ASB announces talent show beneficiary, show dates

Emily Cieslak, Managing Features Editor|January 9, 2015

For the first time in the show’s 18 year history, the beneficiary of the Wenatchee High School Janice Franz Talent Show will not be present. Being selected before Winter Break as the beneficiary, 17-year-old WestSide High School student Ana Ventura lost her battle to brain cancer on Dec. 26, leaving behind her 2-year-old daughter, Jocelyn Melendez, as the recipient of the show’s proceeds.

Junior Claire Goveia
Junior Claire Goveia

“It happened really quick, and it was traumatic, and she was a special part of the WestSide world and our family, so it just seemed really natural for me to nominate her for this amazing gift,” WestSide High School Principal Kory Kalahar said.

In November, Ventura learned she had a malignant brain tumor and underwent surgery in early December to remove it. The procedure resulted in an infection, and she fell into a coma at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Kalahar said.

“When Mr. Kalahar emailed us talking about her, he said there was a pretty good chance she wouldn’t make it to the talent show and that her 2-year-old daughter was going to be left with Ana’s parents,” junior ASB activity coordinator Claire Goveia said. “And we (ASB) were just thinking about one, all of her medical expenses and two, how much money it will take to raise another child.”

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It means a lot to me to have her as a beneficiary. And [WHS] does amazing things with the talent show.

— Kory Kalahar, WestSide High School Principal

In an effort to raise as much money as possible, the show will run three nights, Feb. 25, 26, and 27 with tickets being $8. A silent auction featuring donations from local businesses is also being planned for those evenings. In past years, the show has raised an average of $15,000 and ASB hopes to use the proceeds to set up a trust fund for the daughter and alleviate any medical, travel, and childcare costs.

Forms for talent auditions are now available in the ASB office and need to be returned by Jan. 20, Goveia said. Auditions will be on Jan. 27, 28, and 29, and all kinds of acts, from poetry to standup comedy, are welcomed.

As a former teacher and assistant principal at WHS, Kalahar has seen the talent and generosity from the show and is honored to have Ventura chosen.

“Ana was an amazing young lady. She was very smart and very sociable,” Kalahar said. “It means a lot to me to have her as a beneficiary. And [WHS] does amazing things with the talent show.”