The bill uses a Merit student’s Pell grant to cover the initial cost of tuition where the Student Financial Assistance Fund pays for the remaining amount.
Bataclan said the Pell Grant provides much needed funding for academic success outside of tuition and should be a refunded back to Merit students.
“It’s a lot of shared sentiment between us even though we have differing opinions,” she said. “We all utilize the Pell Grant for the betterment of our lives.”
In previous semesters, Bataclan used her Pell Grant to help pay for extra expenses when she attended an enrichment program surrounding health disparities on Guam, mainly regarding women, at Portland State University.
At present, senators are still deliberating the proposed changes for PL 34-151.
“At this point it’s just a waiting game and preparation for any future public hearings and any future testimonies,” Bataclan said.
Despite taking 21 credits this semester, Bataclan continues to fight for the Merit students so that they can have a voice.
“I do it because I know this is what’s right,” she said. “It’s not only affecting the students its also affecting some of the families of these students.”
Bataclan said getting involved with extracurricular programs allowed her to develop her leadership and scholastic skills, which helped her to become successful in high school.
Bataclan was selected for the Merit Award Program, which covers her tuition and fees at UOG for four academic years, and provides her with a monthly stipend and book allowance.
Bataclan attributes much of her academic success to her family. “It was more of like wanting to make my family proud,” Bataclan stated.