The MESA model recognizes the critical roles that university faculty, staff, students, science and engineering professionals, community members and parents all play in preparing students for college and the workforce. Read more about how you can help below and then contact MESA to get started!
University faculty, outreach staff and student groups The K-16 educational model emphasizes that colleges and universities need to collaborate with the institutions and the people who are preparing students to ensure their future success in higher education. MESA has relationships with over 40 Arizona schools and over 1,000 middle and high school students enroll in the program each year. Some ways you can work with MESA to take advantage of these existing connections are:
Make a presentation to MESA advisors at professional development training
Create a competition event that will introduce students to your area of science, technology, or engineering expertise
Work with MESA staff to organize a weekend on campus event for students and families or a field trip to the UA campus
Let MESA know about summer science, technology or engineering programs for middle and high school students-- since we already have information about a student's level of commitment to MESA and family income, we can be particularly useful in helping you identify students who will make good use of scholarship opportunities for such programs
Serve as a guest speaker at a MESA meeting at a local school
Adopt-A-School and provide regular support to a MESA advisor and student group at a school
Donate your Arizona School Tax Credit dollars to support MESA at a participating school
Professionals in science, technology, or engineering industries Think for a minute about the people who helped you imagine yourself where you are today and it will be clear that professional volunteers have an important role to play in MESA. Your involvement can inspire Arizona students to follow in your footsteps and become the science, technology and engineering professionals our state and our nation need. Some opportunities to get involved are:
Serve as a guest speaker at a MESA meeting at a local school
Volunteer as a judge at annual MESA competitions
Invite MESA staff to discuss integrated partnership opportunities, such as our Adopt-A-School program and representation on the Arizona MESA Industry Advisory Board, with your professional organization or the appropriate managers at your company
Donate your Arizona School Tax Credit dollars to support MESA at a participating school
Community members who want to have a positive impact on math and science education The strength of our community rests on the education of its members. If you are a member of a community organization doing similar work to improve access to educational information and opportunities for low income, minority, or first generation college bound students, we want to collaborate with you. Some ideas include:
Make a presentation about summer educational opportunities or scholarship opportunities available through your organization to get the word out to MESA students
Adopt-A-School and provide supplies and mentoring support over an extended period
Lead a campaign to generate Arizona School Tax Credit donations for MESA at participating schools
Make a suggestion about possible synergies between your organization and ours and we'll see what we can do!
Parents/Guardians of MESA students Parents are a student's first teachers. Your support of your child's participation in MESA sends the message that you understand that science, math and problem solving skills are important to your child's future. With your support, your child can meet all the challenges MESA presents and have a good time, too. Some ways you can help your child and MESA achieve success are:
Review the MESA calendar and plan to attend MESA events with your child. You could also volunteer to help the MESA advisor chaperone other students whose parents cannot be there.
Talk to your child's MESA advisor about the competition project the student is working on and the timeline involved. Help your child break the task down into steps and think about how to work with teammates to complete each step successfully.
Support your child's academic progress to make sure he or she meets the 2.5 grade point average required for competition eligibility and is progressing toward college admission.
Offer to provide snacks or other support for a MESA meeting at your child's school
Help solicit donations of supplies or locate recycled materials for competition projects
MESA staff are here to help with any information you might need about college preparation to assist you in following through on your high expectations for your child's education
