News Releases

March 18, 2014
For additional information:
Chato Hazelbaker
Chief Communications Officer
Telephone: 360-992-2921
Email: chazelbaker@clark.edu

Clark College to host MESA Day

MESA Day Promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
to Middle and High School Students

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark College is proud to partner with Southwest Washington MESA in an event designed to help disadvantaged youth succeed in mathematics and science. The college will host the Southwest Washington MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement) Day Engineering Design Competition on its main campus on March 22, 2014.

Washington MESA is part of MESA USA, a national, year-round initiative that works with school districts and higher education institutions to provide educationally disadvantaged students with opportunities to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Gov. Jay Inslee has named promotion of STEM education as one of his top five priorities in education policy.

One hundred sixty middle and high school students from three school districts (Evergreen Public Schools, Vancouver Public Schools, and Hockinson School District) will compete to advance to the statewide MESA Day competition sponsored by Microsoft and held at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, Wash. There, the winning team will compete with winners from other Washington MESA Centers for the opportunity to represent Washington and advance to the MESA USA National Design Competition, to be held at Portland State University in Portland, Ore., in June 2014.

MESA Day provides students with the opportunity to showcase their design, problem-solving, mathematical and communication skills by participating in various activities on a competitive basis. The main event will showcase teams' designs for a prosthetic limb to be used by children in developing countries who've lost arms to landmines. Each design is the product of months of work, and involves real-life challenges like testing and presentations.

Students have worked hard in preparing for this event, and the general public is invited to watch the Prosthetic Arm Challenge events. In addition, OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) will host a Family Science Festival with 12 tables of  free, fun and engaging activities 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m.. Lunch is only provided to MESA students, and Clark's food service is not open on weekends. Parking is free.

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