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The Guam Community College recently celebrated 35 graduates from four of its workforce programs during a ceremony. The 35 graduates include the inaugural cohort of the YouthBuild Construction Trades program along with the boot camps of truck driving, bus driving, and ship repair—four high-demand industries that strengthen Guam’s workforce and economy, GCC said in a release. The first-ever cohort of GCC’s YouthBuild Construction Trades Program, which includes seven young adults, spent over six months together and have gained hands-on training in industrial Safety, blueprint reading, and construction trades. They also worked on an affordable housing project with the Guam Housing Corporation at the Lada Gardens subdivision in Dededo. “The YouthBuild program is a four-year grant that we received from the U.S. Department of Labor that has been instrumental throughout many states,” said GCC President Mary A.Y. Okada. “We anticipate that after the four-year grant award we will be able to apply again for additional funding. Maybe not for construction but to provide other workforce support for other industries here on Guam as we start to diverse into other critical areas.” YouthBuild is a free program designed to help young adults ages 18 to 24 who left high school find new opportunities in education and work. It combines classroom lessons, job skills, and community service to prepare students for long-term careers. “Standing here today, I feel proud. I’m proud of what I’ve done, but also of who I’ve become,” said Gabriel Xavier Quinene, YouthBuild completer. “YouthBuild helped me build a foundation for my future — and I know this is just the beginning. As I move forward, I’ll carry everything I’ve learned with me — the discipline, the teamwork, the confidence, and the spirit of giving back. My goal now is to use these lessons to help others the same way YouthBuild has helped me.” “I am especially really impressed with the YouthBuild program,” said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. “This is 100% federally funded. One of our biggest strengths is how we help the people that need help. This is a program that helps our youth who did not or could not for whatever unfortunate reason get a high school diploma. This program allows them to get their GED.” The success of YouthBuild would not have been possible without strong support from community partners, including Smithbridge Guam, Triple J Enterprises, Inc., the Guam Department of Labor, American Job Center, and Guam Housing Corporation. “We are aggressively pursuing programs that give our people real opportunities to build careers and strengthen Guam’s workforce,” said David Dell’Isola, GDOL director. “Whether it’s YouthBuild, Registered Apprenticeship, Ship Repair, Bus Driving, our focus is on developing programs and partnerships that meet industry needs. Every initiative brings us closer to a more skilled, resilient, and self-sustaining workforce.” GCC is currently accepting applications from qualified individuals for the second cohort of the YouthBuild program. To verify qualification email youthbuild@guamcc.edu or contact Adrian Davis at (671) 735-5641 ext. 6009. In addition to the YouthBuild graduates—who completed a construction-focused program—GCC also recognized 28 participants from three separate workforce bootcamps: Truck Driving V, Bus Driving IV, and Ship Repair XIV. The Truck Driving Boot Camp V, held from July 18, 2024, to June 28, 2025, provided hands-on commercial truck driving training and employability development. Seven participants successfully earned their Guam “Class C” Driver’s License and completed ACT WorkKeys, Work Ethic, and OSHA 10 certifications to strengthen their workforce readiness. The three-month long Ship Repair Boot Camp XIV prepared students for careers in Guam’s ship repair industry. Ten participants completed technical training in Welding, Blueprint Reading, and Electricity, along with ACT WorkKeys, Work Ethic, OSHA 10, and Heartsaver CPR certifications to enhance professional readiness. The Bus Driving Boot Camp IV, conducted from Nov. 14, 2024, to June 30, 2025, trained participants for commercial passenger transportation careers. Eleven students successfully passed the Guam Class D Driver’s License exam and completed ACT WorkKeys and other workplace readiness training to support employment success.
