SPOKANE, Wash. — Student teams from across Washington will be in Spokane on Wednesday, May 26, to compete in the 2004 MESA State Competition, hosted by the Spokane MESA Center housed at Washington State University Spokane.
Building the tallest tower for the lowest cost with Tinkertoys, creating a catapult that launches a marshmallow the farthest distance and designing the fastest mousetrap car with only the materials provided will be the tasks facing student teams in grades 8-12 from Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima Valley/Tri-Cities and Spokane.
Teams will be composed of up to four students vying to attend the MESA National Competition in Arizona on June 25. “This event is a great opportunity to see what our students are capable of,” said Joanna Moznette, MESA secretary and parent coordinator. Student teams participated in local competitions to determine who would advance to the MESA State Competition. More than 140 teachers, student teams and MESA staff are expected to participate in the event.
MESA — Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement — encourages a more diverse workforce by involving students of color and young women in these disciplines. Its goal is to prepare students for careers in these respective fields, and it gives students “something to be proud of at the end of the day,” Moznette said.
This year’s competition will be at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St. Event competitions will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m., lunch will be from noon to 1 p.m. and awards will be presented from 1-2 p.m. The Tinkertoy tower challenge will be from 8:30-10 a.m.
For more information, contact Moznette at (509) 358-7966.
