2008 colorado mesa annual report

Prepared by Gloria L. Nelson, Executive Director

A WORD FROM THE COLORADO MESA BOARD PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends of Colorado MESA, It is with great pride that we offer the 2007-2008 Colorado MESA Report. We have come far since the inception of MESA in 1980, but our goal remains unchanged: to promote and provide educational enrichment for pre-college students from historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged groups and prepare them for college majors and careers in mathematics, engineering, health care and science. U.S. census data regarding unemployment and median earning rates demonstrate that education pays! On the average, students with bachelor’s degrees earn almost $23,000 more each year than their counterparts with only a high school diploma. Colorado has long depended on importing skilled labor from out of state and is now just beginning to focus on our own workforce pipeline in order to overcome the “Colorado Paradox”. MESA is well positioned to help in this respect. Colorado MESA opens up the possibility of college for many students who would not otherwise consider the possibility, and encourages them to focus on their future. As a result, students, families, communities and our economy all benefit. This was an extraordinary year for MESA! Our thanks to Representative Nancy Todd and Suzanne Williams for introducing HB 1243 and a subsequent funding bill which we believe will lead to state support for MESA. These bills established a fund for after-school STEM education in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and we look forward to pursuing state support from this fund that will enable CMEA~MESA to expand the number of University MESA Centers in Colorado and provide more resources and accountability. During the 2008 academic/fiscal year, over 3,500 preK-12 students in Colorado were members of MESA. We are pleased that the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and the Rocky Mountain Middle School Math Science Project continue alongside our corporate and foundation partners to provide funding for program expansion as well as enhancing program quality. We are also pleased that the National Center for Atmospheric Research, CASMIC’s Rocky Mountain Middle School Math Science Project and other public and academic institutions have sought to include MESA in their programs and public outreach. Colorado MESA appreciates and thanks our many financial and in-kind sponsors, our tireless volunteers, our dedicated MESA advisors and supportive school administrators. We also owe a debt of gratitude to our university partners, especially the University of Colorado at Denver and the Multicultural Engineering Program at CU-Boulder. Although Colorado MESA currently receives no state funding, we were fortunate this year to receive support from community and corporate organizations such as the Denver Foundation, Lockheed Martin, The Daniels Fund, The Gates Family Foundation, Agilent, Kinder Morgan, Noble Energy and many others. Colorado MESA is able to provide a unique educational experience for students because of the concern and generosity of all our partners. Thank you for taking the time to review this report. We hope you will feel free to contact us with your suggestions and comments. Sincerely, Karen Dawson Gloria L. Nelson President, CO MESA Board of Directors Executive Director, CO MESA

A program initiated by the Colorado Minority Engineering Association TABLE OF CONTENTS Mission Statement ........................................................................................................................ 3 How MESA Works ........................................................................................................................ 3

Colorado MESA Board of Directors .............................................................................................. 4 Collaborative Partnerships with the Corporate and Higher Education Community ....................... 5 2007-08 Major Program Funders .................................................................................................. 7 Program Participation ................................................................................................................... 8 Highlights, Cost per Student .................................................................................................... 8 Outstanding MESA Students ........................................................................................................ 9 Outstanding MESA Schools ........................................................................................................ 10 MESA Scholorship Recipients Colorado MESA Scholarship funded by Gambro: Teetima Chaimanee, Melissa James....... 11 Colorado MESA Scholarship funded by ACEC and Gambro: Sierra Deniston, Michael Lea . 13 Charlie Farel Scholarship Award: Yong Da Chen, Kelsey Ross ............................................ 14

Bob Rodriguez Scholarship Award: Tsion Teklu Zergaw…..…….……...……………………..15 Lockheed Martin Scholarship Award: Aaron Griffin .............................................................. 15

2007-08 Statewide Events Calendar .......................................................................................... 16 Statewide Events and Activities

Pre-Collegiate CU-MESA Fall Fling ....................................................................................... 17 High School Engineering Jamboree ................................................................................. 17,18 Colorado MESA Day .............................................................................................................. 18 2008 MESA Awards Banquet ................................................................................................ 19 2008 SHPE CU MESA Summer Camp .................................................................................. 18

Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................................. 19 WIRED Grant .............................................................................................................................. 20 Program Evaluation .................................................................................................................... 20 Participating MESA Schools………………….………………….............................................. 21-23 Fall Fling Newspaper Article …………………………………………………………………………..24 Colorado MESA Minimum Program Requirements …………………………………………………25 Student Testimonials……………………………………………………………………………….......25

“Since I joined MESA, I have maintained straight A’s in my classes and I started to be more active in my school life.”

Benjamin, Grade 11, Wasson High School

Colorado MESA

A program initiated by the Colorado Minority Engineering Association

Annual Report 2007-2008 Academic Year The Colorado Minority Engineering Association (CMEA) was founded in 1979 and is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. Since the 1980-1981 school years, CMEA has managed the Colorado MESA program.

MESA is designed to encourage, motivate, nurture and challenge female, minority and disadvantaged students who have high ability but, because of various circumstances, are not achieving their maximum potential in school. Minorities and women are underrepresented in science, math and engineering and the diversity they represent will be a valuable asset to future employers. MESA provides support, structure and direction early on so students can build their expectations of achievement to the point where they succeed in higher level science and math courses.

CMEA/MESA accomplishes its goals and objectives with partnerships among school districts, colleges, universities, business, industry other community organizations and parents through the MESA program.

HOW MESA WORKS: Students from underrepresented minority groups with academic potential in math and sciences are identified in elementary and middle schools. Parents of MESA students are involved so that they become an integral part of the team that delivers critical services to their children. Parents attend orientations after which they sign an agreement with CMEA to support the program at their school. Parental involvement is extremely important and an essential component to the success of the program.

As part of the MESA program, students take motivational field trips to business and industry work sites. These field trips are used to demonstrate the kind of work the students will do as professional engineers and scientists. Students also visit colleges and universities to acclimate them to a college/university environment.

The MESA students are taught the importance of taking math, science and English so that they can complete a full four-year college prep curriculum in high school. In high school, MESA students and their parents know exactly which courses they must take each semester in order to stay on track in the college prep program. They participate in field trips, science fairs, bridge building fairs, Odyssey of the Mind, etc. They are also coached in effective study techniques and how to prepare for tests and the SAT and ACT exams.

Colorado MESA Mission Statement

MESA’s mission is to increase the numbers of economically disadvantaged and underrepresented students in colleges of engineering, math and science

based fields

Colorado MESA Board of Directors

Executive CommitteePresident

Karen Dawson* Partner, Engineer Rocky Mtn. Mechanical SystemsVice President

KatherynJarvis Coggon Attorney, Engineer Holme Roberts & Owen LLPSecretary

Dave Aragon Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor Diversity, Equity and Comm. Engagement

University of Colorado

TreasurerThomas Scanlan Retired Former VP, Lockheed Martin

All Committee Chairs * are members of the Executive Committee

Resource Development Committee Louise Ecoff Business Manager U.S. Bureau of Land ManagementConnie Fulmer AA/EEO Specialist, Sr. Sun Microsystems, Inc.Ellie Greenberg, EdD President and CEO EMG and AssociatesLynn Jordan President Jordan Resources, Inc.

Program Committee Lisa Barker Prinicpal Engineer Ball AerospaceMaribel Crespin EHS Management Systems Manager Coors Brewing CompanyDan Mares Civil Engineer Bureau of ReclamationNathaniel Quintana* Associate Booz Allen HamiltonGeorge Winski Project Manager Hewlett-Packard CompanyMichael WWasson Dean of Academic Affairs DeVry University

Strategic Communications Committee Su Hawk* President Colorado Software & Internet AssociationDebbie Trujillo Senior Compliance Specialist Allosource

CMEA~MESA Advisory CouncilGeorge Sparks CEO Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceCynthia Howell, Ed.D. Director, Office of Education National Renewable Energy LaboratoryCarole Basile, Ph.D. Assoc. Professor, School of Education &

Human DevelopmentUniversity of Colorado Denver

Colorado MESA State Office StaffGloria L. Nelson, Executive DirectorVictor Vialpando, Program DirectorRenee Bobian, Bookkeeper

Colorado State University MESA CenterMelanie Haas, DirectorUniversity of Colorado MESA CenterMichelle Tower, DirectorGale Day, Assist. Director

Collaborative Partnerships with the Corporate and Higher Education Community The following universities, corporations, and government agencies have contributed in-kind resources in support of MESA. Some have also contributed financial support. AeA (Jessica Wright) provided volunteer speakers for MESA events as well as workforce and career information for students and teachers.

Agilent (Jean Mooney) In addition to substantial funding for state office operation, Agilent has provided numerous volunteers that have helped implement MESA student activities and academic competitions.

Ball Aerospace (Denise Cook-Clampert) Mentors for St. Vrain MESA schools; volunteers for statewide MESA academic competitions; employee representative on the Colorado MESA Board of Directors.

Booz Allan Hamilton (Nathaniel Quintana) Provides volunteers for the rocketry program underway at Fox Meadow Middle School. Has contributed funding for the Harrison #2 MESA program and is facilitating the “STEM Consortium” to help education and industry members to exchange ideas and lessons learned in STEM related programs, as well as help the education community leverage what industry has to offer such as a knowledge pool of potential employee volunteers.

Boulder Outlook Hotel (Dan King) Provided lodging and food for teachers and students attending the CU-MESA Fall Fling at cost.

Challenger Learning Center (Debbie Hertzog) Operation Montserrat, a distance learning e-mission simulation in Spanish provided free to 10 MESA schools.

Colorado Energy Science Center (Pam Packer) Provides professional development for MESA advisors and curriculum, materials/supplies for the Colorado Home Energy Project.

Colorado School of Mines (Khanh Vu) the Minority Engineering Program (MEP) provided resources and volunteers for the 2008 High School Engineering & Science Jamboree for 360 students

Colorado State University Research and Development Center for the Advancement of Student Learning (Dr. Michael DeMiranda) provides facilities and resources for a MESA Outreach Center. The Center provides services and resources to Northern Colorado school districts.

Community College of Denver (Ron Vasquez) provides outreach and hands-on aerospace projects to metro area MESA students.

Coors Hispanic Employee Network (Maribel Crespin) CHEN has provided financial and volunteer support for

planning and facilitating the MESA Day at the Mall Engineering Design Competition for the past 8 years. Approx. 600 MESA students participate. Before that, CHEN provided volunteer judges each year for the MESA Middle School Jamboree.

CU Boulder-Cooperative Institute for Environmental Studies (Sandra Laursen and Susan Buhr) CIRES has provided science consultants for standards and assessment projects, professional development in earth systems science, and the development of Geo Kits. A recent Grant has included St. Vrain MESA a project to study solar variability.

CU-Boulder Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Curry Rogato) Water education Donated copies of “My Water Comes from the Mountains” for elementary students.

CU Boulder- Integrated Teaching and Learning Lab ITLL has supported MESA in a variety of ways including professional development for MESA advisors, conducting seminars for MESA students, providing guest speakers and field trip opportunities. Several SVVSD MESA programs have had multiple sessions lead by graduate fellows from ITLL.

Graduate Fellows are serving as MESA advisors for Spangler Elementary and the new MESA program at Longmont High. "Teach Kids Engineering" is a program funded by the National Science Foundation

CU Boulder- Space Grant Consortium (Bernadette Garcia) University students implement space oriented science curriculum for MESA students. Every 6 weeks they work with a different school. Each program ends with a field trip to CU campus and an “engineering challenge:”

CU Boulder- Multicultural Engineering Program and Women in Engineering Program (Anthea Johnson) Provide facilities, expertise and human and financial resources that support professional development, resource development and networking for MESA advisors, as well as the opportunity to participate in current MESA endorsed programs, many of which are reported in this document. Approximately 260 students and teachers attend the 2 day CU/MESA Fall Fling where they get a taste of college life, interact with engineering students and participate in events designed to test their ability to work in a team environment.

Provides facilities and resources for a MESA Outreach Center. The Center provides services and resources to Metro Denver school districts.

CU-Denver College of Engineering and Applied Science (Dr. Ren Su, Dean) The College of Engineering has provided office space, telephone and office automation for the State MESA Office since its inception in 1980. In addition, engineering faculty and staff have provided services and assistance for many projects and activities such as summer programs and the High School Engineering Jamboree.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science (George Sparks) provides facilities for Board members meeting and the MESA Awards Banquet at cost.

DeVry University (Mike Wasson) Provides in-kind meeting facilities for the MESA Board of Directors Program Committee

EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. (Joyce Witte) provides funding and resources for two Garfield County MESA programs in Grand Valley High School and L.W. St. John Middle School.

Hands-On Optics (Steve Pompea) Optics curricula for middle and high school MESA students. Professional development for MESA advisors.

Holme Roberts and Owen (Katheryn Coggon) Provided materials and printing services for 600 invitations for the 17th Annual MESA Awards Banquet.

Gambro Cares Foundation (Erin Harris) in 2008 provided two $1,000 needs based scholarship to MESA students to be presented at the MESA Awards Banquet.

IBM Mindspring Robotics Program in grades 4-5 at Indian Peaks and Columbine Elementary Schools in Longmont. Includes mentors from IBM.

Jared Polis Foundation provided over 50 computer systems and software to MESA advisors for use in their after-school school program.

JASON Project Provides professional development and hands-on interactive curriculum/supplies: Mysteries of Earth and Mars for elementary and middle schools.

Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (Emily Cobabe-Amman) Astro Biology curriculum at

Longmont High School (pilot). Project Spectra curriculum for middle and high school MESA students.

Lockheed Martin book scholarships of $500 for deserving students. Volunteer employees have helped implement MESA student activities and competitions.

Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (Ledy Garcia Eckstein) has provided WIRED funding for program expansion in 9 county northern Colorado area; resources for MESA Centers, curriculum development, program materials and advisor resources.

Microsoft Corporation (Sandy Park ) Contributed 30 copies of Windows XP Pro to outstanding MESA students for use in computer donated by the US Bureau of Land Management (below). Six copies used to update MESA state office machines. Contributed application software for MESA students.

National Center for Atmospheric Research (Susan Foster) BSTARS project will enhance geoscience literacy and appreciation of the relevance of the geosciences to society in the Hispanic community, and to develop interest in geoscience careers among youth and their parents.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Dr. Cynthia Howell) Provides lab research space, scientific technical knowledge, educational materials and STEM educational expertise.

Rocky Mtn. Middle School Math Science Program (Carole Basile, PhD) provides program funds for MESA programs in 5 metro Denver schools.

Science Explorers Provides curriculum, materials/supplies and professional development for St. Vrain School Dist. MESA advisors in grades 5-8. This year’s topic is “Natural Disasters”..

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE/HENAAC) (Rafaela Schwan) Provides a 4 day summer engineering camp for 9th and 10th grade students at the University of Colorado in Boulder. US Bureau of Land Management (Louise Ecoff) Contributed 30 computers for schools, outstanding students and the state MESA office. Provided assistance for planning the MESA Awards Banquet and original design for MESA Banquet invitations and awards.

Xilinx Corporation provides in-kind meeting space for St. Vrain MESA advisors and their advisory board.

2007-08 MAJOR PROGRAM FUNDERS

Organization/Individual

ACEC/CO Agilent Technologies Anschutz Family Foundation Ball Aerospace BCHC Child Care Bureau of Land Mgmt:Awards Banquet Chase Bank Coors Hispanic Employee network Daniels Fund Denver Foundation Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce El Pomar Foundation EnCana Oil & Gas Gambro Cares Foundation Gambro Cares Foundation Gates Family Foundation Karen Dawson Kinder Morgan Foundation Lockheed Martin Merrick Engineers & Architects Micro Motion Newmont Mining Corp. Noble Energy Northrop Grumman NREL Nvidia Corporation Polycom, Inc. Rocky Mtn.MSMSP Rose Foundation The Janus Foundation Tom Scanlan UCAR Venoco Foundation

MESA Program Participation

2000

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

3200

3400

3600

3800

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Academic Year Ending

Tota

l Mem

bers

Total Students Served by MESA 3507 Male 1751 Female 1756 Elementary School (K-5) 734 Middle School (6-8) 1301 High School (9-12) 702 Student Demographics MESA CO African American 5.8% 6.0% Anglo American 45.1% 61.5% Asian American/Pacific Islander 5.6% 3.4% Hispanic/Latino 40.1% 27.9% Native American 3.4% 1.2% 100.0% 100.0%

2008 MESA Ethnicity Compared to State

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

Black White Asian/PI Latino Native

Part

icip

ants

MESAAll Colorado

2008 Program Cost vs. Administrative Costs Cash Only Program Services - cash $381,553 General & Administrative $22,682 Fund Raising $30,410 Total Cash Expenses $434,645 % Total for Fundraising & Admin 12.22%

Community Impact Award from Colorado School of Mines

Cash and In-Kind Program Services - cash $381,553 Program Services - In-Kind $602,529 General & Administrative $22,682 Fund Raising $30,410 Total Cash Expenses $1,037,174 % Total for Fundraising & Admin 5.12%

Outstanding MESA Students 2008 Fadi Al-bishara, Grade 10 Roy J Wasson High School Colorado Springs District 11

Kyle Christianssen, Grade 8 Henry Middle School Denver Public Schools

Jennifer Dunn, Grade 8 West Middle School Mesa County Valley School District 51

John Dunn, Grade 8 West Middle School Mesa County Valley School District 51

Adriana Fresquez, Grade 10 Northglenn High School Adams County School District 12

Benjamen Ghebrial, Grade 11 Roy J. Wasson High School Colorado Springs District 11

Esteban Gonzalez, Grade 9 Niwot High School St. Vrain Valley School District

Maria Gonzalez Saldana, Grade 4 Indian Peaks Elementary St. Vrain Valley School District

Aaron Griffin, Grade 12 Pueblo East High School Pueblo School District 60

Sarah Henry, Grade 8 Jenkins Middle School Colorado Springs District 11

Adrin Liñan, Grade 11 Roy J. Wasson High School Colorado Springs District 11

Derek Liñan, Grade 10 Roy J. Wasson High School Colorado Springs District 11

Emelin Miller, Grade 12 Longmont High School St. Vrain Valley School District

Andrew Neufeld, Grade 11 John F. Kennedy High School Denver Public Schools

Bryan Neufeld, Grade 8 Henry Middle School Denver Public Schools

Casa de la Esperanza MESA Robotics Team Regional Finals at the University of Denver

Outstanding MESA Schools 2008 East High School John Youngquist, Principal Steve Coddington, Anna Nobel and Joel Noble, MESA Advisors Denver Public Schools

The Denver East High School MESA program has experienced the highest increase in student participation over the past year. Advisors Joel Nobel, Anna Nobel and Steve Coddington have grown the program to meet the diverse needs of East High School. MESA has served as an umbrella group under which students were able to choose from areas of special interest to participate in STEM based hands-on activities.

In the late spring, East MESA began a new program titled “Nike Fridays” in which students who have not been affiliated with MESA were invited to design Nike shoes using 3D software over the lunch period. The fliers for the program were designed and distributed by 20 current MESA students. About 15 students have attended the Friday lunch sessions. Currently, the students are competing for the prizes for best design, including a custom-made pair of Nikes. A MESA university mentor has been showing the students how to draw their shoes in Solid Works. Legacy High School Catherine Nolan, Principal Ann Campbell, MESA Advisor Adams County 12 School District What happens when you get a talented group of MESA students and an enthusiastic and dedicated advisor? In this case, the end result is a model MESA program at Legacy High School. Over the years, Advisor Ann Campbell has created a successful program. With weekly hands on activities ranging from electronics to academic tutorials, the MESA students at Legacy have had the opportunity to explore the full range of opportunities in the field of STEM education. In addition, Ms. Campbell’s MESA experience is vital to the success of her program and MESA programs around the state because she provides much needed advice and ideas to improve the program. This past year, the Legacy MESA students participated in the annual Fall Fling event at CU Boulder and the High School Engineering and Science Jamboree at the Colorado School of Mines. Also, they had several presentations field trips to local industry companies and universities and colleges.

Merrill Middle School Stacy Miller, Principal Caryl Olson and David Redhorse, MESA Advisors Denver Public Schools There are probably hundreds of MESA programs in the U.S., but Merrill Middle School MESA program in Denver Public Schools, is unique because MESA is offered as an after-school program and in-school program through the Indian Focus initiative. Lead by two extraordinary

advisors, Caryl Olson and David Redhorse, Merrill MESA has over 50 active student participants. Merrill MESA is one of the most active programs in the state. This past year, the MESA student’s experienced over 15 field trips, college/industry site visits, guest presentations and academic enrichment seminars at local universities. A few of the field trips include GPS Treasure Hunt at the University of Colorado Denver, CSU Engineering Career Exploration and Campus Tour, DPS Annual CO2 Car Race at Hill Middle School, Colorado School of Mines Minority Engineering Conference, Museum of Nature and Science field trip to discover STEM careers available to Native American students, MESA Day at the Mall, and NREL Junior Sprint Solar/Hydrogen Car Race. NEW America School Jon Berninzoni, Principal Doug Freese, MESA Advisor Jefferson County Public Schools The New America School in Lakewood is a perfect example of an outstanding MESA program. As the newest MESA program lead by Advisor Doug Freese, the New America School hit the ground running. With over 70 active participants, the MESA students competed and placed in their first design challenge competition, the Helicopter Packaged Egg Drop at the annual High School Engineering & Science Jamboree. This past semester, the program held 6 day long sessions. Three of the sessions were completed as learning projects for each of the math classes in the school. The fourth session was an extracurricular session for the 12 students who were interested in competing in the High School Jamboree. Another session was a ‘pull out’ for those 12 students to work with their ESL/LA teachers on their lab reports for the Helicopter Packaged Egg Drop. A 7th session explored the environmental engineering field with a soils project lead by a group of university mentors.

Trail Ridge Middle School Valerie Millert, Principal Elizabeth Sims, Josh Goldstein, MESA Advisors St. Vrain Valley School District With over 75 active students and under the leadership of Advisor Elizabeth Sims and Josh Goldstein, the students have succeeded beyond

expectations. Two highlights stand out this year at Trail Ridge. The first occurred with the Bunk with the Beasts field trip. At the last minute, several students cancelled due to the flu, so Ms. Sims invited several prospective MESA students to join the field trip. In all, 44 MESA students spent the night at the zoo. The “extra” students had the time of their lives, and are now enthusiastic “newbies” to MESA program. The students would never have considered themselves as candidates for an engineering and science club, and yet they’re finding a place among Trail Ridge MESA program. The second highlight occurred the following weekend, and is a repeat of a tradition Trail Ridge started last year. It’s the second annual MESA Girls Night Out. For this event, the MESA girls join female engineering students from CU for an evening on Pearl Street in Boulder. They enjoy dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and then spend some time walking on Pearl Street Mall. It is amazing to watch the middle school girls … smart, beautiful, and talented, yet frequently harassed by other middle school students… as they talk with successful, talented college girls who have walked in their shoes.

2008 MESA Scholarship Recipients

Colorado MESA Scholarship funded by Gambro Teetima Chaimanee John F. Kennedy High School

Teetima was born in Chieng Mai, Thailand, a province in northern Thailand. In Thailand, she studied at a private school called DARA Academy, a school with about 8,000 students. As an active student, Teetima decided she was very interested in learning the English language and becoming an Aerospace Engineer. To pursue these interests, she became an exchange student in July 2007. When she came to America, she spent 3 weeks in California learning the English language and then came to Denver to live with

her host family. Teetima joined MESA at the beginning of her first semester and has found it to be useful as well as fun. She has enjoyed traveling to many different places to participate in activities as well as meeting new friends from different schools. In the Regional Robotics competition, her team won 2nd place. At John F. Kennedy High School she has taken classes in math, introduction to engineering, physics and civil engineering, in addition to core classes. She has achieved a 4.04 GPA, is on the Honor Roll and is ranked 18th in her class. She plans to continue her education at Red Rocks Community College, then ultimately at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Melissa James Mitchell High School “For some people, having accomplished something is just another part of life. For them, having personal strengths is just something that is taken for granted. Well, it would have been great if things had come that easily for me!” These are the words that began Melissa’s award winning essay. Melissa is an incredible young woman who has been challenged by disabilities (4 in total) all her life. She has struggled to achieve even the smallest things. Despite these obstacles, Melissa has not only learned to overcome her disabilities, but to

triumph over them. Melissa is an excellent student, is in the National Honor Society and will be graduating 14th in her class with a 4.33 GPA. She has received four teacher nominations for academic excellence and has earned an Academic Letter for 3 years. She has been in Girl Scouts since 1st grade and has earned the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Melissa is a talented violinist, playing since the 4th grade and winning the W.N. Smith Award in 2007, as well as earning a Music Letter for 2 years. Melissa’s love of math and science became a 5 year membership in MESA. In addition to her accomplishments, Melissa is a firm believer in community service. She is active at her church, including Youth Group, Nursery Volunteer and Bible School Preschool Teacher. She is a Therapeutic Riding Side-Walker, assisting handicapped children receiving therapy on a horse. She was part of the Chem-Phy Club that traveled to elementary schools to promote science. She was also selected for the Mayor’s 100 Teens.

Melissa plans to pursue a Biology Major, with the ultimate goal of a Masters or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, specializing in children. She will attend Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Colorado MESA Scholarship Award Funded by ACEC-CO and Gambro

Sierra Deniston Loveland High School Sierra’s interest in math and science began at a young age when her father took her to a place called the Little Shop of Physics. This is a hands-on learning center, focused on involving children in math and science. Sierra began her membership in MESA in the 6th grade and has been a member for 7 years. In 8th grade, she earned the honor of MESA Student of the Year. She is currently serving her second year as President of MESA and has lettered twice in MESA. In addition, she earned the Don Evans award for having a 4.0 GPA all through middle school. She has been a member of the National Honor Society for 4 years and has been in Who’s

Who Among High School students for 3 years. Sierra is a member of the Foreign Language Society and attended a school sponsored educational 2 week tour of France. She is active in her church, including Youth Group, participating in monthly service projects, a mission trip to Juarez Mexico to build homes for the homeless, teaching Sunday School and helping with Vacation Bible School. She was also active in a 3 month long program tutoring 1st grade students in reading. Sierra believes that MESA has been a major influence in her life, along with great teachers, family and friends. But her truest inspiration is her father.

Michael Lea George Washington High School Michael has discovered motivation for succeeding in life by approaching it philosophically. His father told him that “a man’s measure is not gauged by what he knows of his surroundings, but by what he knows of himself.” Michael has found these words the basis for understanding his own inner complexities. At an early age of six, Michael was struck and badly injured by a car. After extensive surgeries, he began to withdraw from elementary society and physically shut down. At this young age, he was absorbed with

pondering the deeper aspects of existence. It took a transfer to a new school to wake him back up and revive his social drive. After being consumed with “why”, he was able to use that event to become introspective and to gain a new appreciation for life. In doing so, Michael is now honored as the Salutatorian for his graduating class of 2008 with a 4.48 GPA. He plans to attend the Colorado School of Mines, majoring in Engineering. Michael discovered MESA 2 years ago and was an officer in 2006-2007 and has served as president this past year. Michael placed 1st in the Engineering Jamboree Solar Heater Competition last year and 3rd in the statewide Fall Fling Trebuchet Competition this past fall. Michael is an officer and cofounder of the Laureates of Literature (LOL). He also helped raise funds for Hurricane Katrina Relief that were donated to the Red Cross.

Charlie Farel Scholarship Awards

Yongda Chen Roy J Wasson High School Yongda is an impressive student who dreams of someday working in the field of engineering so that he can pursue his interest in designing houses and other buildings. He will attend the Colorado School of Mines to begin pursuit of this dream. Yongda has been a member of MESA for 3 years and currently serves as MESA club president. He is active with his team, winning 1st place in this year’s District 11 MESA bridge

building competition and winning 1st place in the state boat building competition at CU Boulder. He is also a previous MESA Outstanding Student winner. Yongda has achieved many additional awards, including Perfect Attendance for the past 2 years, Math Achievement Award, Mayor’s 100 Teens, Who’s Who in Mathematics and an ELL Achievement Award. He is a LINK leader, sponsoring incoming freshman students, and participated in the MEP of 2007 SUMMET. Yongda challenges himself with AP classes and has earned a 3.9 GPA, ranking 16th in his class and receiving an Academic Award. Yongda has high expectations for success. In addition to his academic achievements, Yongda volunteers his time to school projects, including paving the courtyard, assisting teachers, clean-up projects and tutoring and mentoring other students. Having arrived in the U.S. only 4 years ago from China, Yongda has excelled in learning English and feels privileged to experience the opportunities this country has to offer. He hopes that some day as an engineer, he will make a difference for the children of the next generation.

Kelsey Ross Legacy High School

Kelsey is an individual with a wide variety of interests and skills. She enjoys subjects such as history of ancient civilizations, quantum physics, eastern medicine and photography as well as cooking, gardening, musical transposition and computer programming. But her long term passion lies in becoming an Aerospace Engineer. Her interest in this field grew from her involvement in Legacy 2000, an advanced math, science and technology program. She was

required to complete a 20 hour job shadow as a junior and a 40 hour internship as a senior. She completed both of these at the Space Environment Center of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in Boulder, Colorado. She plans to pursue her Engineering degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Kelsey has excelled in school, receiving several academic letters and earning a spot on the honor roll every year since 6th grade. She has a 3.9 GPA. She is proud that she has found a profession in a field she loves and one that will allow her continued personal development and achievement.

“MESA gave me a little taste of the real life and what it would be like to actually use math in the workplace.”

Fadi, Grade 10, Wasson High School

Bob Rodriguez Scholarship Award

Tsion Teklu Zergaw George Washington High School

Tsion will be the first in her family to attend college and says that her parents taught her to “keep a positive mind”. Tsion set her goals high and is planning on a career in medicine. She keeps a mental picture in her mind of herself receiving a medical degree and, in her application, she states that “I will never forget where I came from but, more importantly, I will never lose sight of where I want to go.” Currently a senior in the International Baccalaureate Program, Tsion is successfully completing a demanding academic schedule. Although she

struggled at times with the rigorous curriculum, her positive attitude helped her persevere and she never gave in to the temptation to drop to a less demanding curriculum. Tsion’s Counselor describes her as a well rounded person, caring and compassionate, who is well liked by all her peers and faculty. Besides participating in a variety of volunteer activities and sports, she has accepted family responsibilities whole heartedly without complaint. Her life experiences have molded her into a person who is very mature and an excellent role model for others. Tsion was a member of MESA for the last two years, serving as its Vice President during her Junior year. In addition, she was a volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, serving as an assistant to the curator of temporary exhibits. She is also a member of the Summer Science Scholars, Summer Mathematics Scholars, Black Issues Forum at CSU and the National Honor Society. She participates in sports and especially likes soccer. Tsion plans to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. Lockheed Martin Scholarship Award

Aaron Griffin Pueblo East High School When Aaron first entered high school he thought MESA sounded “extremely enticing” although, that year he admits he didn’t take much advantage of its opportunities. It wasn’t until the following year that he really buckled down and began to take a leadership role. Since then, Pueblo East MESA has been undefeated in every local math/science challenge they have entered. They won the statewide MESA Trebuchet competition for the last two years and, last year, placed second in the MESA USA National Competition in College Park, MD. They will represent Colorado MESA at the National competition again

this June. Aaron is extremely proud that he has been the team captain for the last three years. These activities “represent a practical outlet for things I learned in school. It’s a great way to meet new people with the same interests and talents as myself.”

“It’s important to know what is going on around you and MESA has definitely helped to emphasize the impact of science, especially modern science, on today’s ever expanding world.”

Emeline, Grade 12, Longmont High School

In addition to MESA, Aaron is a member of the National Honor Society, having been on the Honor Roll since 2001. He played on the varsity golf team for three years and was in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also referees soccer games for kids aged 8 to 14. Aaron says that he really wants to “do something, no matter how small to leave a positive impact on the world” and that “getting a (college) degree is the biggest and most challenging goal in my life.” He applied and was accepted to Colorado State University at Ft. Collins where he plans to major in business/Computer Information Systems. 2007 - 2008 MESA Event Calendar

Event Date Event Title

August 1-4, 2007 CU-SHPE-MESA Summer Camp at CU Boulder September 5-8, 2007 NASA's Vision for Space Exploration Experience September 8, 2007 M.A.R.K Professional Development Training October 2, 2007 St. Vrain MESA Expo October 3 & 4, 2007 5th Annual Colorado Construction Career Days October 16, 2007 MESA District 11 Career Day October 25, 2007 UCDHSC CIO Panel Event November 1, 2007 Young Women in Science & Technology Convention November 1 & 2, 2007 Fall Fling Novelmber 3, 2007 Science on Computer Game Design November 17, 2007 First Lego Lego League State Qualifying Tournament December 4, 2007 CS District 11 Bridge Contest December 8, 2007 CU Boulder ITL Design Expo December 8, 2007 Adams 12 MESA Mania December 11, 2007 DPS CO2 Car Event December 14, 2007 CU Denver College of Engineering Design Open House December 15, 2007 First Lego League Competition January 5, 2008 First Robotics Competition January 19, 2008 Solar Discovery Event January 26, 2008 Free ACT Pre Review February 16, 2008 Free ACT Pre Review February 17-23, 2008 Engineering Week February 23, 2008 TEAMS Challenge February 23, 2008 Colorado Regional Competition - National Science Bowl February 23, 2008 2008 41st Annual Colorado High School Bridge Building Contest February 23, 2008 CSU Fort Collins Little Shop of Physics February 28, 2008 East High School MESA Parent Night March 4, 2008 Trail Ridge Middle School MESA Parent Night

March 8, 2008 CSU Pueblo 2008 Annual Engineering, Science and Technology Design Contest

March 29, 2008 Free ACT Pre Review April 2, 2008 CSU Chemistry Department Presentation April 10, 2008 High School Engineering and Sceince Jamboree

Miguel Aguilar, left, and Remmy Nguyen, both of Rangeview High School, prepare to fire their trebuchet for accuracy.

April 17, 2008 Middle School MESA Day May 10, 2008 BSTARS Family Geosciences Learning Fair May 15, 2008 17th Annual Awards Banquet June 19-22, 2008 MESA USA National Design Challenge

Statewide MESA Events and Activities

MESA Advisors Retreat and Kickoff (MARK)

The MARK professional development workshop provides educators with support, stimulation and networking opportunities with college and industry representatives and MESA Advisors from all over Colorado. In addition to project oriented workshops that offer innovative science and math curricula, teachers learn about the Multicultural Engineering Program and the Women in Engineering Program at CU and CSM and the resources they offer to MESA students. While new advisors participate in orientation workshops, veteran advisors meet with college admissions and financial aid specialist or tour the Integrated Teaching and Learning (ITL) labs. The ITL labs offer courses and workshops as well as K-12 engineering outreach programs. The poster session provides MESA advisors with the opportunity to meet and talk with representatives of organizations that offer resources and activities for MESA students. Many of these organizations and links to their web site can be accessed on the MESA web site.

PRE-COLLEGIATE CU-MESA FALL FLING

Approximately 200 high school MESA students came to the CU Boulder campus to participate in hands-on activities, learn more about applying for college and financial aid, and tour the campus. The two-day event was sponsored by SpectraLink and designed to give students a taste of an engineering student’s lifestyle and as well as provide valuable academic, financial aid, and career information. With a little assistance from volunteer engineering students, MESA students applied their math and science skills to design and build boats out of duct tape, wood firing strips, and plastic gallon jugs donated by King Soopers. Their objective: to create a boat large enough to transport at least one passenger across a swimming pool. Emphasizing real life engineering scenarios, students worked against a deadline and a scoring method that compelled them to calculate a winning balance between cost-efficiency and performance. In another hands-on engineering activity, MESA students tested their ability to work in teams to build a Trebuchet, a medieval siege machine sometimes referred to (incorrectly) as a catapult. The trebuchet uses a counter-weight to provide the energy to propel an object, in this case, a “hacky-sack”. Students needed to brush up on their physics to develop efficient designs. The trebuchets were tested for accuracy, distance and power. The winning team from Pueblo East High School represents Colorado MESA high schools in the MESA USA National Competition In June at the University of Maryland. Thanks to the CU-Boulder Multicultural Engineering Program for their support of this popular event.

Dr. Brian Argrow

High School Engineering Jamboree Approximately 340 high school students from all over Colorado competed at the Colorado School of Mines in activities that included Web Site Design, Mathematics, Straw Tower Building, and the Lou-Vee Car. In the Helicopter Egg Drop competition, students loaded the News4 helicopter with containers designed to protect their “delicate” cargo. Copter 4 ascended to approximately 100 meters and the egg bearing containers were tossed. Many of the eggs survived but the containers that had design flaws disintegrated to the amusement of all (except their designers). All events are designed to encourage and develop creative and analytical skills. Top winning teams received trophies for their school and all first, second and third place team members received handsome gold, silver and bronze medallions. Campus tours of the engineering labs included the wind tunnel, robotics and computer assisted engineering design. Approximately 40-50 industry volunteers participated in the Engineering Jamboree. Colorado MESA is grateful to the Minority Engineering Program at the Colorado School of Mines for hosting the Jamboree.

Colorado MESA Day Sponsored by the Coors Hispanic Employee Network, this popular event attracted 600 middle school students. During the day, students participated in 9 competitions designed to test their ability to work in teams to solve problems and design all kinds of items ranging from mousetrap powered cars to balsa wood bridges. Colorado MESA is very proud of the students from Heaton Middle School who, once again, won the statewide Multipurpose Vehicle competition and will defend their championship title in the MESA USA National Competition in Anaheim, CA. Students also created MESA Power Point presentations that express their school spirit, and many created projects and presentations that demonstrated their knowledge of science and math. Lunch was provided and winning team members were awarded trophies and medallions.

The 2008 MESA Awards Banquet at the Wildlife Experience

Three hundred and seventy MESA students, advisors, parents, and corporate sponsors attended the 17th Annual Awards Banquet on May 15 2008. Five Schools and fifteen MESA students were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in MESA during the 2007-08 school year. News 4 meteorologist Dave Aguilera emceed the event and helped present the awards. Bryan Argrow, PhD, Associate Dean in the College of Engineering at CU Boulder was our keynote speaker. As an aerospace engineer, he teaches and serves as the Director of the

Research and Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles. Brian was born and raised in Stroud, Oklahoma, a small town of about

2500 people and graduated from high school with 4-year National Merit Scholarship. After completing his BS in aerospace engineering at the University of Oklahoma, he received a GEM Fellowship and remained at OU to complete his MS degree in mechanical engineering, and a National Science Foundation fellowship to complete his PhD in aerospace engineering in 1989. Brian’s early research focused on gas dynamics and high-speed aerodynamics. In 2002 he turned his focus to unmanned aircraft systems and in 2003 co-founded the Research and Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles. He is currently serving as a member of the United States Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. Brian has always had a passion to engage students in the classroom and to develop new methods for hands-on learning. One of the reasons he chose to come to the University of Colorado was to participate in the planning and design of the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory. He has won a national teaching award and several university teaching awards including being named a University of Colorado President’s Teaching Scholar in 2000.

2008 SHPE/MESA/CU MEP Summer Camp University of Colorado at Boulder

Colorado MESA and the University of Colorado at Boulder Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP), in conjunction with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) provided the 2008 Summer Camp, sponsored by IBM. The camp is a four-day residential program intended to motivate, encourage and inform incoming Hispanic 9th and 10th grade high school students about the educational and career opportunities in math, science, and engineering. Hosted at the MEP Office at the University of Colorado at Boulder, the summer camp participants reside in the university residence halls to fully partake in the living-learning experience. Participants attended college prep and career workshops, toured the university, engineering facilities and science labs conducting state-of-the-art research, conduct exciting math, engineering and science activities and experiments, and participated in mind-challenging mini-competitions for prizes and awards presented at the Awards Luncheon. On the last day of the camp, parents were invited to attend workshops, the awards luncheon and closing ceremony. Student Benefits

• Exposure to state of the art engineering labs, engineering professionals and the College of Engineering at CU Boulder;

• Opportunity to be selected to attend the national SHPE Conference and HENAAC in October. 6 student participants (3 SHPE and 3 HENAAC) will be selected at the end of the camp to attend the conference, all expenses paid;

• Participate in Math, Engineering and Science projects and activities.

Goals and Objectives 2008-2009 1. Continue to expand program support and services by pursuing development of MESA

Centers at CSU Pueblo, Mesa State College in Grand Junction and Arapahoe Community College.

2. Develop funding resources via state appropriation for STEM after-school program and the

Colorado Homegrown STEM Workforce Act of 2007 (HB 1243). 3. Continue our major emphasis to supply minority students to Colorado colleges and

universities where these students will pursue math, engineering or science related majors and become an available source of skilled professionals.

4. Continue the CMEA/MESA relationship with all colleges and universities (2-year and 4-

year). 5. Sustain MESA program cost effectiveness while addressing the challenge of locating and

acquiring new and diversified funding resources. Continue to recruit corporate and foundation partners in order to increase financial and in-kind support base.

6. Assist MESA students in obtaining summer jobs, internships, grants, college entrance and

scholarships. 7. Improve public knowledge of the need for women and minorities in math, science and

engineering careers with emphasis on how MESA helps identify, support and prepare these students in grades K-12.

8. Provide support for MESA schools in 4 additional Jefferson County schools and pursue

program expansion in Mapleton School District via RMMSMSP grant. 9. Support and increase the numbers of university engineering and math/science education

majors to mentor MESA students. Expand program to southern Colorado.

MESA Program Results

1. 90% or above matriculation rate for graduating seniors. 2. Increasing the number of students enrolled in college and choosing math-based majors.

Goal is 80% or above. 3. Supporting MESA programs in schools and school districts with high minority enrollments.

Increase historically underrepresented student component to 60%.

The WIRED Jumpstart Grant

In FY 2008, with funding from the WIRED grant, Colorado MESA launched new programs and initiatives in a 9 county area including metro Denver, Larimer and Weld counties. Initiatives included enriched after-school mentoring, additional hands-on academic activities and projects, STEM project-based curriculum and a rigorous assessment of the project. We expanded our current college partnerships in order to establish a MESA Center at CU-Boulder and, in northern Colorado, at CSU. In keeping with MESA’s philosophy, we are continuing to focus on students who are underrepresented in STEM careers. Major provisions of WIRED grant:

• MESA Center at Colorado State University (CSU) • MESA Center at University of Colorado at Boulder • NREL Scientist/Mentor enrichment (in-kind) • University Student Mentors: 25 mentors (over 2700 hours) • LASP: Project SPECTRA materials and curriculum • CESC: Energy Science in the Home (ESH) enhanced curriculum for high school • Added mathematics component to project based curriculum • Project assessment for 9 county area (see WIRED Evaluation below) • Field trips for 80 MESA school programs 80 schools x $400/school • Education Materials: 80 schools x $300/school • Substitute Teachers for MESA advisors • Support for MESA High School Science and Engineering Jamboree • Support for CU MESA Fall Fling • Support for MESA Advisor Retreat and Kickoff (MARK) WIRED Evaluation The evaluation used a mixed-method design, using both qualitative and quantitative data sources and measures, to evaluate the MESA STEM competencies and career pathway mentoring programs' effectiveness. Specifically, the program's short-term and long-term objectives was compared with the project's overall outcomes to quantify program effectiveness as elaborated on below. To assess and measure both the "process" and "outcomes" of the program, customized stakeholder* surveys, attitude and belief measures, and tests for content mastery were developed. Specifically, for the purpose of "process" comparisons, questions about (a) developing curricular material, (b) improving curricular material, and (c) program implementation were studied. For the "outcome" comparisons, questions about (a) curricular effectiveness, (b) identifying influential factors (like teacher subject-matter expertise, willingness to be a reflective practitioner, content and sequencing of activities) that raise or lower student achievement (underrepresented minorities in particular) in the short-term, and (c) pre-post measures of program outcomes were investigated. When appropriate, videos of effective classroom practices were used to support and document these changes. Colorado MESA now maintains a database of more than 30,000 elementary through first-year college students.

• We will develop, in at least one school district, the capacity to more efficiently track student academic achievement and enrollment in higher level math and science courses through a cooperative agreement that will allow MESA access to the district database.

• As resources permit, we will develop a sophisticated database that will track MESA graduating seniors through college. Our goal is to: 1. Provide names of college students and graduates to our corporate partners. 2. Help students acquire internships and summer jobs in the corporate community while

enrolled in college.

2007-08 Participating Schools District School City Adams County Dist. #12 Academy of Charter Schools Westminster Adams County Dist. #12 Bollman Technical Educ. Cntr. Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 Crossroads Alternative Middle School Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 Federal Heights Elementary Federal Heights Adams County Dist. #12 Legacy High School Broomfield Adams County Dist. #12 Leroy Drive Elementary Northglenn Adams County Dist. #12 Mountain Range High School Westminster Adams County Dist. #12 Niver Creek Middle School Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 North Star Elementary Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 Northglenn High School Northglenn Adams County Dist. #12 Northglenn Middle School Northglenn Adams County Dist. #12 Prairie Hills Elementary Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 Rocky Top Middle School Brighton Adams County Dist. #12 Shadow Ridge Middle School Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 Silver Hills Middle School Westminster Adams County Dist. #12 Skyview Elementary Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 Stellar Elementary Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 Thornton High School Thornton Adams County Dist. #12 Westlake Middle School Broomfield

Adams County Dist. #14 Adams City High School Commerce City Adams County Dist. #14 Adams City Middle School Commere City Adams County Dist. #14 Kearny Middle School Commerce City

Adams County District. #50 Ranum High School Denver Adams County District. #50 Westmintser High School Westminster Adams County District #50 Scott Carpenter Middle School Denver Adams County District #50 Shaw Heights Middle School Westminster

Alamosa School Dist. RE-11J Alamosa High School Alamosa Alamosa School District Ortega Middle School Alamosa

Aurora Public Schools Rangeview High School Aurora

Brighton 27J Overland Trail Middle School Brighton Brighton 27J Prairie View High School Henderson

Cherry School District #5 Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Cherry School District #5 Prairie Middle School Aurora Cherry School District #5 Highline Community Elementary Aurora

Colorado Springs District #11 21st Century Charter School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Coronado High School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Doherty High School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Mitchell High School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Palmer High School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Wasson High School Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs District #11 Holmes Middle School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Irving Middle School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Jenkins Middle School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Russell Middle School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs District #11 Sabin Middle School Colorado Springs

Denver Public Schools Career Education Center Denver Denver Public Schools Contemporary Learning Academy Denver Denver Public Schools East High School Denver Denver Public Schools George Washington HS Denver Denver Public Schools Grant Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools Henry Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools Hill Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools Kennedy High School Denver Denver Public Schools Kunsmiller Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools Martin Luther King Jr. Early College Denver Denver Public Schools Merrill Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools Morey Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools Place Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools Skinner Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools Smiley Middle School Denver Denver Public Schools South High School Denver Denver Public Schools West High School Denver

Durango School District 9-R Escalante Middle School Durango Fountain School District 7 Fountain Middle School Fountain Ft. Lupton RE-8 Ft. Lupton High School Ft. Lupton

Garfield 16 Grand Valley High School Parachute Garfield 16 L.W St. Johns Middle School Parachute Harrison School District #2 Bricker Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Centennial Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Chamberlin Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Harrison High School Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Monterey Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Otero Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Pikes Peak Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Stratmoor Hills Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Stratton Meadow Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Turman Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Wildflower Elementary Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Carmel Middle School Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Fox Meadow Middle School Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Mountain Vista Community School Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Panormas Middle School Colorado Springs Harrison School District #2 Sierra High School Colorado Springs

Huerfano School Dist RE-1 John Mall High School Walsenburg Jefferson County Public School Brady Exploration High School Lakewood Jefferson County Public Schools Creighton Middle School Lakewood Jefferson County Public Schools North Arvada Middle School Arvada Mesa Valley School District #51 Central High School Grand Junction Mesa Valley School District #51 Grand Junction High School Grand Junction Mesa Valley School District #51 Palisade High School Palisade Mesa Valley School District #51 Bookcliff Middle School Grand Junction Mesa Valley School District #51 Fruita 8/9 School Fruita Mesa Valley School District #51 Grand Mesa Middle School Grand Junction Mesa Valley School District #51 Mt. Garfield Middle School Clifton Mesa Valley School District #51 Orchard Mesa Middle School Grand Junction

Mesa Valley School District #51 West Middle School Grand Junction

Poudre School Distric R-1 Rocky Mountain High School Fort Collins Poudre School District R-1 Fossil Ridge High School Fort Collins Poudre School District R-1 Poudre High School Fort Collins

Pueblo School District #60 Corwin Middle School Pueblo Pueblo School District #60 Heaton Middle School Pueblo Pueblo School District #60 Pueblo East High School Pueblo Pueblo School District #60 Pueblo South High School Pueblo

St. Vrain School District RE-1J Altona Middle School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Coal Ridge Middle School Firestone St. Vrain School District RE-1J Erie Middle School Erie St. Vrain School District RE-1J Heritage Middle School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Longs Peak Middle School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Lyons Middle School Lyons St. Vrain School District RE-1J Sunset Middle School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Trail Ridge Middle Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Westview Middle School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Burlington Elementary Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Casa De la Esparanza Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Casa De La Esperanza Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Columbine Elementary Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Erie High School Erie St. Vrain School District RE-1J Frederick High School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Indian Peaks Elementary Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Loma Linda Elementary Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Longmont Headstart * Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Longmont High School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Lyons Elementary Lyons St. Vrain School District RE-1J Prairie Ridge Elementary Firestone St. Vrain School District RE-1J Rocky Mountain Elementary Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Silver Creek Middle/High School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Skyline High School Longmont St. Vrain School District RE-1J Spangler Elementary Longmont Thompson School Dist. Berthoud High School Berthoud Thompson School Dist. Loveland High School Loveland Thompson School Dist. Mountain View High School Loveland Thompson School Dist. Thompson Valley High School Loveland Thompson School District R2-J Lucille Erwin Middle School Loveland Thompson School District R2-J Walt Clark Middle School Loveland Trinidad School District #1 Trinidad Middle School Trinidad

Weld County Dist. RE-1 Gilcrest Elementary Gilcrest Weld County Dist. RE-1 Mirich Elementary La Salle Weld County Dist. RE-1 Platteville Elementary Platteville Weld County Dist. RE-1 Valley High School Gilcrest Weld County Dist. RE-1 North Valley Middle School LaSalle Weld County Dist. RE-1 South Valley Middle School Platteville Weld County District 6 Franklin Middle School Greeley NOTE: Total MESA programs currently active = 160; som e schools have more than one program.

“Although the various MESA challenges are representative of physics concepts, they represent a practical outlet for things I have learned in school. It’s also a great way to meet new people with the same interests and talents as myself.”

Aaron Griffin-Grade 12-Pueblo East High School

Students go medieval on competition

Skyline High School’s Gemma Chacon, left, and Maria Mendez build a noncompetetive paper trebuchet during MESA’s Fall Fling at the University of Colorado at Boulder on Friday. Times-Call/Joshua Buck

Projects part of annual state MESA contest By Ben Ready The Daily Times-Call BOULDER — A few hundred years ago, the medieval machines may have flung diseased cows, wall-crushing boulders or the severed heads of fallen soldiers over castle walls to terrify a besieged enemy.

But the trebuchets hand-crafted by high school students Friday threw Hacky Sack footbags for points. More than 260 minority or female students from 27 Colorado schools competed at the University of Colorado on Thursday and Friday for Colorado MESA’s 18th annual Fall Fling. Colorado MESA — or Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement — has hosted such competitions since 1980 to encourage groups underrepresented in math and science fields to enroll and succeed in college.

“It’s on-the-spot engineering,” Skyline High School senior Justin Fulford said. “It’s hands on. We use science here in a way we don’t in school.”

Fulford and 10 fellow Skyline Falcons placed third in a boat- building contest Thursday. Teams had 15 minutes to design and 30 minutes to build a boat using milk cartons, thin strips of wood and duct tape. The team whose boat could transport the most people the longest distance across a swimming pool won. Most schools celebrated not drowning, but Skyline managed to send one paddler all the way across the pool.

Friday tested the students’ ability to hurl footbags as long, hard and accurately as possible using 3-foot-high trebuchets. Like the catapult, the medieval war device helped enemies crush each other with flying projectiles on the battlefield or while storming castles.

Catapults, however — deemed “vulgar” and “so middle school” by high school science teachers — depend on simple spring mechanisms. The trebuchet (pronounced treb-ye-SHAY, with French flair) uses counterweights and a sling to generate energy and velocity. When a warrior or high school senior pulls a pin on the device, gravity drops a counterweight to the ground, the energy whipping an arm, sling and projectile on the opposite end of the trebuchet in a circle and releasing the projectile at the top of an arc toward a target.

“It’s a more natural, organic destruction machine,” Colorado MESA executive director Gloria Nelson joked.

Winning tosses for the distance competition cleared 45 feet, and power trebuchets succeeded in sinking 400 grams of steel pellets through a curtain wall.

Longmont, Frederick and Erie high schools joined Skyline in representing the St. Vrain Valley School District.

“It makes you work as a team. It’s fun,” said Frederick High School junior Byron Garcia, who said he also learned to breakdance Thursday night from his hotel roommate from another school.

MESA, a nonprofit organization funded though grants and donations, has involved 3,000 Colorado students from 140 schools in its events throughout the state this year.

For more information about Colorado MESA, visit www.cmesa.org. Ben Ready can be reached at 303-684-5326, or by e-mail at [email protected].

MESA middle and high school teams have represented Colorado in the MESA USA National Engineering Design Challenge every year for the past 8 years. They have placed every year. Teams from Pueblo Heaton Middle School have taken first and second place and, last year, Pueblo East High School took second place in the High School Competition.

MESA Student Testamonials

“The program provides an opportunity for students who don’t normally take an interest in math or science to get involved using interesting activities.”

Aaron Griffin, Grade 12, Pueblo East High School

“Much of what MESA has taught me I’ve been able to transfer over into science classes and even other areas of school, mostly because MESA offers a deeper look into certain topics. Questions are more freely asked in such a welcoming atmosphere…”

Emeline Miller, Grade 12, Longmont High School “I always pushed myself to the limits. That is when MESA came in, they helped me get one step closer to my true dream.”

Esteban Gonzalez, Grade 9, Niwot High School

Colorado MESA Minimum Program Requirements • Regularly scheduled weekly MESA meetings. • One “New MESA Member” recruiting activity per semester • One family orientation program per semester. • A scheduled student tutoring program • One college/university campus field trip per school year • Three guest speakers per semester from university/business/industry with

the focus on available careers and job requirements • One individual student/advisor counseling session per semester • Student curriculum that will insure four years of college prep math, science,

and English • For high school students, a 3.0 minimum GPA in combined math, science,

English curriculum or agree to work toward attainment of the minimum during the school year

Colorado MESA College of Engineering and Applied Science

University of Colorado at Denver Campus Box 104 PO Box 173364

Denver, CO 80217-3364

www.cmesa.org

2008 colorado mesa annual report

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