(Tamuning, Guam) Thursday, September 18, 2025— GTA is proud to announce the recipients of its Youth Leader Program for the 2025–2026 school year. A ceremony was held yesterday at the GTA Experience Center in Tamuning, where parents and families joined in celebrating the students. Since its launch in 2019, the program has recognized Guam’s brightest high school students who exemplify leadership, academic excellence, and community service.
GTA received a record 117 applications this year—nearly double last year’s total. Each Youth Leader will be awarded an iPad Air and $1,000, with the top two honorees also receiving up to 100,000 United Airlines miles to attend approved competitions or other educational opportunities.
“Each of these students shows what’s possible when talent meets purpose,” said Sharon Davis, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement & External Affairs at GTA. “Our Youth Leader Program recognizes more than achievements—it uplifts character, service, and the drive to make a difference. We’re honored to invest in Guam’s next generation and empower them with the tools and opportunities to lead.”
Alexander Cruz is a junior at Father Dueñas Memorial School whose high school career centers on leadership, service, and academic excellence. As a leader in NJROTC, he has served as a primary rifle bearer in the Color Guard and as Company Guide, mentoring younger cadets and upholding high standards of discipline. He is also President of the Japanese National Honor Society, where he tutors underclassmen, competes in the Guam Nihongo Challenge Bowl, and earned 1st place in the All-Island English-Japanese Speech Contest.
Beyond academics, Alexander is President of Friar Service, a student-led organization with over 70 members dedicated to cleanups and community service. His passion for science led him to develop an AI project for chest X-ray analysis, which won 1st place at the Guam Island-Wide Science Fair and 4th place in Translational Medical Science at the 2025 International Science and Engineering Fair. He also interned at Guam’s Department of Public Health, contributing to mosquito control research and community health education.
Janessa Alerre is a senior at George Washington High School whose curiosity drives her leadership, research, and community service. As her school’s KUAM Spark Ambassador, she organized a Unity March and led a toy drive that collected over 270 gifts for children in need. Academically ranked in the top 1% of her class, she conducts plant pathology research at the University of Guam and has participated in national and global programs such as MITES Semester, Yale Young Global Scholars, and the New York Academy of Sciences.
She is the Co-founder and President of the Guam Chapter of STEAM News, Chairwoman of Bioverse International Guam Council, and serves as Vice President of Student Council at GWHS. Her passions span science, advocacy, and the arts—from interning as an engineer with Floe, Inc., to performing in musical theater, to competing as a varsity tennis player. Janessa strives to break barriers and inspire the next generation to pursue opportunities that uplift communities both locally and globally.
Mengtong “Rebecca” Xu is a senior at Harvest Christian Academy and a dedicated student with strong leadership, service, and professional experience. She has been an active member of FBLA, NHS, Red Cross, and Writer’s Club, completing over 100 hours of community service and contributing to fundraising efforts that support her school community. Beyond academics, she tutors children in math and Chinese, organizes beach cleanups, donates clothes, and volunteers at a local daycare.
Professionally, she has interned with GTA’s Finance & Accounting Department, worked as a Bookkeeping Assistant in China, and served as a private tutor throughout high school. She is also a member of her school’s Varsity Bowling Team and assisted in planning GTA’s Glo & Connect teen workshop series.
Steffen Surban is a senior at Father Dueñas Memorial School whose high school career reflects leadership, service, and well-rounded involvement. He serves as Treasurer of NHS, Founder and President of the College Prep Club, and Founder and President of the Filipino American Club, where he has led initiatives supporting youth education and cultural representation. He is also active in Campus Ministry, Culinary Club, and Japanese National Honor Society, contributing to both school and community events. Beyond academics, Steffen is a standout athlete, competing on the FD Varsity, Guam Boys Junior National, and Guam Men’s National Volleyball Teams, and was selected for the U18 Oceania Beach Volleyball tryouts. He has also held leadership in Junior Achievement, earning Chief Marketing Officer of the Year, and continues to serve in its alumni marketing department. His interests extend to music, business, and STEM—singing in the FD Choir, running a small online resale business, mentoring younger students through Guardians of the Reef, and teaching summer culinary programs.
Yelin Byeon is a senior at St. John’s School whose leadership and service extend across academics, music, and community engagement. As a Giving Tuesday Spark Ambassador, she organized donation drives supporting organizations such as The Salvation Army and Toys for Tots and represented her school at a proclamation signing with the Governor of Guam.
Dedicated to community service, she volunteered over 100 hours with groups including the Todu Guam Foundation, earning the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award. A talented violist, Yelin has performed at Carnegie Hall through the Honors Performance Series and as Principal Viola for both the St. John’s Orchestra and the Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra, where she competed internationally in Vienna. She is also active in journalism as a Pacific Daily News VIBE intern, a Tri-M Music Honor Society member, and Treasurer of St. John’s Chemistry Club. Academically, she has broadened her studies through prestigious programs such as Yale Young Global Scholars, the UCLA Nanoscale Microscopy Lab, and the University of Pennsylvania Neuroscience Research Academy.
Since 2019, GTA’s Youth Leader Program has provided recognition, resources, and opportunities for high school students who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities. Through initiatives like this, GTA remains committed to fostering connection, supporting youth, and investing in the island’s future.
About GTA
GTA provides complete communications services in Guam. These include local and long-distance telephone service, 3G, LTE, and 5G mobility service, High Speed Internet Access, Dedicated Ethernet, Carrier-Class High Capacity Services over SONET and SDH networks, and advanced television, or IPTV. GTA operates a data center on Guam offering a secure, managed environment for customers who need an alternative site for business data storage. The company also runs Guam’s first locally owned cable landing station and data center in Piti.
Based in Tamuning, Guam, GTA is a U.S. and locally owned company and locally managed. The company’s website is www.gta.net.