Teens Tanya Towner of Manteca, Stephanie Quibin of Lathrop and Samuel Dacus II of Weston Ranch are competing this week in San Jose in the 2011 California State Youth Accolades Scholarship Competition.

Sponsored by Youth Focus Inc., the competition week features leadership training with an emphasis on education, cultural exploration and community advocacy. Youth Focus seeks to build self-esteem and confidence in youth, encouraging them to seek a positive direction in life and providing them with the opportunity to acquire invaluable life skills. The contestants are judged in several phases of competition such as interview, public speaking, impromptu speech and stage arts. Each year, Youth Focus Inc. awards in excess of $20,000 to young people of merit across the state through its various competitions and programs.

Towner, an 18-year old freshman at California State University, Stanislaus will represent the City of Manteca as Miss Manteca. Quibin, a 17-year old senior at Lathrop High School, will represent the City of Lathrop as Miss Lathrop. Both have hopes of earning the title of Miss California State – California State’s Young Woman of Achievement, the official hostess for California fairs, festivals and celebrations and the California State Fair & Exposition in Sacramento.

Dacus, a 17-year old senior at Weston Ranch High, School, will attend as the Lathrop Ambassador with hopes of earning the title of California State Ambassador. Towner, sponsored by Manteca Youth Focus, will present a tap solo. Quibin and Dacus are both sponsored by Lathrop Youth Focus and will present a piano solo and inspirational speech, respectively.

The competition is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 8,  at Willow Glen High School in San Jose. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $12. The theme of this year’s competition is “A Tribute to Disney” and will feature entertainment from beloved Disney classics. The competition will also feature special appearance by current reigning Miss California State  Amanda Rosas of Manteca and California State Ambassador Adeeb Chowdry of Santa Clara County.

You can find more information about Youth Focus Inc year-round programming as well as advance ticket purchase for this year’s state competition by visiting their website  www.youth-focus.org or contact Kristina Stamper, Entrants Director at (209) 612-6930 or email YouthFocusInc@gmail.com.