“To Be First.” To Lead. To Uplift.

Established in 2010, M.O.’N.A. (Mentoring Our Next Achievers), meaning “to be first” in CHamoru, is the Kutturan CHamoru Foundation’s tuition-free, premier youth empowerment and scholarship initiative dedicated to cultivating the next generation of CHamoru leaders. For over a decade, M.O.’N.A. has identified a best-practice model that has shown to positively impact the lives of hundreds of students through mentorship, cultural empowerment, and academic support. As part of its comprehensive approach to college and career readiness, in coordination with NHPI associations at UCLA, USC, CSULB, SDSU and SFSU, students participate in campus tours, financial aid, leadership and cultural workshops. M.O.’N.A. is the umbrella program that houses Ta Fan Apåtte, a full CHamoru-Immersion camp, as well as the Cheyenne Angelica Scholarship.

A key indicator of the program’s success is that 100+ M.O.’N.A. participants have graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree or higher, many of whom have actively engaged in the program through mentorship, leadership development, and community-based events. This milestone reflects the program’s sustained impact and its effectiveness in guiding students toward higher education and long-term success.

Rooted in cultural identity, academic excellence, and community responsibility, M.O.’N.A. serves as a transformative and trusted pipeline for youth development, mentorship, and workforce readiness, equipping participants not only to succeed academically, but to lead with purpose and uplift their communities for generations to come.