UPAA Washington DC

By: Ryan Tejero

 

The University of the Philippines (UP) Alumni Association of the District of Columbia, State of Maryland and Commonwealth of Virginia Chapter (UPAADCMDVA) was founded in 1974. As a nonprofit organization of former students, and friends of UP, the Association promotes the character, traditions and goals of the University through scholarships, professorial chair, and other educational programs, issues, cultural activities and public service. A common thread of volunteerism and generosity runs through the membership. The Association has offered its excellence and leadership to Community and Country – all traits of which are embodied in the University’s symbol, the Oblation.

The UPAADCMDVA has embarked on many projects since its inception. The establishment of a permanent endowment for a set of grants to University of the Philippines junior faculty is the group’s contribution to the UP Modernization Fund Campaign. The Association’s thrust on education includes a scholarship fund-raising campaign, which benefited a number of scholar recipients; an establishment of an Educational Trust, and funding of professorial grants for all UP campuses. Other projects held in the past include Paskong UP 2016 and Sapphire Ball 2019. This year, the association is holding its fundraising event since the pandemic, Rise UP: “Transcending barriers…Elevating possibilities.” This virtual event will benefit the Transcend CAMPaign of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP). The campaign will culminate in a virtual event on October 23, 2021 @7:30 pm EDT (October 24, 2021 @7:30 am MNL time) via our Zoom and social media platforms.

Currently leading the association is Jessie Wolgamotti. She is an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for 33 years and is currently working at the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in northern VA. She obtained her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the CA State University-East Bay in 2004. Jessie is married to Robert Wolgamotti. They are proud parent to a fur baby, a black Pomeranian named Luna.

Jessie is from Obando, Bulacan in the Philippines. She completed her undergraduate studies at the UP Manila College of Allied Medical Professions (UPM-CAMP). She also had her Master in Health Professions Education at the National Teacher Training Center at the University of the Philippines Manila. Jessie is an active member of numerous professional organizations in her field. She received the Most Distinguished Speech Pathology Alumna: UPMCAMP in 2001, and Best Undergraduate Thesis: “Consonant Production Patterns and Errors of Moderately Retarded Down Syndrome Children at the Silahis Centers”, University of the Philippines Manila, Collage of Allied Medical Professions, April 1988.

Jessie is inviting the UPAA community and friends of UP to support UPAADCMDVA and its activities. She said, “In the midst of the pandemic, we continue to give back to our alma mater and homeland through our fundraising projects these past two years. We likewise look forward to collaborating with local, national and global organizations for the pursuit of our common goals.” Please contact Jessie if you want to join and support UPAADCMDVA at upaa.dcmdva.execomm@ gmail.com.

UPAADCMDVA Fundraiser

Jessie and Robert Wolgamotti
—————–
Jesusa “Jessie” Wolgamotti
University of the Philippines Alumni Association
District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Chapter