07/01/2024
2024 MYF COMPETITION RESULTS!
This weekend, Manteca Youth Focus marked another extraordinary chapter as we celebrated our 30th anniversary with the annual MYF Scholarship Competition. This event stands as a testament to the leadership, volunteer service, and remarkable talent within our community. Our mission to award educational scholarships, provide leadership training, and offer volunteer service opportunities continues to thrive, thanks to the dedication and passion of our youth.
This year, a record THIRTY-FIVE exceptional young men and women came forward, driven by their commitment to make a difference and represent their community with pride. Each contestant showcased their unique talents and abilities, earning recognition through the “Starlight Award” for their personal best performances in various phases of the competition. In total we awarded $9,300 in educational scholarships this weekend, yet another significant milestone and our single largest award pool to date.
We are delighted to share the results of the 2024 Manteca Youth Focus Scholarship Competition, held at Cornerstone Community Church in Manteca:
Placing first in the competition for their age division – these are the representatives of Manteca and Manteca Youth Focus for 2024:
+ Miss Manteca Juelicia Roman (Community Advocacy Speech; $1,500)
+ Manteca City Ambassador Jaden Gallego (Personality Interview; $1,500)
+ Miss Teen Manteca Claire Carroll (Communicative Skills; $500)
+ Teen Manteca City Ambassador Nihar Jain (Volunteer Service; $500)
+ Miss Young Manteca Morgan Silva (Stage Arts; $200)
+ Young Manteca City Ambassador Spandan Nikam (PERFECT SCORE Personality Interview; $200)
Placing second in the competition for their age division – these are the representatives of the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis and the 2024 Manteca Pumpkin Fair this October:
+ Miss Pumpkin Fair Kylie Anderson (PERFECT SCORE Personality Interview; $500)
+ Pumpkin Fair Ambassador Yatharth Katyal (Communicative Skills; $500)
+ Miss Teen Pumpkin Fair Kayleigh Douglas (Stage Arts: $250)
+ Teen Pumpkin Fair Ambassador Abhi Nair (Academic Achievement; $250)
+ Miss Young Pumpkin Fair Alani McBroom (Personality Interview; $100)
+ Young Pumpkin Fair Ambassador Darsh Joshi (Academic Achievement; $100)
Placing third in the competition for the upper age division - they are the representatives of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce and the 2024 Crossroads Watermelon Street Fair next June.
+ Miss Watermelon Street Fair Sophia Costa (PERFECT SCORE Personality Interview; $500)
+ Watermelon Street Fair Ambassador Rohan Aravind (Community Advocacy Speech; $500)
+ Miss Teen Watermelon Street Fair Danett Cesante (Communicative Skills; $250)
+ Teen Watermelon Street Fair Ambassador Harsh*th Kumar (Academic Achievement; $250)
+ Miss Young Watermelon Street Fair Charis Ang (Stage Arts; $100)
+ Young Watermelon Street Fair Ambassador Ved Pattanashetti (Stage Arts; $100)
Placing fourth in the competition, 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 Park, City of Manteca Manteca Recreation Department Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas at the Center and the Hospice of San Joaquin Manteca Tree Lighting Ceremony.
+ Miss Winter Fest Elizabeth Neuner (Volunteer Service; $250)
+ Miss Teen Winter Fest Izabella Neuner (Volunteer Service, $125)
+ Teen Winter Fest Ambassador Shaurya Khairmode (Stage Arts; $125)
+ Miss Young Winter Fest Avani Shaw (Stage Arts; $50)
+ Young Winter Fest Ambassador Shourya Gundawar (Personality Interview; $50)
Additionally non-finalist scholarships were awarded to the following participants.
+ Saige Carstersen (Personality Interview; $100)
+ Mallory Myers (Volunteer Service; $100)
+ Harsh Konduru (Communicative Skills; $50)
+ Kushaagra Patel (Communicative Skills; $50)
+ Kendall Blackwell (Community Advocacy Speech; $50)
+ Ariceli McBroom (Community Advocacy Speech; $50)
+ Brooklynn Peterson (Academic Achievement; $50)
+ Sumeet Chetri (Communicative Skills; $25)
+ Dahlia Jauregui (Academic Achievement; $25)
+ Tabreesha Katyal (Academic Achievement; $25)
+ Anvi Sharma (Academic Achievement; $25)
+ Abhavya Verma (Stage Arts; $25)
These are the winners of the various special awards.
Talent “Imagination” Award: (highest score in stage arts phase of competition)
Young: Spandan Nikam (Rap)
Teen: Kushaagra Patel (Guitar)
Upper: Juelicia Roman (Poetry Reading)
Academic Achievement “Resiliency” Award: (highest score in academic achievement phase of competition)
Young: Morgan Silva
Teen: Abhi Nair
Upper: TIE Juelicia Roman & Kylie Anderson
Volunteer Service “Kindness Matters” Award: (highest score in volunteer service phase of competition)
Young: Morgan Silva
Teen: Nihar Jain
Upper; Elizabeth Neuner
Most Inspirational Award: (as voted by the contestants)
5th Annual Breanne Wigginton Memorial Most Inspirational Award was given to Sophia Costa
Young: Morgan Silva
Teen: Claire Carroll
The “People’s Choice Award” winner was chosen via a fundraiser voted on by members of the audience. While it has no bearing on the overall outcome of the competition, it is 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 includes a fun basket of gift cards and prizes to enjoy.
Young: Shourya Gundawar ($650)
Teen: Nihar Jain ($360)
Upper: Juelicia Roman ($530)
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.
Bronze: Morgan Silva ($500
Silver: Spandan Nikam (700)
Platinum: Nihar Jain ($3,549)
Join us as we congratulate all of our 2024 All-Stars! We cannot wait to start their year of service this week at the Manteca Chamber of Commerce coffee mixer and Manteca 4th of July Parade!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram! You won’t want to miss a minute!
Join us as we congratulate all of our 2024 All-Stars! We cannot wait to start their year of service this week at the Manteca Chamber of Commerce coffee mixer and Manteca 4th of July Parade!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram! You won’t want to miss a minute!
Pictured (Front Row L to R) Morgan Silva - Miss Young Manteca, Spandan Nikam - Young Manteca City Ambassador; Juelicia Roman - Miss Manteca, Jaden Gallego - Manteca City Ambassador, Claire Carroll - Miss Teen Manteca; Nihar Jain - Teen Manteca City Ambassador; Middle Row: Ariceli McBroom, Kush Patel, Elizabeth Neuner - Miss Winter Fest, Harsh*th Kumar - Teen Watermelon Street Fair Ambassador, Danett Cesante - Miss Teen Watermelon Street Fair, Rohan Aravid - Watermelon Street Fair Ambassador, Sophia Costa - Miss Watermelon Street Fair, Kylie Anderson - Miss Pumpkin Fair, Yatharth Katyal - Pumpkin Fair Ambassador, Kayleigh Douglas - Miss Teen Pumpkin Fair, Abhi Nair - Teen Pumpkin Fair Ambassador, Izabella Neuner - Miss Teen Winter Fest, Shaurya Kairmode - Teen Winter Fest Ambassador, Mallory Myers, Kendall Blackwood; Back Row: Sumeet Chetri, Tabreesha Katyal, Charis Ang - Miss Youth Watermelon Street Fair, Ved Puttanashetti - Young Watermelon Street Fair, Alani McBroom - Miss Young Pumpkin Fair; Darsh Joshi - Young Pumpkin Fair Ambassador, Avani Shaw - Miss Young Winter Fest; Shourya Gundawar - Young Pumpkin Fair Ambassador, Abhavya Verma
