By Kristiana Erthner
Cars racing, bridges collapsing and strange objects falling from the sky—this is what MESA Day is all about.

On Saturday, March 6, the MESA Schools Program (Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement) will host its annual MESA Day event, giving San Diego County middle and high school students the opportunity to participate in a number of science-based activities and win awards for their performances.

Southwestern College’s Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Program, in collaboration with Southwestern College (SWC) Associated Student Organization (ASO) will host Science Opportunity Day on Tuesday, March 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Mathematics, Sciences and Engineering Quad/330 Building Patio Area. This joint effort between our program and student clubs facilitates the goals of introducing students to the opportunities offered by local companies, organizations and school programs. I hope that you will be a part of this good day!

The 9th annual Leadership Summit took place at the Indian Hills Camp in Jamul on the weekend of February 19 – February 21, 2010. MESA/MEP/MSP students from San Diego City College, San Diego State University, and Southwestern College participated in various competitions that promoted the use of their leadership skills and various strengths attributes.

Students experience application and interview selection process to work at various engineering and scientific firms in San Diego County from June 2010-August 2010. Great opportunity for career exploration.

The Mock Interview, and Resume and Cover Letter Critique will be on Monday, March 15, 2010 from 1pm-4pm at SDSU Career Services. This event will have limited seating and will be hosted by industry. Northrop Grumman will host a presentation on resumes and cover letters from 1-2p and limited students will have an opportunity to participate in 30 minute one-on-one Mock Interviews and Resume/Cover Letter Critiques between 2-4p.

MESA students at San Diego City College and Southwestern Community College, MESA Engineering Program and Maximizing Science Potential students at San Diego State University can apply for a summer team internship starting NOW!

Imperial Valley Press Online staff writer Elizabeth Varin covered the Imperial Valley MESA program’s Robotics Competition in the articles, ‘Imperial County MESA program hosts robotic competition‘ and ‘MESA students more likely to head off to college than others in Imperial County‘.

The Shadow Day Program, coordinated by the San Diego MESA Alliance, matches students with employers to gain insight into technical careers. Student participants have the opportunity to observe one or more people working at a job of interest. Overall, students will observe and network with professionals, investigate a career field, clarify career goals and interests, and function within a work environment.

Through the San Diego MESA Alliance, college students will have a unique experience to witness the “real world” of work in an engineering or scientific environment. Your involvement will provide a great opportunity for our up and coming students to “test the waters” in a field of their interest and see first-hand how classroom skills relate to the workplace.

What better way to do that, than observe and work with a professional in action! You the employer, get to make a positive impact on the lives of students; future engineers and scientists!

More information can be found at http://www.engineering.sdsu.edu/mep/ShadowDay.htm

The San Diego MESA Schools Program MESA Days’ competitions are coming up in 2010. Please refer to the flyer below for more information on how to volunteer for the competitions.

Teams of MESA & SPSD students design “buoyancy shoes”, and student “shoe pilots” race across the length of the pool. Competition allows students to gain experience at applying applying the engineering design process; solving open-ended problems.