THE CROWD:

In this election season, politicians seeking office remind us about the abiding strength, character, creativity and resiliency of the American worker.

It all sounds very positive. However, we don’t need to examine statistics to realize that the American worker is falling behind the competition from workers in key foreign nations. The challenge begins with examination of our education. On many levels, from preschool through university, our once-dominant system is not living up to its potential.

This is not just the fault of the “system.” Parental values have drifted, and students’ work ethics and study habits have changed. Dedication to goals and the pursuit of excellence in learning is not as powerful as it once was.

The cries for bolstering science education are loud and clear.

In Orange County last week like-minded citizens gathered at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana to honor 10 years of promoting science education in this community.

Some 400 black-tie guests converged on the Discovery Science Center, celebrating “A Decade of Discovery” and honoring Donald P. Kennedy, his son Parker S. Kennedy and the First American Corporation for their dedication and financial support.

The Kennedy family was honored with the Arnold O. Beckman Award, named for one of Discovery Science Center’s founding donors. Center President Joe Adams said, “As America seeks to compete in the global economy, community leaders like the Kennedys and First American Corporation recognize the importance of inspiring the next generation with meaningful learning experiences.”

Co-chaired by Julie McDorman and Kristin Crellin, the evening at the center began with a fun-filled reception as guests mingled among the many scientific exhibits that attract Orange County’s schoolchildren throughout the year. In between the clinking of martini glasses, partygoers played with smoke ring machines, oogled wavemakers and examined the effects of gravity.

Following the reception, which included a massive silent auction, the crowd passed through a curtain of smoke illuminating the logo “A Decade of Discovery” and proceeded into an elegant white tent located adjacent to the center’s cube, which has become a community landmark just off the 5 Freeway.

The Turnip Rose catered a seated multicourse dinner while dignitaries were introduced and speeches made, including a welcome from center board Chairman Dan Bolar, who told the crowd that 2008 marks the passing of the 3 millionth visitor to the center, which in 2007 broke all attendance records with more than 438,000 attending.

Bolar thanked many of the significant donors and past board chairs, notably mentioning Bob Howard who, with his wife, Cleva Howard, was instrumental in turning the center into a reality a decade ago.

Major underwriters of the affair included the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, the Microsemi Corporation, Bank of America, the Boeing Co., Wells Fargo Bank, Allergan and, of course, Taco Bell, the naming sponsor of Discovery Science Center.

Individual sponsors included Jim and Sheila Peterson, Tim and Pamela Kashani, Raj and Marta Bhathal, Chuck and Carleen Haggerty, Ken and Lydia Himes, Kris and Linda Elftmann, Janet and Walkie Ray, Paul and Daranne Folino, Tom and Julie McDorman and the Horowitz family.

Also front and center for the center were the Samueli Foundation and its Anaheim Ducks Foundation. Representing the Anaheim Ducks were Michael Schulman, chairman and chief executive, and Brian Burke, executive vice president and general manager. The Ducks Foundation announced a $2-million lead gift to create an exhibition titled the “Science of Hockey,” which is scheduled to open in the spring of 2009.

Filmmaker Tim Kashani volunteered his services as auctioneer, entertaining the crowd with his dry humor as he proceeded to raise more than $100,000 in donations for the center. Spotted in the crowd were notable guests, including Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Michael Ramirez; ABC and ESPN sports announcer Steve Lavin and his wife, Mary; Bob and Peggy Goldwater Clay; Keith and Tracey Bradley; Irvine Mayor Beth Krom; Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido; and the charming couple Debbie and Paul Motenko.

A video was shown to the crowd featuring 17-year-old Newport Coast resident Kenny Cooper, who shared his childhood memories of the center.

“Some of the best learning I’ve experienced happened at the center,” Kenny said. “There couldn’t be a better place for young kids to spend their time these days.”

As Kenny told his story, images of him as a 7-year-old at the center were shown on the video. It ended telling the audience that the Corona del Mar high school senior hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology next year following his love of science into a career path.

By the end of the evening, more than $390,000 had been raised to be used to inspire young people like Kenny to dream the impossible dreams that will indeed take America and the rest of mankind into the future. Fittingly, in an earlier age there was another young man named Arnold Beckman, who also as a young boy became inspired by the world of physical science. His brain power, coupled with an American education in the sciences, helped Beckman to invent many scientific apparatuses that changed the world in the 20th century.

More than the money, more than the glamorous party, more than the fun and games and the wonderful entertainment, Discovery Science Center aims to make a difference in the human condition one child at a time. And yes, one child can change the entire world.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.