Oregon MESA

?? Oregon MESA has been on the move, connecting with students across the community to support their incredible innovations! From brainstorming sustainability-focused apps to hands-on micro:bit training, our students continue to impress us with their creativity and problem-solving skills. ?? Teams have been tackling real-world challenges like flood detection, soil erosion prevention, and mosquito population control, while others refine their prototypes and explore new coding techniques. Through brainstorming, hands-on practice, and mentor guidance, they’re gaining valuable skills to bring their ideas to life. A huge thank you to our mentors, advisors, our cirriculum and coding specialist Mahathi Mandelli, and the students for their hard work and curiosity—your dedication is shaping the future of STEM! ???

?? A huge THANK YOU to Genentech and the Salem Foundation for their generous support! ?? Your incredible donations—$15,000 from Genentech and $4,000 from the Salem Foundation—are making a lasting impact on Oregon MESA students. The Salem Foundation’s contribution directly supports our efforts in Marion County, helping us expand opportunities for young innovators, while Genentech’s generosity fuels our mission to break down barriers in STEM. Together, we’re shaping a more inclusive and diverse future! Your support empowers the next generation of changemakers. Want to be part of this journey? Connect with us at [email protected] ?? Let’s build a brighter future together! ??

?Demo Day Highlights!? These are some of our favorite moments from Demo Day across all regions—so much creativity, teamwork, and innovation on display! ?? ?? Stay tuned for recap videos from Klamath Falls and Lane County Demo Day—coming soon!

Here’s a glimpse into Salem’s Demo Day last week! We are so incredibly proud of our students—you continue to inspire us with your creativity, hard work, and passion. Watching you bring your ideas to life is truly amazing. ??? A huge thank you to our staff, volunteers, and the entire community for making this day possible. Your support means everything. And a very special thank you to Lesly Rojas for sharing your powerful words and wisdom with our MESA students—your message will stay with us for a long time. ??

We are excited to announce Michael Barrow as our Keynote Speaker for Lane County Demo Day 2025, happening this Friday, March 14th at Spark at Booth Kelly! ?? Michael is an esteemed IT industry veteran with over 35 years of experience in network engineering, cloud architecture, software development, and cybersecurity. He believes that education was the key to breaking free from the socioeconomic limitations he faced early on. Today, Michael devotes his time to mentoring youth, inspiring them to pursue careers in technology and achieve whatever goals they set their hearts on. ?? Swipe right to check out Michael's bio, and be sure to click this link to register to attend! ?? https://lnkd.in/gezuUDuS

Happy International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month! ? Today and every day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and brilliance of the women in our community and beyond. ?? At Oregon MESA, we are proud to uplift and empower the next generation of women in STEM and innovation. Let’s continue to break barriers and build a future where all women can thrive! ?? #womenshistorymonth #internationalwomensday

Thank you Women's Foundation of Oregon for this wonderful toolkit. I’ll be sharing all month long! #womenshistorymonth https://lnkd.in/gZ-pTVYN

We are incredibly grateful to have been part of the Out-of-School Time Initiative, made possible by The Oregon Community Foundation and The Ford Family Foundation ??This deeply meaningful opportunity helped us better support the dedicated teachers, student mentors and volunteers who guide our students, providing them with the professional development and resources needed to create lasting impact. In addition to direct programmatic impacts, we were able to form lasting connections with dozens of other organizations doing incredible work to support young people across the state??Check out this article to learn more about this transformative initiative that we were fortunate enough to be a part of for the last three years.?

?? STEM Trailblazers Series Premiere - Episode 1 Oregon MESA is excited to launch STEM Trailblazers, a new video series showcasing leaders who are breaking barriers and driving change in STEM. ?? Our first episode features Emmett Chappelle, the brilliant biochemist who revolutionized bioluminescence research and helped advance space exploration. Watch his inspiring story and let us know—who are the STEM Trailblazers that inspire you??? Drop their names in the comments ?? and tell us if you’d like to see more videos like this! #STEMTrailblazers #OregonMESA #emmettchappelle #blackhistorymonth

This Saturday is the big day for Greater Portland's Demo Day 2025! ?? Check out this event schedule, we can't wait to see you! ??