By SHIM LACY
For the Bulletin
Manteca Youth Focus (MYF) recently celebrated the accomplishments of the captains of their “All-Star Team” at their annual “Reaching for the Stars” leadership awards ceremony.
Sheen Gupta, 17, and Erfan Ballew, 18, were the winners of the upper division (ages 16-20) in last year’s competition, earning them the titles of Miss Manteca and Manteca City Ambassador that also included a $1,500 educational scholarship for each of them.
They have spent the past year serving as the official representatives of Manteca Youth Focus and ambassadors of goodwill for the “Family City” of Manteca.
The promoted community pride
while attending key events such as the Manteca 4th of July Parade, National Night Out Celebration, Friends of the East Union Cemetery Car Show, Wide Horizons Salsa Showdown, Hope Family Shelter “Night of Hope” Gala, Manteca Pumpkin Fair, Manteca Twilight Holiday Parade, Great Valley BookFest, MYF Community Unity Benefit Concert, City of Manteca Christmas at the Center, Hospice of San Joaquin Tree of Lights, Manteca Boys and Girls Club Crab Feed, Kiwanis Night of Giving, Ripon Almond Blossom Festival Parade, and Manteca Crossroads Watermelon Street Faire.
They also supported local businesses by attending numerous mixers and coffees hosted by the Manteca Chamber of Commerce and aided their fellow service team members with their advocacy projects.
Gupta made a lasting impact with her advocacy project; she chose the Boys and Girls Club of Manteca/Lathrop as the beneficiary of her “Library Lift-Off” collection drive.
She collected more than 400 new and gently used children’s books which were donated to the club’s Education Center.
Her commitment to service is reflected in the 225 volunteer hours she completed with MYF and other organizations such as Manteca Police Explorers, San Joaquin Youth Leadership Academy, City of Manteca Youth in Government and as a student intern with the City Manager’s office with the City of Manteca, earning her a Silver level President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) from the Points of Light Foundation and signed by US President Joe Biden. Gupta.
Ballew created the first ever Manteca Community Unity Benefit Concert. The event held last fall at Sierra High School included performances by Colby Jeffers as well as local musicians with the Central Valley Rock Academy and Sierra High School.
Proceeds totaling over $1,000 were shared amongst five organizations which also presented at the event including — MYF, Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis, Boys and Girls Club, Give Every Child A Chance and Agape Villages Foster Family Agency. Outside of school and MYF he volunteered with Give Every Child a Chance, as a coach and swim instructor with the City of Manteca, and Manteca Dolphins youth swim team. Ballew is passionate about entrepreneurship and philanthropy with his vibrant TikTok channel and as a content creator for #ICanHelp mental health campaign.
Last year he completed over 350 volunteer service hours, earning a Gold Level PVSA.
Gupta recently graduated with honors from Sierra High School where she was active in numerous clubs and organizations including the National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholarship, California Scholarship Federation, Lobo Gold committee, ASB Leadership and Wolf Pack. She plans to attend CSU Northridge in the fall.
Ballew also graduated with honors and also completed dual enrollment at San Joaquin Delta College in psychology and business. Sports were a huge part of Ballew’s student life having served as captain of both the SHS Swim Team and Water Polo Team earning numerous accolades in each including VOL All League in swimming, twice in water polo, Best Offensive Player (water polo) and Most Valuable Swimmer.
He was active in ASB Leadership, Academic Decathlon, and the Economics and Investment Club. In pursuit of his future in business, he has interned with Raymond Jones financial advisors and co-founded Quantum Trades, an interactive financial broker.
Earlier this month he served as a youth advisor for more than 150 high school students at the EDGE Youth Leadership Conference at Stanford University and next week will attend the California Summer Seminar for the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP).
He plans to attend UC Berkeley in the fall to study a dual major with the MET Program in Engineering and Business.
Gupta will be featured in the entertainment cast of the upcoming Manteca Scholarship Competition, under the direction of MYF Vice President, Douglas Scott, which will be held on Friday, June 28, at 7 p.m. pm at Cornerstone Community Church in Manteca. Ballew, who is unable to attend the show due to his commitment with the ISGP, has been working with Gupta at the preparatory workshops to help mentor the three boys and seven girls who are entered to compete for their chance to be crowned the next Miss Manteca and Manteca City Ambassador.
MYF is celebrating its 30th anniversary and the show will feature several alumni including Manteca City Ambassador 2004 (and California State Ambassador 2005), Matt Vaughan, who is back to host the competition and Kristina Stamper as the featured vocalist. Stamper previously served as Miss Manteca 2001-02 (and Miss California State 2003) as well as Miss Pumpkin Fair 2000.
“As the oldest leaders of our All-Star Team, Sheen and Erfan have truly exemplified what it means to lead with dedication and passion. Their outstanding contributions, from organizing impactful events to their extensive volunteer hours, have left a lasting mark on the Manteca community. Their leadership, commitment, and drive to make a difference set a powerful example for their peers and the future leaders of MYF. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and grateful for their unwavering service” Scott said.
The MYF Board of Directors invites the community to attend all three of the upcoming scholarship competitions where 35 outstanding young people of achievement will compete for more than $9,000 in educational scholarships. The competitions will take place Friday, June 28, at 7 p.m. for contestants ages 16-20 and Saturday, June 29, at 9:30 am for contestants ages 10-12 and 3 p.m. for contestants ages 13-15. All shows take place at Cornerstone Community Church in Manteca.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children and available for purchase online at MantecaYouthFocus.org or at the door.
Manteca Youth Focus programs are open to youth between the ages of 9-20 from the greater Manteca community which includes the cities of Manteca, Ripon, Lathrop and the communities of River Islands, French Camp, and Weston Ranch (South Stockton).
The organization also periodically sponsors recreational “prince and princess” fundraiser programs for children ages 9 and under. For more information on MYF programs email MantecaYouthFocus@gmail.com or visit www.MantecaYouthFocus.org.
