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Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) is a school based outreach program designed to increase access to Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pathways and encourage college readiness for low-income, minority or first-generation collegebound students in grades 6-12.

Arizona MESA’s approach is based on four pillars:

  • Active Learning – teachers facilitate weekly meetings where teams of students participate in challenging and engaging hands on projects and activities designed to explore the MESA Engineering Design Process
  • Exposure to STEM – through design competitions, extension events on university campuses, and connections with college and career mentors.
  • College Readiness – through activities, resources and events developed by the UA Office of Early Academic Outreach as part of its Start Now college knowledge campaign (startnow.arizona.edu).
  • Peer Support – by supporting the development of college-minded peer groups that support and encourage each other throughout the K-16 pipeline.

20,000+

Middle and high school students engaged by MESA from 1983-2023

75%

Students of Color

50%

First Generation College Bound

Logo for STEM PUSH Network

The STEM PUSH Network, an NSF INCLUDES Alliance, is working to leverage the power of pre-college STEM programs (PCSPs) to broaden participation of Black, Latina/o/e, and Indigenous students in STEM, and, together with its partners, create systemic change in higher education admissions.

Arizona MESA is one of 37 pre-college STEM Programs participating in STEM PUSH that are working to diversify the pipeline of students entering academic and career pathways within science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In Arizona, there are four other programs that join Arizona MESA in STEM PUSH: Imagine Your STEM Future, the Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program (JBMSHP), the Native American Sciene & Engineering Program (NASEP), and STAR Lab.  Learn more about the other national STEM PUSH PCSP's.