On October 20, 2011, MESA Program students participated in a Diversity and Inclusion conference hosted by industry partner Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). In partnership with industry and academia, SPAWAR hosted the forum to encourage employees to develop communication skills and enhance collaboration among a growing multi-generational workforce.

Brings junior/middle and senior high school MESA students to SDSU campus to ‘shadow’ an engineering or science student. This exposes the younger student to the life of a university student in hopes of recruiting to engineering/science field and to SDSU.

This unique conference is expected to enhance the professional development of tomorrow’s leaders. The purpose of the conference was to improve chapter effectiveness, improve communication between stakeholders – students, industry and MESA staff, and promote leadership development. The conference addressed chapter basics, joint planning, community college-university-industry relationships, ethics, and leadership training. See the conference agenda for specific sessions.

Join us for a half-day’s exploration of the power of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Engineers, educators and STEM experts will share their knowledge and experience with eighth graders, parents and teachers.

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.

This is a link to the SDSU Ambassador membership page, which contains the 2011 application as well as the recruitment schedule. Do look at the dates for the information sessions happening next week and note that the application deadline is Wednesday, October 12, 2011 (at 3:00 pm sharp!).

Have your resumes reviewed by local employers and the Director of Career Services prior to the Fall Career and Internship Fair on campus next Thursday!

About 200 middle school students competed at the Central Union High School swimming pool during the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement program’s “Walking on Water” competition.

Twenty-seven schools throughout the Imperial Valley entered the competition that required, in addition to two months of preparation, a keen focus on how math and science mesh in engineering, said Jeanette Espino, MESA program director.

While the would-be inventors got to bask in the sun and splash in the water, Espino said the competition also serves as a useful instructional tool. More than 200 high school students will get to do the same at 5:15 p.m. today during their MESA competition at CUHS’ swimming pool.

Teams consisting of MESA students at San Diego State University, San Diego City College, Southwestern Community College, Imperial Valley High School, and Holtville High School competed against each other in exams that spanned Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and some Engineering material.

Each campus was also allowed up to 3 teams who would program a LEGO MindStorm NXT robotics kit to compete in 2 missions. The first mission required speed and intelligence to maneuver from a home area through a slalom course. The second mission was a combination control and head-to-head event where robots raced to collect the most LEGO pieces and return them back to their home base under a constrained area and time limit.

Caltrans, via their headquarters and traffic management center shared with CHP, provided ‘in-house’ training; students learned technical skill sets and gained professional development to enhance their professional development and further their employment opportunities.