A select group of 10 California State University Los Angeles MESA students honed their leadership skills at a special invitation-only conference for math-based majors in San Diego early this month.
The 11th Annual Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Student Leadership Conference is fully sponsored by industry donations. Southern California Edison is the lead sponsor with additional funding from San Diego Gas and Electric, Southern California Gas Company, Pacific Gas and Electric and AT&T.
CSULA students were sponsored by sponsored by Southern California Gas and Edison International. Their generous contribution allowed students from southern California campuses to attend. SoCalGas and Edison employees volunteered their time to work closely with the students during the conference.
The conference, themed “Today’s STEM Students--Tomorrow’s STEM Leaders,” was held October 31 to November 1 at the Marriott Mission Valley in San Diego. It offers extensive professional and leadership development through direct interaction with industry mentors and speakers. The hand-picked MESA students, all science, engineering, or math majors, represent over 27 universities and community colleges from across the state.
Attending CSULA students were:
Mark Alvarez | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering |
Paolo Galicia | Freshman | Computer Science |
Alonso Garcia | Junior | Electrical Engineering |
Victor Garcia | Junior | Mechanical Engineering |
Pyae Hein | Sophomore | Electrical Engineering |
Sandra Hernandez-Andrade | Sophomore | Computer Science |
Vashti Hollomon | Junior | Mechanical Engineering |
Liliana Montes De Oca | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering |
Rubi Mora | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering |
Jeovanny Reyes | Sophomore | Electrical Engineering |
Students participated in mock interviews, connected with industry representatives, heard guest speakers and attended workshops.
San Diego Gas and Electric Company has been named the 2014 MESA Champion for the energy company’s longstanding support of the program. Marvin Lopez, Global University Relations Manager at Advanced Micro Devices, is this year’s MESA Distinguished Alumnus.
“We know that California’s economy needs more STEM workers to stay competitive,” said MESA Executive Director Oscar F. Porter. “These students provide the solution to industry’s need for well-trained professionals.
“They were selected to attend the conference because these students have strong leadership skills. This event gives them a chance to interact extensively with STEM professionals currently working in industry,” said Porter.
Student attendees represented the following campuses: CSU Chico, CSU Fresno, CSU Long Beach, CSU Los Angeles, CSU Sacramento, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, , American River College (Sacramento), Bakersfield College, Butte College (Oroville), , City College of San Francisco, , College of the Sequoias, Cosumnes River College (Sacramento), East Los Angeles College, El Camino College (Torrance), Los Medanos College (Pittsburg), , Pasadena City College, Rio Hondo College (Whittier), Sacramento City College, San Diego City College, Santa Ana Junior College, Santa Barbara City College, and Southwestern College (Chula Vista).
MESA promotes STEM success for more than 28,000 educationally disadvantaged secondary, community college and four-year college students in California through project-based learning, academic counseling and exposure to STEM careers, so they can graduate from college with math-based degrees. Seventy percent of MESA high school graduates statewide went directly to college after graduation compared to 48 percent of all California graduates. Sixty percent of MESA students go on to math, science or engineering majors. Ninety-seven percent of MESA community college transfer students go to college as STEM majors.
For more information about MESA visit http://mesa.ucop.edu
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