MESA
One of the country's most successful programs of its kind, MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) provides academic support for thousands of educationally disadvantaged students. The MESA Schools Program is a statewide program managed through the University of California Office of the President.
Here in Santa Cruz County, the primary goal of the UC Santa Cruz MESA Schools Program is to provide students from educationally disadvantaged and traditionally non-college going families with academic preparation and career awareness opportunities that empower MESA students to transform their lives.
What Does our Grant Provide?
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Women in Philanthropy funds the MESA program at Pajaro Middle School in Watsonville. In addition to completing assigned scientific tasks as part of a project team, students must learn to prioritize, work as part of a collaborative group, write a technical paper about the project, and give an oral presentation about the project. The MESA program not only increases math and science skills, but increases English language development to enhance students' higher order thinking skills. |  |
Students follow MESA developed curricula that reinforce California State Math and Science Standards to build hands-on projects -- including popsicle stick bridges (stress and pressure), egg drops (effects of velocity), crystal growing, rocket ships, and mouse-trap cars. Students enter these projects in the MESA day competition at UC Santa Cruz.
How Successful is the Program?
The first year of the grant, only a very small group of children wanted to participate in a math and science group. The second year, a few more children participated and two of the kids won at the MESA day competition at UC Santa Cruz. This year, in May 2011, fourteen children from Pajaro Middle School participated - and one of the eighth-graders won first place in the Solo Math competition. Interest in the group continues to grow as these wins are celebrated at the school. Math and science are becoming cool -- and horizons are broadening for children who never thought of themselves as engineers or scientists -- or even considered going to college.
Click here to read 2010-2011 School Year End Report.
Click for more information on the MESA Schools Program at UCSC or the MESA program in general.
Related Links:
- WIP Members
- Reading Recovery
- English Learning
- SPECTRA
- POWER Project
- WIP Membership
- Leadership Giving