Jeff Tobias:
Leadership and legacy are two words that come to mind when some La Cañada residents describe this week’s Valley Sun All-Star.
Flintridge Preparatory School incoming senior Jeff Tobias is dedicated to doing more than the status quo and to making his community a better place to live.
“Being a leader is just something I like to do. I like organizing things and I’d rather do that than just go with the flow. It’s good to have people look up to you,” Tobias said.
Tobias, 17, is the son of Keith and Tracy Tobias of La Cañada. He has two sisters: Rachel, 20, a student at the University of Southern California, and Nicole, 14, a student at Maranatha High School in Pasadena.
He was born at Glendale Adventist Hospital and has lived in La Cañada all of his life. He attended La Cañada Elementary School for kindergarten through sixth grade and Flintridge Preparatory School for grades seven through 12.
He loves water sports and was on the school’s swim team for two years and also is on the water polo team.
Tobias also enjoys playing ping-pong and spending time with his friends at a local teen hangout, Georgee’s Pizza.
“Georgee’s is like a second-home for me. I know everybody there and it’s like a little family,” he explained.
Tobias is perhaps best known in the community for his work on the city of La Cañada Flintridge’s Youth Council. He became involved in the Youth Council because his sister Rachel previously served on that council.
Last year, fellow council members elected Jeff Tobias as council chair.
The Youth Council recently completed a two-year project creating a citywide tobacco ordinance that was recently approved by the City Council.
In his capacity as Youth Council Chair, Tobias made a presentation to the City Council about that ordinance.
City Councilman Steve Del Guercio is a longtime family friend of Tobias.
“I’ve known Jeff his entire life and it’s a real pleasure to watch him grow into a great young man,” Del Guercio said.
In Tobias’ capacity on the Youth Council he has appeared before the council with several presentations, Del Guercio said, adding: “Jeff’s dedicated service to our community as a member for the Youth Council has made a lasting positive impact. He is a shining example of the fact that our youth can and do play an important role in making our city a great place.”
As he enters his senior year of high school, Tobias is looking forward to his work with the Youth Council, and the excitement of college applications.
Tobias plans to apply to Pepperdine University, where he recently was selected as a delegate and attended its Youth Citizenship Seminar, for leadership training. He also plans to apply to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., which has long been a dream for the youth, who hopes to someday fly military planes.
After college, a career in politics also may be a possibility, he said.
“I’ve always been interested in politics,” Tobias said, adding that he is currently the vice president of Flintridge Preparatory School’s Republican club.
IF YOU’D LIKE TO NOMINATE an exceptional young person who lives in La Cañada or is a student here to be a Valley Sun All-Star, call (818) 495-4172, or e-mail ruth.longoria@latimes.com.