World War II survivor, 84, finally receives high school diploma

HAGÅTÑA, Guam — World War II survivor Maria Tudela Tenorio, 84, thought the family gathering Sunday night was only for one of her grandchildren, until she received her surprise honorary high school diploma.

Tenorio is now an honorary graduate of George Washington High School, more than 65 years after she was supposed to graduate were it not for the war and the economic hardships that followed, her family said.

Tenorio is the eighth survivor on Guam to receive an honorary high school diploma under a 2014 law, said Guam Education Board chairman Peter Alecxis Ada, who led other board members and Guam Department of Education officials in presenting the honorary diploma to Tenorio in Dededo.

Holocaust survivor receives high school diploma in Minn.

When the Japanese invaded Guam in 1941, Tenorio was a second grader at Dorn Hall located near the current Hagåtña Post Office, her family said.

“They rode on a truck to Barrigada after the bombing, then were forced to walk to Talofofo and then to Manengon. Her parents decided to settle in Talofofo village after the war,” her family said.

Tenorio, who will turn 85 on Sept. 3, attended Talofofo Elementary School. She graduated as valedictorian of her class during her eighth grade.

“After that, however, her Nana refused for her daughter to continue with her education,” the family said.

Anita Tenorio, the youngest of her 11 children and the one who applied for the honorary diploma, said her mother vicariously earned every one of her children’s degrees and successes in life.

“If she had the opportunity to continue her education, she would have made an excellent teacher and administrator,” the daughter said. “Maria Atoigue Tudela Tenorio deserves to own this high school diploma. The energy, guidance and sacrifices she gave for her 11 children’s career and degree successes prove this.”

All her 11 children graduated from high school, and five of those who received college degrees also earned master’s degrees. Two are serving in the military, and the others are working for the government and the private sector.

“She is a role model for her children and provided them with guidance on ethics and compassion for each other, and other people,” the family said. The war survivor’s husband, Juan Castro Tenorio of Talofofo, died in 1998, the family said.

Besides her 11 children, the war survivor also has 28 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild, her youngest daughter said.