By Shaylen Crook | Reporter

contestants have been chosen. The fundraising has started. The quest to find Mr. MHS 2012 has begun. Ten senior boys are taking on the challenge of the pageant and the various activities that come with it.

Contestants Mason Anderson, Brandon Ball, Connor Bryant, Daniel Chavez, Brady Davidson, Derek Duenas, Frank Montenegro, Will Moriarty, Steven Pederson and Dylon Yoshinaga represent MHS in the annual program that focuses on fundraising and service. The funds raised go to the Share Bear Snack Pack Program, a local program that provides bags full of non-perishable food for needy children to take home over the weekends and school breaks.

“The funding helps feed kids,” Share Bear Snack Pack food prep Program Specialist Becky Yeager said.

Thus far, contestants have helped with concessions at the Mahaffy Ranch pumpkin patch, played in the annual dodge ball tournament and made turkey baskets for local needy families. The boys also sold Christmas wreaths to the community, which is a new fundraiser added to the Mr. MHS program. This year Davidson sold eleven wreaths which will earn him a half point toward his total points for the pageant.

Another avenue of fundraising available to the contestants is donation cans. These cans are placed at various local businesses around the community.

An additional fundraiser that will be held in early 2012 is the annual Mr. MHS vs. Mr. Bulldog volleyball game, which will be held at Marshfield this year.

Contestant Dylon Yoshinaga said he is excited to be a part of Mr. MHS and has been involved in community events before. For example, he has helped at a homeless shelter and sung with the New Horizons vocal ensemble for community events.

“I’ve participated in a lot of community things in the past,” Yoshinaga said. “It makes me feel good.”

The contestants and their senior girls will volunteer twice for the Snack Pack Program during the school year. They physically help pack the food for the children’s snack packs, which consist of nonperishable foods such as applesauce, crackers, cereal, granola bars, juice boxes and pudding.

“I couldn’t do this program on my own,” Yeager said.

Yeager said in the past the Mr. MHS program has raised about $8,000 – $10,000 per year to go towards the Snack Pack Program. $10,000 is enough to feed roughly 50 kids every weekend for the whole school year, said Yeager.

Contestant Steven Pederson said he realizes snack packing is important.

“I know that what we are doing as a group is contributing to the community,” Pederson said.

Head Coordinator and senior Ashleigh Prescott said that usually everyone has a good time snack packing. Prescott said it’s a “bonding experience” as it is the first time the contestants really come together and get to know each other.

“It’s usually a really fun time,” said Prescott.

Prescott, who has worked with the Mr. MHS program for the past three years, said that over the course of the competition the boys come to realize the pageant is not a popularity contest.

“I think it’s a really humbling experience for each and every one of them,” Prescott said. Mr. MHS adviser Jennifer Bunnell agrees.

“By the end of the pageant, they come to realize how important helping the community is,” Bunnell said.