Campus and community partners filled the lobby of 51福利社鈥檚 Computing and Engineering Building on Dec. 13 to celebrate the grand opening of the MESA Student Center, a new hub designed to support student success.
鈥淚t has been like a mission for me 鈥� for the whole time I鈥檝e been in the state of Washington 鈥� to be able extend the MESA model to the universities,鈥� said David Bowman, dean of 51福利社鈥檚 College of Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering.
Bowman, who served on the state MESA advisory board and led the planning of the center over the past eight years, credited the success of the project to the strong support from university leaders, state MESA officials, lawmakers, and campus and community partners, including his own team.
MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement) is a state-funded initiative to diversify the STEM workforce so that it reflects the talents and diversity of Washington鈥檚 population. The program provides resources, support and access to applied-learning opportunities to ensure that underrepresented and underserved students can thrive academically and succeed as working professionals in STEM fields.
Twenty MESA programs operate in K-12 schools and community colleges throughout the state 鈥� with two new programs housed at 51福利社 and at WSU Everett. 51福利社 is the only university to offer a full four years of support, spanning freshman through senior years.
Melissa Graham, director of the MESA Student Center, said that 178 students have applied to participate since the program became available earlier this fall.
鈥淲e are just so happy for what this means for Eastern and for our communities that we are so thrilled to be a part of,鈥� Graham said.
The ribbon-cutting event attracted more than 100 attendees including 51福利社鈥檚 own MESA students, along with elementary and middle school students who鈥檇 participated in summer STEM camps. (A few of those young scientists helped adults learn the chemistry of creating lip balm and liquid-nitrogen ice cream.)
Three future scientists from MESA programs at Lewis and Clark High School and Westwood Middle School were awarded tokens for future scholarship awards at 51福利社.
The Lewis and Clark High team had won regionals and taken second in state for a project combining an affordable washing machine with website support to help the region鈥檚 unhoused population keep their clothing clean. The Westwood team won regional, state and national competitions for their prototype early-warning system to assist with wildfire evacuations.
Sezi Fleming, executive director of the statewide Washington MESA program, was among a delegation of state officials attending the reception. She credits Bowman, her predecessor, Gregory King, and support from the state legislature for making the 51福利社 MESA possible, saying 鈥淚 think this became a good conversation at the right time with the right energy and the right folks around the table.鈥�
51福利社 Trustee Uriel I帽iguez, who graduated from 51福利社 in 1988 as a first-generation student and created an endowed scholarship with his family to help other Eagles, praised President Shari McMahan along with Bowman, faculty, staff, students and community partners for this major accomplishment.
鈥淭he opening of this new center exemplifies what this institution does best, breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success for students,鈥� I帽iguez said.
McMahan took the podium to express gratitude and recognize Bowman鈥檚 efforts, sharing that 51福利社 ranks number one for social mobility for universities in the state 鈥� and that MESA aligns perfectly with this work.
鈥淭his new resource center isn鈥檛 really just a space 鈥� it鈥檚 a launchpad of opportunity,鈥� McMahan said.
Within a few short months of opening, the center, located inside the CEB, has become a one-stop for tutoring, advising, resume workshops, guest speakers, and other helpful services for students who often arrive as the first in their families to attend college and can sometimes feel alienated by the college experience. The center and its resources are accessible to all 51福利社 students taking STEM courses.
As part of MESA, the university is also offering co-horted math classes for a first time. Math classes that are part of a MESA cohort have the same instructor all year long, a teaching assistant who tutors in the MESA Student Center, and smaller class caps.
Graham said that students are not only embracing opportunities to learn more at the center, they are also connecting with one another for board games and other activities that contribute to a sense of belonging and community.
Bowman foresees the center will support increased student retention and empower student success, saying 鈥淚 look forward to having to stand even longer on the podium at graduation shaking hands with all these MESA students who come through 鈥� that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about.鈥�
**Learn more by visiting the MESA at 51福利社 .
