California State Youth Accolades Scholarship Competition 2013

Each year in early fall, a brief week would give the young people participating a new sense of commitment to serving others and making a difference in the lives of others. It would be a special learning experience of putting someone's else's needs above their own knowing that as a result their lives would not be less, but more richly blessed beyond their wildest imaginations. For the past 40 years Youth Focus Inc. has been giving out Academic Scholarships to those deserving and have enabled young people of accomplishment to reach their fullest potential by preparing them to face the challenges of the future.

This year three young men and three young women have won these accolades in the following areas: California State Ambassador/Ambassadress, California Teen Ambassador/ Ambassadresss and California State Junior ambassador/ Ambassadress.

Held at the Santa clara Convention center, the week long competitions tested the candidates in different areas comprising of Personality Interview, Communications Skills, On Stage Personality Competition, Extemporaneous Competition, and Stage arts Competition. The rules are extremely stringent and rigorous.

"This is not a beauty pageant," said Bill Smethers, executive director of Youth Focus Inc. "This is a scholarship program given out to those well deserving young people based on their academics, personality and communication skills." Sindhu Ravuri, who is the first Indian American to have won the title of California State Youth Accolades Teen Ambassadress title, is overwhelmed.

"It's unbelievable that I got this title, when there are so many well deserving candidates around me," the 16-yearold Harker Junior gushed.

All title holders represent the state youth in state held fairs, promotions and festivals. They are expected to participate in voluntary services and spread the word about their cause that they have atoned to during the competition. They are expected to be the role models to the youth of the California State.

"Its not an easy task to these young people who are busy in their own schools and colleges," explained Smethers. "But they are very dedicated or they wouldn't be here."

About Youth Focus Inc. and the California State Youth Accolades Program

Youth Focus Inc. was started by Bill and Gen Smethers, and for over forty years, they have been able to touch the lives of young people throughout the state of California along with an incredible Board of Directors and numerous volunteers and staff. Youth Focus Inc. has touched the lives of thousands of young people through programs that not only develop leadership skills but also provide them with a strong sense of their place in the community. Youth Focus programs have channeled young people's energies into enormously positive activities and have helped them to develop their untapped potential to realize their dreams and aspirations. Although each of the programs conducted by Youth Focus are relevant and viable programs, perhaps one of the most meaningful of all is the California State Youth Accolades Competition. Young people would gather in the summer, giving testimony time and again that one short week would impact their lives in such a way that they would be forever changed. Each year, this brief week would give the young people participating a new sense of commitment to serving others and making a difference in the lives of others, It would be a special learning experience of putting someone else's needs above their own, knowing that as a result their lives would not be less, but more richly blessed beyond their wildest dreams.

Over the span of its existence, this program has been able to provide over $650,000 in academic scholarships, assisting young people of merit achieving their quest for higher education.

For More pictures of all winners click here

Teen Ambasadress and Teen Ambassador Sindhu Ravuri and Matthew Bloemhof

WINNERS 2013:

Miss California State: Madison Wackerman from Orange County. She has just started her first year at UC Berkeley. Her talent was a vocal solo to "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)." She will be receiving a $3000 educational scholarship for her year of service.

California State Ambassador: Horst Bauer from Manteca. He is currently attending San Francisco State University. His talent was a vocal solo to "Caro Mio Ben." He will be receiving a $3000 educational scholarship for his year of service. California State Teen Ambassadress: Sindhu Ravuri represented the Silicon Valley at the competition. Her talent was a moving speech about the sex trade and her passion for helping women get out. She will be receiving a $500 savings bond for her year of service.

California State Teen Ambassador: Matthew Bloemhof is a 16-year-old from Bakersfield. His talent was a vocal and guitar solo to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." He will be receiving a $500 savings bond for his year of service.

California State Junior Ambassadress: Kirsten-Grace Baker is a 12-year-old from Butte County. Her talent was a poetry reading entitled "The Touch of a Master's Hand." She will be receiving a $500 savings bond for her year of service.