“This was an incredible year for our ROTC cadets,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson, who serves as the professor of military science at the University of Guam. “They pushed themselves hard and persevered despite the difficulties of the pandemic, and every one of our cadets grew immensely as leaders. They made this last year meaningful and didn’t put their growth as leaders or their futures on hold.”

John Joseph Bautista, who graduated from the University of Guam on May 23 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in human resource management and who was commissioned as a second lieutenant the day prior, was named the program’s Top Cadet as well as the George C. Marshall Leadership Award winner.

“It is humbling to have received the Top Cadet recognition. […] Since I've joined the Triton Warrior Battalion, the cadets have motivated me to always show up and give my best,” Bautista said. “I'm proud to be a Triton Warrior, and I believe that the lessons in leadership learned through this program will serve my peers and I as officers in the United States Army.”

The complete list of UOG ROTC Award winners for the 2020–2021 academic year are:

• Top Cadet of the Program: John Joseph Bautista
• Top Freshman Cadet: Lidio Fullo
• Top Sophomore Cadet: Ryniel Di Ramos
• Top Junior Cadet: Brandon Salas
• Top Senior Cadet: Emilyn Santos
• The Superior Cadet Decoration Award: Gavin Whitt, Remoh Nel Sanchez, Amos Dumapat, and John Joseph Perez
• The USAA “Spirit” Award: Lorenz Junio
• The Military Order of the World Wars Medal of Merit: Tyler Unpingco, Amber Pangelinan, and Noel-Brandon Degracia
• The Military Order of Foreign Wars Medal: Justin Cayading and Samde’lana Obina
• Military History Best Student Award: Lorenz Junio
• The Sergeant York Award: John Joseph Perez
• AUSA Gold Medal: Joel Atenta
• The Cadet Achievement Award: Lidio Fullo, Enriquo Nedlic, Brandon Salas, and Brian Legaspi
• The Cadet Commendation Award: Constance Iglesias, Christian Carino, Jude Tenorio, and Lorenz Junio
• The “And Then Some” Award: Gavin Whitt, Sean Japor, Manuel Lumbang, and Justin Cayading
• COVID-19 Vaccination Site Volunteerism “Super Hero” Award: Sean Japor
• Distinguished Military Graduate: John Martinez
• The George C. Marshall Leadership Award: John Joseph Bautista

The UOG ROTC program was established in October 1979 and is celebrating more than 40 years of producing dynamic leaders for Guam, the Pacific, and the United States.