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NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
45 young Manteca leaders, 23 titles, $17K in scholarships, one weekend
2026 MYF
Miss Manteca 2025 Kylie Anderson and Manteca City Ambassador 2025 Nihar Jain.

By SHIM LACY

For the Bulletin

Manteca Youth Focus (MYF) will crown a new class of city ambassadors and queens this weekend as 45 outstanding young people, ages 10 to 20, take the stage at Calvary Community Church for the 2026 MYF Scholarship Competitions.

The weekend unfolds across three shows: the Young Division on Friday evening, followed by the Teen and Upper Divisions on Saturday.

Far more than a crown or a title, the role of Miss Manteca and Manteca City Ambassador, along with their Teen and Young counterparts, is an invitation to represent and serve the greater Manteca community as part of the year-round MYF All-Star Student Service Team.

Each of the three shows will feature Dan Lansford, the very first Manteca City Ambassador 1994-95 who was recently named MYF’s first Historic Manteca City Ambassador, as special guest to lead the on-stage question phase in each competition.

This year’s winners will be crowned by MYF’s reigning 2025 titleholders: Kylie Anderson, Miss Manteca, and Nihar Jain, Manteca City Ambassador; Kayleigh Douglas, Miss Teen Manteca, and Abhi Nair, Teen Manteca City Ambassador; and Alani McBroom, Miss Young Manteca.

The current Young Manteca City Ambassador, Sai Sumeet Chetri, is traveling internationally and unable to attend.

All of the 2025 titleholders were recently recognized at ceremony in their honor earlier this month at event hosted by MYF that included civic leaders and elected officials and featured a keynote address by Manteca City Council Member and Vice Mayor, Regina Lackey.

Beyond the stage, every contestant has developed a community advocacy project, a hands-on effort to meet a real need close to home. Listed alongside each name below, this year’s projects reach across the community, from collecting books for young readers and comforting hospitalized children to supporting seniors, first responders, and families in need. These projects reflect the program’s belief that leadership begins with listening to the community and using your voice to create meaningful change.

Contestants are evaluated across six phases that reward substance over showmanship, including volunteer service, academic achievement, a personality interview, community advocacy speech, stage arts, and on-stage Q&A.

Over the past several weeks, they have attended MYF-led workshops in leadership development, public speaking, interview skills, and professional readiness, building transferable skills that will serve them long after the crowns are awarded.

More than $17,000 in educational scholarships are at stake across the weekend. In each division, the top young man and young woman are crowned the city titleholders, and the two Upper Division winners, Manteca City Ambassador and Miss Manteca, each receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Every division also awards additional titles tied to beloved community events, including the Manteca Pumpkin Fair, the Crossroads Watermelon Street Faire, and Winter Fest winter-themed holiday events. Every participant earns a scholarship, regardless of final placement.

Manteca Youth Focus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has served local youth for more than three decades. Its programs are open to residents of the greater Manteca community, including Manteca, Ripon, Lathrop, and the communities of River Islands, French Camp, and Weston Ranch. For more information on MYF programs, email MantecaYouthFocus@gmail.com or visit www.MantecaYouthFocus.org.

The 2026 contestants are listed below by division.

Young Division

Takes place Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m.

Young Manteca City Ambassador Candidates

  • Viraj Sangu Age: 10; School: Nile Garden Elementary; Stage Arts: Guitar; Advocacy Project: “Reading Buddies”
  • Julius Martinez Age: 11; School: St. Anthony’s Catholic School; Stage Arts: Piano; Advocacy Project: “Love & Care Should Always Be Shared”
  • Amey Karanjkar Age: 11; School: Veritas Elementary; Stage Arts: Rubik’s Cube Demo; Advocacy Project: “Kid Kalculators”
  • Raghav Siwal Age: 10; School: Nile Garden Elementary; Stage Arts: Guitar; Advocacy Project: “Hope for Pets”
  • James Neuner Age: 11; School: Ripon Elementary; Stage Arts: Science Demo; Advocacy Project: “Care Starts Here”

Miss Young Manteca Contestants

  • Olivia Robinson Age: 11; School: Great Valley Academy Salida; Stage Arts: Vocal; Advocacy Project: “Toys of Hope”
  • Ria Muruganagarajan Age: 9; School: Nile Garden Elementary; Stage Arts: Piano; Advocacy Project: “Books for Every Child”
  • Nissi Singh Age: 10; School: Nile Garden Elementary; Stage Arts: Bhangra Dance; Advocacy Project: “My Adopted Parks”
  • Shanaya Jain Age: 11; School: George McParland Elementary; Stage Arts: Monologue; Advocacy Project: “Community Canvas”
  • Miranda Silva Age: 11; School: Walter Woodward Elementary; Stage Arts: Dance with Tumbling; Advocacy Project: “Vision of Hope”
  • Alina Mullenix Age: 11; School: St. Anthony’s Catholic School; Stage Arts: Vocal; Advocacy Project: “Changing Lives One Diaper at a Time”
  • Charis Ang Age: 12; School: Park View Elementary; Stage Arts: Cello with Vocal; Advocacy Project: “WishKit”
  • Samaira Jain Age: 11; School: George McParland Elementary; Stage Arts: Vocal; Advocacy Project: “Every Child Deserves a Story”

Teen Division

Takes place Saturday, June 27 at 9:30 a.m.

Teen Manteca City Ambassador Candidates

  • Kevin Anxhaku Age: 15; School: East Union High School; Stage Arts: Poetry; Advocacy Project: “Closet of Kindness”
  • Spandan Nikam Age: 14; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Dance; Advocacy Project: “The Founders Path”
  • Lakshit “Lucky” Siwal Age: 13; School: Nile Garden Elementary; Stage Arts: Clarinet; Advocacy Project: “Bright Minds”
  • James Chu Age: 13; School: Park View Elementary; Stage Arts: Piano; Advocacy Project: “100 Books for 100 Kids”
  • Kunsh Bhende Age: 13; School: Veritas Elementary; Stage Arts: Dance; Advocacy Project: “Steady Start: Future Ready”
  • Shalom Singh Age: 14; School: Nile Garden Elementary; Stage Arts: Bhangra Dance; Advocacy Project: “Brighten the Wait”
  • Aarav Kalvala Age: 14; School: Lathrop High School; Stage Arts: Piano; Advocacy Project: “Troop Packing Event”
  • Prathyag Jinka Age: 15; School: River Islands High School; Stage Arts: Rubik’s Cube Demo; Advocacy Project: “Rooted Together”

Miss Teen Manteca Contestants

  • Siddhi Mishra Age: 13; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Vocal with Dance; Advocacy Project: “Students for Success”
  • Elyse Vonasek Age: 13; School: Nile Garden Elementary; Stage Arts: Monologue; Advocacy Project: “Simply Crochet”
  • Morgan Silva Age: 14; School: Manteca High School; Stage Arts: Dance with Tumbling; Advocacy Project: “Showered with Love”
  • Abhavya Verma Age: 14; School: River Islands High School; Stage Arts: Dance; Advocacy Project: “Anti-Bullying”
  • Yannis Ang Age: 14; School: Ripon High School; Stage Arts: Violin & Dance; Advocacy Project: “Pass the Pages On”
  • Shreya Bharti Age: 13; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Dance; Advocacy Project: “Read to Lead”
  • Izabella Neuner Age: 14; School: Ripon High School; Stage Arts: Magic; Advocacy Project: “Sunshine for Seniors”
  • Pamela “Shelby” O’Connor Age: 15; School: Manteca High School; Stage Arts: Flute; Advocacy Project: “Cradles of Care”

Upper Division

Takes place Saturday, June 27 at 30 p.m.

Manteca City Ambassador Candidates

  • Harsh Konduru Age: 16; School: Lathrop Hgh School; Stage Arts: Bansuri; Advocacy Project: “Comfort Collective”
  • Mina Boghdady Age: 16; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Magic Card Tricks; Advocacy Project: “Story Keepers”
  • Raunak Mahar Age: 16; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Karate Demo; Advocacy Project: “Comfort Nights”
  • Abhimanyu Nair Age: 16; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Guitar with Vocal; Advocacy Project: “The Checkmate Project”
  • Harshith Kumar Age: 16; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Speech; Advocacy Project: “The Manteca Lifeline: A Mission for Our Most Vulnerable”
  • Shaurya Khairmode Age: 17; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Piano; Advocacy Project: “Youth Entrepreneurship Competition”
  • Kushaagra Patel Age: 17; School: Sierra High School and San Joaquin Delta College (concurrent enrollment); Stage Arts: Guitar; Advocacy Project: “Coding for a Cause”
  • Arjun Prabhu Age: 16; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Vocal; Advocacy Project: “Recover to Perform”
  • Marcus Ang Age: 17; School: Hart Ransom Charter High School and Modesto Junior College (concurrent enrollment); Stage Arts: Cello; Advocacy Project: “Fuel the Future”

Miss Manteca Contestants

  • Nikitha Muruganagarajan Age: 16; School: Sierra High School and San Joaquin Delta College (concurrent enrollment); Stage Arts: Vocal; Advocacy Project: “209 Heart & Stroke Walk”
  • Jazmine Quizon Age: 17; School: Santa Monica Community College; Stage Arts: Vocal; Advocacy Project: “Open Arms”
  • Neriah Flores Age: 17; School: Manteca High School; Stage Arts: Athletic Training Demo; Advocacy Project: “Serving Those Who Serve”
  • Deziree Valladarez Age: 17; School: Manteca High School; Stage Arts: ASL Demo; Advocacy Project: “Where Stories Begin”
  • Claire Carroll Age: 17; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Spoken Word; Advocacy Project: “Push-Up & Prevail”
  • Aditi Malgunde Age: 17; School: Sierra High School; Stage Arts: Piano with Vocal; Advocacy Project: “Creative Wellness Through Art”
  • Zainab “Zuzu” Sami Age: 16; School: Manteca High School; Stage Arts: Jazz/Pom Dance; Advocacy Project: “Speaking Up for Smiles”