MESA

What is MESA?

The purpose of MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) is to increase the number of ethnic minority and all female students who pursue coursework, advanced study and possible careers in mathematics, engineering, and science areas. Students in MESA attend field trips and after-school meetings that consist of fun educational activities, competitions, and industry and academic guest speakers. These are designed to inform and motivate students about the countless opportunities that exist in these areas. They also serve to bolster their confidence in these areas of study and encourage the use of team work and problem solving skills. Students in MESA receive academic counseling and guidance on the courses they should be taking and the grades they should be attaining in order to gain admission to college and pursue degrees and/or careers in math, engineering, and science.

At Salt Lake City School District, we have nine of our schools participating in MESA. Our advisors work hard to plan meaningful activities for the students, including engaging academic and business guest speakers and field trips. This year our MESA clubs will be focusing on academic achievement. We will be working with our students to set, monitor, and realize academic goals. We will also help them to understand the academic requirements for admission into college, including those specific to pursuing degrees, and subsequently careers, in math, engineering, and science fields.

More information can be found at http://www.mesautah.org.

MESA Highlights

Recently, the Salt Lake Center for Science Education MESA club had the opportunity to work with representatives from the University of Utah Mechanical Engineering Department. Students investigated the interaction between electric and magnetic fields through constructing a working audio speaker. Each student was able to make their own speaker from scratch and test their engineering skills by hooking their speaker up to a radio. WAY COOL PHYSICS! Thanks U of U!

Northwest MS MESA students recently traveled to the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove, UT. The Christa McAuliffe Space Center is celebrating 15 years of educating Utah students about the Solar System and Space Travel. Through exciting missions aboard space vehicles that travel at warp speeds into deep space, students interact with alien life forms in their quest to “boldly go where no man has gone before”.

Northwest MS MESA students had a visit from Endrit Shurdha, University of Utah doctoral student of Chemistry, who presented a “Magic in Chemistry” show. He discussed his position in research and development and demonstrated the fun and magic in chemistry. He showed the students how to make slime and sticky, foam bouncy balls and how to test the amount of calories in gummy worms.

Staff:

Mathematics/MESA Supervisor: Joleigh Honey - 801.578.8295

MESA Specialist: Christina Eischeid - 801.419.6077

Mathematics/MESA Administrative Assistant: Yvonne Andersen - 801.578.8214