Manteca Youth Focus (MYF) celebrated the accomplishments of their “All-Star Student Service Team” at their annual “Reaching for the Stars Leadership Awards Ceremony.”
Hosted by MYF Board President, Judi Horton, the event is an annual tradition to honor the youth and adult volunteers who served the organization and greater Manteca community over the past year.
Five young people led the All-Star Student Service Team this past year as the “city” titleholders and include Miss Manteca, Molly Dua; Manteca City Ambassador, Landon Wolfe; Miss Teen Manteca , Alani Mullenix; Teen Manteca City Ambassador, Marcus Ang; and Miss Young Manteca, Izabella Neuner.
MYF is also unique in that it offers titles to the runners-up in the scholarship program so that more students can benefit from the valuable leadership opportunities offered by serving at signature events. The “Pumpkin Fair” titleholders represent the Manteca Pumpkin Fair and receive scholarships partially funded by the Manteca-Sunrise Kiwanis Club.
The current reigning Pumpkin Fair include Miss Pumpkin Fair, Alyssa Dominguez; Pumpkin Fair Ambassador, Ace Sulek; Miss Teen Pumpkin Fair, Elizabeth Neuner; and Miss Young Pumpkin Fair. Kayleigh Douglas.
The “Watermelon Street Faire” titleholders represent the Crossroads Watermelon Street Faire with scholarships sponsored by the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.
They include Miss Watermelon Street Faire, Autumn Nava; Miss Teen Watermelon Street Faire, Deziree
Valladarez; and Miss Young Watermelon Street Faire, Yannis Ang.
The Winter Fest title is awarded by MYF to represent the various winter holiday themed events in thegreater Manteca community and included Miss Young Winter Fes, Madison Motzkus.
Horton along with the MYF Board of Directors and Scholarship Competition Director Douglas Scott commended the 2022 MYF All-Star Student Service Team on their dedication to the community at the ceremony which also included local dignitaries Mayor Gary Singh, Councilman Dave Breitenbucher, new Manteca Chamber of Commerce Director Taylor Hasal, Rich Silverman with the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis and Nina Payne with Agape Villages Foster Family Agency.
“These young people, working alongside our adult volunteers, contributed over 3,600 hours of volunteer service this past year attending community events all over Northern and Central California. The MYF Board is honored to include them as members of our History of Excellence,” noted Scott.
Each of the All-Star Student Service Team members were given the opportunity to plan and carry out a “community advocacy project” to address a need in the community. Additionally they each earned a scholarship from MYF and a President’s Volunteer Service Award from the Points of Light Foundation that included a letter signed by Joe Biden, President of the United States. Advocacy project topics varied widely based upon the passion and interests of the team and included:
Miss Manteca 2022
Molly Dua received a $1,500 scholarship and is a graduate of Manteca High School completing her 3rd year as undergrad at University of California Santa Barbara majoring in Economics. Her commendations include:
*Recipient of the Gold Level President’s Volunteer Service Award
*Successful completion of her 6th consecutive MYF Community Advocacy Project known as Project Hugs which she created to benefit Agape Villages Foster Family Agency providing school supplies, pajamas and toys for children in foster care system
*Previously served MYF as Miss Pumpkin Fair 2018, 2019-20, and 2021 and also as Miss Teen Pumpkin Fair 2017 and on the All-Star Student Service Team since 2017
Manteca City Ambassador 2022
Landon Wolfe will receive a $1,500 scholarship and is entering his senior year at East Union High School in Manteca. His commendations include:
*Recipient of the Gold Level President’s Volunteer Service Award
*Successful completion of his 3rd consecutive MYF Community Advocacy
Project with Valley Children’s Hospital in Merced. He was inspired by his own care at VCH as an infant and since he was a young child has hosted an annual community toy drive. This year he collected over 400 games, bikes and toys which he delivered at Christmastime.
*Previously served MYF as Teen Manteca City Ambassador 2021 and on the All-Star Student Service Team since 2019
Miss Teen Manteca 2022
Alani Mullenix will receive a $500 scholarship and is entering her sophomore year at Sierra High School in Manteca. Her commendations include:
*Recipient of the Bronze Level President’s Volunteer Service Award
*Successful completion of her MYF Community Advocacy Project which was a book drive for Ray of Hope Children’s Crisis & Resource Services of San Joaquin County. She collected nearly 100 young adult and children’s books.
*Previously served MYF as Miss Teen Winter Fest 2021, Miss Young Manteca 2018 and on the All-Star Student Service Team since 2018
Teen Manteca City Ambassador 2022
Marcus Ang will receive a $500 scholarship and is entering the 9th grade at Hart Ransom Charter School in Modesto. His commendations include:
*Recipient of the Silver Level President’s Volunteer Service Award
*Successful completion of his MYF Community Advocacy Project in partnership with HAVEN Women’s Center - Healthy Alternatives to Violent Environments. He helped raise funds for the purchase of Christmas gifts for the women receiving comprehensive services and support as survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Stanislaus County.
Miss Young Manteca 2022
Izabella Neuner will receive a $200 scholarship and is entering the 6 th Grade at Brock Elliott Elementary School in Manteca. Her commendations include:
*Recipient of the Gold Level President’s Volunteer Service Award
*Successful completion of her MYF Community Advocacy Project collecting supplies for the Manteca Police K9 Association
Additional members of the All-Star Student Service Team also received commendations from the board and included Yannis Ang, Arveen Birdi, Arvin Birdi, Trenton Bradshaw, Saige Carstersen, Alyssa Dominguez, Kayleigh Douglas, Paris Ferrill, Jaspreet Kaur, Ariceli McBroom, Mallory Myers, Malynne Myers, Autumn Nava, Elizabeth Neuner, Morgan Silva, Caden Stephens, Ace Sulek, Deziree Valladarez, and Vivica Wolfe. The Board also recognized Paris Ferrill and Vivica Wolfe as the first ever recipients of the All-Star Student Service Team
Members of the Year for their outstanding dedication and service to the organization.
The MYF Board of Directors invites the community to attend the scholarship competition shows where 20 outstanding young people of achievement will compete for $7,400 in educational scholarships. The competitions will take place this Saturday, June 24th at 9:30 a.m. for contestants ages 16-20 and 3 p.m. for contestants ages 15 and under.
Both shows take place at Crossroads Grace Community Church in Manteca. Tickets are $20 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 info@MantecaYouthFocus.org or visit www.MantecaYouthFocus.org.
