"REACHING FOR THE STARS"

By: Jacqui Lloyd

Manteca Youth Focus (MYF) is a non-profit organization offered to youth who reside or attend

schools within the boundaries of the Manteca Unified School District including communities of

Manteca, Lathrop, French Camp, and Weston Ranch. Leadership Development, Further

Education Goals, Development of Personal Talents and Volunteer Service are the programs

offered to provide rewarding experiences for youth by challenging them to step forward and

serve as role models for their peers. Nearly $9000.00 in educational funding has been awarded

each year through three annual scholarship competitions: The Manteca Scholarship

Competition is for ages 16-21, the Teen Manteca Scholarship Competition is for ages 13-15,

and the Young Manteca Scholarship Competition is for ages 10-12. The candidates participate

in a variety of phases of competition, which are designed to enhance leadership and

communication skills including résumé writing, scholastic achievement, volunteer service, stage

arts, interpersonal communication and public speaking. The 5 phases of competition include:

Community Service, Scholastic Achievement, Personality Interview, Stage Arts and Community

Advocacy Speech. These are listed in order of importance. Many people assume that singers

have the advantage, but that is simply not the case. The current titleholders are not all

singers nor are they required to sing or perform. Participation in the MYF entertainment division

is optional and members have the opportunity to receive beginning level training in the areas

of dance and vocal performance under the instruction of MYF alumni.

The Stage Arts phase of competition is the contestants’ time to shine on stage, as a solo act.

MYF has strict rules governing the Stage Arts phase related to costuming, appropriateness &

props...but the kids are encouraged to express themselves in a fun and creative way. This

year the contestants’ exhibited a variety of talents. There was a live golf demonstration

(including flying wiffle balls), a comedy reenactment of the infamous Napoleon Dynamite

dance, an art demonstration, a poetry reading, glow in the dark baton twirling, piano playing,

singing, tap and jazz dancing, a comedy monologue, and a Broadway vocal performance. The

2008 Titleholders for the Manteca Scholarship Competition are: Miss Manteca is Ashley Parker,

Manteca City Ambassador is Gregory Atherton, Miss Pumpkin Fair is Amanda Rosas, Pumpkin

Fair Ambassador is Patrick Baker, and Miss Winter Fest is Sarah Dankiewicz. The 2008

Titleholders for the Young Manteca Scholarship Competition are: Miss Young Manteca is Emma

Scott, Young Manteca City Ambassador is Colton Harris, Miss Young Pumpkin Fair is Taela

Heath, Young Pumpkin Fair Ambassador is Dallas Hall, and Miss Young Winter Fest is Lauren

Perez.

Lathrop Scholarship Program

Lathrop residents have participated in MYF over the past 13 years including 8 Titleholders,

however, the driving distance proved to be a difficult obstacle for the Youth Focus Program to

overcome. The opening of the new Lathrop High School has inspired Manteca Youth Focus to

resurrect the Miss Lathrop program and expand it to include the Ambassador program plus the

younger level competitions. MYF has a 5 year plan to implement scholarship competitions in

Lathrop. The first year (2007) is already underway with the appointment of Miss Lathrop and

Lathrop Ambassador in. Year two (2008) will feature the 1st Lathrop Scholarship Competition

(LSC), awarding the title of Miss Lathrop and Lathrop Ambassador. The Lathrop Scholarship

Competition is open to young men and women ages 16-18. It will be a modified version of our

traditional scholarship competition minus the press and event interview portions. Year three

(2009) will continue with the LSC and introduce the Teen Lathrop Scholarship Competition

(TLSC) for ages 13-15. Year four (2010) will continue with the LSC and TLSC and introduce

the Young Lathrop Scholarship Competition for ages 10-12. Year five (2011) will continue with

the 3 competitions and introduce the Mini Lathrop Competition which is a fun introductory

program for ages 6-9 that is much different than the 3 traditional age levels and focuses on

enthusiasm for service.

Manteca Youth Focus has established a Lathrop Advisory Committee to help reach out to the

youth of Lathrop. The committee members are: Lathrop Mayor Kristy Sayles, Lathrop Chamber

of Commerce President Mary Kennedy-Bracken, and Owner/Publisher of the Lathrop RUSH

Frank Cavaco. Distributing flyers in the schools, speaking to the Youth Advisory Commission,

and printing updated information in the Lathrop RUSH as a local newspaper will help inform

Lathrop youth of the scholarship opportunities. MYF Co-founder Shim Watson states, “We are

eager to push past the politics and help Lathrop develop a quality program for its youth. By

working with the Lathrop Advisory Committee and teaching them our techniques for

implementing a quality scholarship program, we believe that by the time we reach year 5, if

not before, Lathrop residents will be inspired to start their own youth focus program.” Manteca

Youth Focus has also appointed a Miss Lathrop (Kristina Candelaria) and Lathrop Ambassador

(Christopher Navalta) for 2007-08 to kick start the program. Both of these Lathrop residents

have experience as MYF titleholders who are setting an example to the Lathrop community

what it means to be a titleholder. Chris and Kristina have attended numerous community

events such as the Lathrop Birthday Celebration, Lathrop Days Celebration, Lathrop Christmas

Parade, Lathrop Tree Lighting Ceremony, Lathrop Rotary Club meetings, and Lathrop Chamber

of Commerce coffees and mixers.

Kristina and Chris are each eager to share their experience with their peers in Lathrop, so

much so that for their year as titleholders...they are receiving no scholarship prize...they are

serving their community purely for the love and enthusiasm of the program. MYF plans to help

raise funds so that each of them can attend the state level competition this summer where

they will have an opportunity to earn up to $2500 in scholarships as Miss California State and

the California State Ambassador. Chris and Kristina are both Seniors at Sierra High School and

are both very active in their school and community. Manteca Youth Focus is very proud to

have them serve as inaugural representatives of the Lathrop Scholarship Program.

Copyright  ©   2007 Lathrop Rush -

last updated: March 8, 2008

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