WHAT: Thirty-one scholars of the Los Nietos Middle School Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program are set to compete against approximately 10 other Chapman University MESA Center schools at the annual MESA Preliminary Competition.

The LNMS group has spent the school year designing and engineering team projects during MESA elective classes to prepare for the event. The preliminary showdown will challenge contestants in categories such as prosthetic arms, mousetrap cars, popsicle stick bridge, glider, GI tract, speech and egg drop.

High-performing teams will compete against schools from the other 10 Southern California Regions at the Regional MESA event on April 8 at UC Irvine.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11

WHERE: Chapman University, 1 University Drive, Orange, CA 92866

DETAILS: MESA is a nationally recognized program that teaches students a math- and science-based curriculum in preparation for college and career pathways.

At LNMS, MESA is a part of the school’s Science/Technology/Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) coursework strand. Under the direction of MESA teachers/advisers Michelle Sanchez and Jacqueline Ramirez, students meet daily to engineer projects and discuss science concepts.

Los Nietos Middle School has been a fixture at the MESA Prelims and Regionals, reaching both competitions in each of the last five years. The school has regularly competed at the regional level in events such as the egg drop, scientific model building, speech competition and the team Math Challenge completion.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Contact Jahmal Corner for more information at (206) 579-4432.