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 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.

Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) is nationally recognized for its innovative and effective academic development program. MESA engages thousands of educationally disadvantaged students so they excel in math and science and graduate with math-based degrees. MESA partners with all segments of California higher education as well as K-12 institutions.

MESA, now celebrating its 40th anniversary, has a proven track record in producing math-based graduates by providing elements such as classes, hands-on competitions, counseling, transfer support and a community environment to students from middle school through four-year college.

With the goal of engaging potential leaders in professional development activities, PBS&J recently granted a $5,000 contribution to the Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Alliance in support of MESA’s annual leadership summit. Funding was provided through The PBSJ Foundation, Inc.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to the San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA) provided stipends for 36 student interns (12 students in MESA/MEP program at each campus – San Diego City College, San Diego State University, and Southwestern Community College) this summer at various projects in science and engineering firms in, but not limited to, San Diego. Some companies decided to compensate the interns themselves separate of our provided stipend and thus allow other students opportunities to partake in an internship.

This conference was sponsored by San Diego Gas & Electric, the College of Engineering at San Diego State University, and the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program, a service mark of the University of California Regents.

The conference provided attendees with a detailed look at the shortage of highly qualified STEM professionals in the San Diego Region and what one national program model, MESA, is doing to address it.

The 16th Annual Calculator Olympics and Robotics Challenge event was held on Saturday, April 18th, 2009 at San Diego City College.

Teams consisting of MESA students at San Diego State University (SDSU), San Diego City College (SDCC), Southwestern Community College (SWC), and participating schools from Imperial Valley and San Diego MESA Schools Programs competed against each other in exams that included Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and some Engineering material.

Each school was also allowed 1-2 teams who would program a LEGO Mindstorm NXT robotics kit to compete in2 missions. The first mission required speed and intelligence to maneuver through each checkpoint correctly. The second mission was a head-to-head competition in that robots raced to collect the most LEGO pieces under a constrained area and time limit.

Caltrans, via their headquarters and transportation management center, provided ‘in-house’ training; students learned technical skill sets and gained professional development to enhance their employability.

Northrop Grumman representatives Desiree Galenti and Amanda Whipple facilitated a presentation on ‘Interviewing for a Job’.

Representatives from Infrastructure Engineering Corporation, the Navy, Northrop Grumman, and Solar Turbines also hosted appointments for one-on-one mock interviews, resume critiques, and cover letter critiques.

The 8th annual Leadership Summit took place at the Indian Hills Camp in Jamul on the weekend of February 27 – March 1, 2009. Students from San Diego City College, San Diego State University, Southwestern College, Ventura College, and various high schools involved in the Imperial Valley MESA Schools Program, participated in various competitions that promoted the use of their leadership skills and various strengths attributes.