Institutes open minds, doors

When Steve Edberg works with students at La Cañada High School he encourages them to set their sights on the stars, literally and figuratively. An astronomer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Edberg heads the Astronomy Institute, one of a half-dozen professional mentorship opportunities available through the school’s Institutes for the 21st Century program.

“I enjoy all of science,” Edberg said. “I enjoy sharing it. I feel like I can inspire the kids.”

Now in its 17th year, Institutes for the 21st Century matches interested students with La Cañada residents working in a diverse range of career fields, including ecology, architecture and business. The students and volunteer professionals meet on a weekly basis, typically on campus, to delve into related subject matter and to work on projects. Off-campus internships are also available.

The program continues to attract strong participation, said LCHS college counselor Sally Spangler.

“It gives them the opportunity to explore an area that they might be considering as a possible career with someone who has been in the field,” Spangler said.

Loretta Savery, an independent marketing consultant, has been running the Business Institute for six years. The mother of a current LCHS student as well as one of the school’s graduates, Savery helps participants explore the world of marketing and branding. The institute includes speakers from major international corporations, such as Google.

In addition, students are assigned a development project wherein they introduce and pitch a new product. The concepts that emerge are fantastic, Savery said.

“When the kids come up with ideas, often within the next year of two I will see a mention of a very similar product in a business publication,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I think it is so fun. They really do have their fingers on the pulse of what people would want.”

The program creates leadership opportunities, Spangler said. Last year, students in the La Cañada Flintridge Trails Council Institute played a major role in the opening of a new community trail. They learn not only about how a trail is made, but also attended meetings at City Hall to press the issue with the City Council.

Senior Alice Hall-Partyka said the Rain Forest/Ecology Institute let her further explore an area of interest.