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.

The 2009 National Science Foundation STEP Partnership of San Diego / San Diego MESA Alliance Summer Team Internships are accepting applications from students in the MESA and MEP programs at San Diego City College, San Diego State University, and Southwestern College.

The NSF STEP Partnership of San Diego grant will provide stipends of $1,250 to 36 student interns (12 students per campus – San Diego City College, San Diego State University, and Southwestern Community College) for 100 internship hours each, every summer.

Congratulations to the Society for Professional, Hispanic Engineers (SHPE) team for winning first prize for fastest shoes. Congratulations to the Culinary Grilling Club (CGC) Team who won first Prize in Originality AND first prize for Best Use of Recyclable Materials.

On Friday, Aug. 22, Raytheon’s Expeditionary Warfare Center hosted more than 50 student leaders and industry sponsors for the 2008 San Diego Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) Alliance Joint Planning Conference for engineering and science student chapters.

The purpose of the annual event was to provide a forum for the leaders of various student organizations including:

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers and Society of Women Engineers to collaborate to improve chapter effectiveness and communication between stakeholders and to promote leadership development.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to the San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA) provided stipends for 36 student interns 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 able to allow other students opportunities to participate.