High school students are being sought to apply for five vacancies on the Manteca Youth Advisory Commission.

The Manteca City Council last month appointed Manteca High student Vanessa Rasmussen, Sierra High students Alexander Orr, Donna Marie Lucero, and Reigan Vinson Alcana, as well as Manteca Unified Vocational Academy Culinary Arts student Brian Burns to the commission.

The youth group coordinates a number of events including the junior high dances at the Golden West Community Gym School and assists with various community projects. They also are called on occasionally to advise the council on youth issues.

Applicants are still being sought for three remaining vacancies plus two alternate spots. For more information contact the Manteca city clerk’s office by calling 456-8017.

• Brian Erik Burns has served for two years on the commission and several years ago raised $1,600 to send to the Haiti earthquake relief effort through the Red Cross.

• Alex Orr is a Sierra High senor who has served for two years on the commission. He has been an AVID tutor for the past three years. Orr has also been a member of the California Scholarship Federation, Asian Islander Club, Band Club, and the Sierra High Link Crew.

• Reigan Vinson Alcana is an Advanced Placement Honors Student, is a varsity level cross country and track runner, pianist, and hip hop dancer. She is vice president for both the Keystone Club of the Manteca Boys & Girls Club and the Sierra High Interact Club. Both are service organizations. She has volunteered with the Great Valley Writing Project, crab feeds for the Boys & Girls Club and Manteca Morning Rotary, participated in adopt-a-highway litter clean-up, and is currently a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club.

• Vanessa Rasmussen is a Manteca High senior who is currently president of the Friday Night Live Club, secretary of the Choir Club, and publicity chair of the College Prep Club. She is also an active member of Earth Club and the Thespian Club. She has served as a junior volunteer at Doctors Hospital of Manteca with more than 150 hours of service, volunteered for donation drives and performed other tasks for St. Mary’s Interfaith Services, and has helped with soldier care package drives through the Cpl. Charles O. Palmer II Memorial Troop Support Program. She is a former Girl Scout as well as a Junior Ambassador Leader with the Manteca Chamber of Commerce. She was a Student in Prevention peer education as a junior.

• Donna Marie Lucero is a Sierra High Advanced Placement Honors Student and serves as a Give Every Child a Chance volunteer tutor. She also volunteers at Doctors Hospital of Manteca.