What is MESA?

Mathematics

MESA stands for

Engineering

Science

Achievement

What is MESA?• MESA’s mission is “To prepare underrepresented

students for higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

• “Underrepresented students” refers to groups of people that make up a very small population of people in the STEM fields.

• Those groups include African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander and Women.

• However students of all ethnicities are welcome.

Why MESA?

Why MESA?

Why MESA?

History of MESA• MESA started in California in 1970.• Since its start, MESA has grown to multiple

states around the country, with multiple centers in each state.

• MESA is currently in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington.

History of MESA• MESA came to the University of Washington in

1982.• Washington MESA has 6 centers around the

state; Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Spokane, Tri-Cities and First Nations.

• In 1984 Tacoma MESA was established.• All centers are located at Universities.• Tacoma MESA is the only center located at a

Private University (Pacific Lutheran University)

• We Have– After school programs– MESA classes– MESA enriched classes– Robotics classes– Summer programs– Saturday academies– Tutoring sessions– College preparation workshops

Tacoma MESA’s Programs

MESA Day• Our MESA classes and after school programs design and build

projects for the purpose of competing at our annual MESA Day.

• Every year we have around 400 students come to Pacific Lutheran University to compete in various engineering challenges.

• Projects like making a prosthetic arm, a wind turbine, a popsicle stick bridge, a balsa wood glider, and others.

• The winners of the Prosthetic Arm get to move on to the State MESA Day to compete for scholarships and the opportunity to go to the National MESA Day.

Scholarships• Every year MESA awards over $10,000 in scholarships to high

school seniors who have actively participated in MESA for multiple years.

Tacoma MESA Staff

JR NoblesDirector

June EllisFamily Engagement Coordinator

Dr. Matthew SmithFaculty Sponsor

Leon HaskinsEducation Coordinator

Nate WardScience/Technology Coordinator

Catalina RodriguezOffice Manager

Dung NguyenProgram Assistant

Christine IgnacioOffice Assistant

MESA is FREE• MESA is free for every student!• MESA is a Non-Profit Organization

that gets funding based on how many students we serve.

• What we Need from you is for you to fill out an AIF (Admission Information Form)