News

An Oregon MESA middle school team recently won the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement) USA National Design Competition Championship. The MESA USA National Design Competition, hosted by the Colorado MESA at the University of Colorado, is an engineering design competition comprised of the best of the best from each state with a MESA program.  “This is Oregon’s first win at the National level,” states Oregon MESA Director David Coronado. “It is truly an honor for our middle school students to achieve a National Championship.”  The team was comprised of four students from Ockley Green School in Portland: sixth-grader, Thien Ngyuen; seventh-graders Monserratt Garcia and Tinh Ngyuen; and eighth-grader Ryan Writz. The students are advised by Esther Romero, staff member at Ockley Green School. 

The students built a trebuchet, tested it, and presented their research through an oral presentation, a technical display, and a technical paper. Their research was judged by a panel of professional engineers and scientists.  During the testing of their trebuchet, they achieved a phenomenal distance of 28 meters using only a 1.5kg counterweight.  Their accuracy was dead on each time.

This experience has raised the awareness in each of the students that they are capable of becoming engineers and scientists.  Many of them are considering computer science and engineering at PSU.  Thank you to The Lemelson Foundation and Intel for their generous contributions to support Oregon MESA and make Oregon MESA’s attendance at the MESA USA National Design Competition possible.

Oregon MESA is a pre-college academic program that engages sixth- through twelfth-grade students in hands-on, inquiry-based math, engineering, science, and technology projects during weekly chapter meetings at school sites. The MESA Partnership Model connects students, teachers, schools, and families with universities, community colleges, industry, and government. In 2006, 92 percent of MESA graduating seniors pursued a college education.