Our Mission.
- The Lucas Scholars Program provides under-served students access and experience with innovative technology in a project-based learning environment that supports joy and exploration.
The Basics
The Lucas Scholars Program is a five-day summer program at St. Matthew’s Parish School in Pacific Palisades, CA. It is completely free of charge to all students. Scholars experience a dynamic project based learning (pbl) experience infused with Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math. Our powerful pbl techniques, combined with leading edge technology and top notch mentorship inspired our scholars and gives them tools to be successful in the fields of science, technology, or wherever else their academic interests lead them.
Our Current Partners
Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club
The Neighborhood Youth Association
The EmpowHer Institute
St. Anne's School
Environmental Charter Middle School Inglewood
Environmental Charter Middle School Gardena
Watts Learning Center Charter Middle School
The Neighborhood Youth Association
The EmpowHer Institute
St. Anne's School
Environmental Charter Middle School Inglewood
Environmental Charter Middle School Gardena
Watts Learning Center Charter Middle School
Program Vision
Our vision is to inspire students to see their own strength and potential for achievement in challenging educational environments. Through the use of innovative and relevant technological tools, students will take away not only new academic skills, but also pride in their accomplishments and a desire to follow their passions. We ask three things of our participants: Work Together. Have Fun. Be A Scholar. As our program and goals continue to expand, the Lucas Scholars Program seeks to continue to expand its services to more communities-in-need throughout Southern California.
Program Founder, Kate Ward
Mrs. Ward began teaching Earth Science and Life Science at St. Matthew's in 2009 after previously teaching Advanced Placement Biology to high school students in the Midwest for three years. She graduated from Williams College, majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience and competed on the volleyball and rowing teams. She spent most of her life as a student in independent schools and strongly believes in their learning philosophy. She hopes students in her classes learn how to think like scientists and question how the living world around them works from tiny bacteria to entire ecosystems. Her current passion is getting students excited about evolution and scientific research through the Guppy Project, started in 2010. Mrs. Ward was the co-chair of St. Matthew’s Parish School’s school-wide Diversity Committee, and she was a Lucas Fellowship recipient in the summer of 2010.