Mendocino College is pleased to announce its Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program has been awarded another three year cycle grant. The program will receive $76,263 per year for the next three years to continue to help underserved and underrepresented students achieve success in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) studies and careers. 

"I am happy that MESA, a program that has been driving equity in STEM studies for over 50 years, is being funded for another cycle at Mendocino College; enabling us to continue the rewarding work that we are doing for our community,” says MESA Director Eric Hoefler.  

Mendocino College is one out of 31 California Community Colleges who are being awarded the grant, out of 53 who applied. 

“MESA is my second home, it helped guide me through the difficulties and obstacles when I first came to Mendocino College," says tutor and MESA student Nhung Pham (who goes by Emma). “The valuable soft skills like commitment, leadership, and effective communication, that I gained from MESA have shaped me into a better person. MESA embraces all opportunities that open doors for students.”  Emma will be transferring to Chico State in the fall and will be studying Mathematics, with plans of becoming a math teacher.  

The overarching goal of the MESA program is to provide the academic support, transfer resources, and career exploration opportunities needed to increase the number of minority students graduating from undergraduate STEM programs. MESA provides tutoring for STEM classes, campus visits, textbooks and scientific calculators to use and a space on campus for collaboration and community. MESA also hosts many leadership activities that involve industry partners and admission officers from the UC and CSU systems. Many MESA alumni have benefitted from the numerous internship and fellowship opportunities with organizations like NASA and Amgen, that have led to employment in those industry sectors.   

If interested in pursuing an education in STEM at Mendocino College, MESA is your ally. For more information about MESA at Mendocino College, contact Eric Hoefler at ehoefler@mendocino.edu or 707-468-3096.