SDSU Awarded STEP Grant from National Science Foundation

San Diego MESA Alliance Hosts Open House at SDSU on Oct. 23

Contact:
Lorena Nava
San Diego State University
(619) 594-3952 office
lnava@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO (Wednesday, October 10, 2007) — The San Diego Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Alliance, comprised of San Diego State University, San Diego City College and Southwestern College, has been awarded a National Science Foundation Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) grant totaling $1.9 million to be distributed over the next five years.

To celebrate the award, SDSU’s MESA Engineering Program will host an open house, on behalf of the Alliance, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Casa Real, located in SDSU’s Aztec Center. The event is open to the public and local companies interested in learning more about the San Diego MESA Alliance.

“The NSF award is key in allowing us to serve 10 percent more students each year and especially to work with local companies to develop our students for future careers,” said Theresa Garcia, director of the SDSU MESA Engineering Program. “From the numerous MESA alumni that keep giving back, I know MESA works. NSF is allowing us to move MESA to the next level.”

The grant was awarded to build on MESA best practices to develop a diversely skilled workforce for San Diego and the nation. In particular, the grant will enhance MESA's efforts to provide essential services that help students excel academically, develop leadership skills and gain exposure to industry opportunities.

MESA enables educationally disadvantaged students prepare for and graduate from a four-year college or university with a math-based degree in areas such as engineering, the sciences, computer science or mathematics.

For more than 25 years, the MESA Engineering Program at SDSU in the College of Engineering has supported educationally disadvantaged students so they become the engineers and computer science professionals urgently needed by companies to compete in today’s global marketplace. For more information on the SDSU MESA Engineering Program, please visit http://engineering.sdsu.edu/mep.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 81 areas, master's degrees in 73 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU's approximately 35,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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