By SHIM LACY
Special to the Bulletin
Manteca Youth Focus (MYF) recently conducted its 29th anniversary with their annual Manteca Scholarship Competition.
MYF was successful in its campaign to award over $7,400 in educational scholarships, as well as offer leadership training and volunteer service opportunities to twenty young men and women of achievement from the greater Manteca community.
Over 31 volunteer judges participated in the selection process which awarded scores to each candidate in the areas of Service and Academics (20% each), as well as 15% each in Interview, Stage Arts, Speech & On-Stage Question. In recognition of their unique talents and abilities the MYF Board of Directors awarded each contestant a “Starlight Award” in the phase of competition they scored their personal best as indicated in parenthesis below.
Here are the results of the Manteca Youth Focus Scholarship Competition held June 24 at Crossroads Grace Community Church in Manteca:
*Miss Manteca Sheen Gupta (Interview) will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
*Manteca City Ambassador Erfan Ballew (PERFECT SCORE - Interview) will also receive a $1,500 scholarship.
*Miss Teen Manteca Kennedy McLeod (Stage Arts) will receive a $500 scholarship.
*Teen Manteca City Ambassador Trenton Bradshaw (Academics) will also receive a $500 scholarship.
*Miss Young Manteca Yannis Ang (Stage Arts) will receive a $200 scholarship.
*Young Manteca City Ambassador Jacob Russell (Stage Arts) will also receive a $200 scholarship.
As “captains” of the MYF All-Star Student Service Team, the city titleholder group has big plans for their community advocacy projects in the coming year. Gupta, a senior at Sierra High School, will be partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Manteca to create her “Library Lift-Off” event to gather books and funds for the club’s library.
Ballew, a Sierra High School senior, and McLeod, a freshman at East Union, have projects lined up to benefit Hope Ministries, Inc.; Ballew is working on a plan with MUSD leadership and the shelter staff to help redirect food surplus to benefit those in need, while McLeod will be hosting collection drives to gather personal hygiene and housekeeping supplies for the women and children living at Raymus House.
Bradshaw, Ang and Russell are supporting our service men and women by partnering with the Cpl. Charles O. Palmer Memorial Troop Support Program.
Bradshaw attends Stella Brockman Elementary and will be continuing his work with the organization by hosting car detailing events to reach his goal of donating $500 to help offset the shipping costs for mailing the troop support care packages.
Ang attends Park View Elementary in Ripon and created her campaign “Sweets for Treats” to help specifically collect candy and sweet treats for inclusion in the care packages.
Russell attends Great Valley Academy Homeschool and will be participating in the monthly troop packing events to assemble the care packages.
Placing second in the competition for their age division – these are the representatives of the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis and the 2023 Manteca Pumpkin Fair this October:
*Miss Pumpkin Fair Mallory Myers (Interview) will receive a $500 scholarship.
*Pumpkin Fair Ambassador Ace Sulek (Interview) will also receive a $500 scholarship.
*Miss Teen Pumpkin Fair Saige Carstersen (Service) will receive a $250 scholarship.
*Miss Young Pumpkin Fair Kayleigh Douglas (Service) will receive a $100 scholarship.
*Young Pumpkin Fair Ambassador Caden Stephens (Academics) will also receive a $100 scholarship.
Placing third in the competition for the upper age division - she is the representative of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce and the 2024 Crossroads Watermelon Street Fair next June.
*Miss Watermelon Street Faire Elizabeth Neuner (On-Stage Question) will receive a $500 scholarship.
Placing fourth in the competition in the upper and young divisions - these are the representatives of MYF and various winter holiday-themed events in the Manteca community including the Manteca Chamber of Commerce Twilight Holiday Parade and Christmas at the Promenade, City of Manteca Manteca Recreation Department Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas at the Center.
*Miss Winter Fest Alyssa Dominguez (Interview) will receive a $250 scholarship.
*Miss Young Winter Fest Madison Motzkus (Interview) will receive a $75 scholarship.
The Pumpkin Fair, Watermelon Street Faire and Winter Fest titleholder groups will spend the coming year promoting their specific signature events and also working on advocacy projects and serving at numerous community events throughout the year.
Additionally non-finalist scholarships were awarded to the following participants. They are invited to continue to serve as a part of the MYF All-Star Student Service Team during the coming year.
*Paris Ferrell (Interview) will receive a $100 scholarship.
*Annabelle Hickman (On-Stage Question) will receive a $100 scholarship.
*Sophie Cockriel (On-Stage Question) will receive a $50 scholarship.
*Deziree Valladarez (On-Stage Question) will receive a $50 scholarship.
*Avani Shaw (Speech) will receive a $25 scholarship.
*Morgan Silva (On-Stage Question) will receive a $25 scholarship.
MYF also presented special awards in each age division.
The Talent “Imagination” Award goes to the highest score in the stage arts phase which was Ballew, who delivered a spoken word presentation, McLeod, who presented a comedy monologue, and Ang, who played the piano. The Academic Achievement “Resiliency” Award goes to the highest score in the academic achievement phase and was awarded to Ballew, Bradshaw, and Ang.
The Volunteer Service “Kindness Matters” Award is for the highest score in volunteer service phase for which Myers, Carstersen, and Douglas were chosen.
The “Most Inspirational Award” is voted on by the contestants and awarded to the individuals who best represent the mission and values of MYF and Shaw and McLeod were chosen.
The 4th Annual “Breanne Wigginton Memorial Most Inspirational Award” was given to Dominguez.
The “People’s Choice Award” winner was chosen via a fundraiser voted on by members of the audience. While it had no bearing on the overall outcome of the competition, it was a fun way for the family of the contestants to show their support and also help raise money for the MYF scholarship fund. The prize included a fun basket of gift cards and prizes to enjoy. Stephens was chosen as the recipient.
The “Above & Beyond Recognition Award” recognizes contestants for going above and beyond in their fundraising efforts. It has no bearing on the official outcome of the competition. The Above and Beyond Silver Award went to Bradshaw and the Above and Beyond Gold Award went to Neuner who won fun gift cards for the AMC Movies, Bowlero & Great Wolf Lodge.
MYF offers year round programming for boys and girls who reside or attend school in the greater Manteca community which includes Manteca, Ripon, Lathrop, River Islands, French Camp and Weston Ranch.
Youth between the ages 10-20 can volunteer with the All-Star Student Service Team and also choose to compete in the annual scholarship competition. Young children ages 9 & under from any geographic region can participate in the seasonal “Prince & Princess” fundraiser playdates.
For more information on MYF programs visit http://mantecayouthfocus.org/ or email info@MantecaYouthFocus.org.
