Young Scientists Test Speed and Distance at MESA Science Middle School Competition

SPOKANE, Wash. — All six Spokane public middle schools will be represented when more than 200 seventh and eighth graders compete during the annual Washington State University Spokane Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Middle School Competition.

The competition will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. March 24 at the East Central Community Center Gymnasium, located at 500 S. Stone St.

Students will test their science skills in engineering events and logic games and compete for the coveted traveling trophy. They will also vie for the state seed in multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) competition with the chance to qualify for MESA’s National competition. The national event, held in Irvine, Calif., in June, is in its sixth year, and a Spokane team placed second last year.

During the engineering competitions, students test marshmallow catapults for distance and MPV’s for the fastest car in Spokane Public Middle Schools.  The enthusiasm is contagious in this gym full of teenagers putting their minds and creations to the test.

MPV races take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon and poster presentations will take place from noon to 12:45 p.m. while the logic games tournaments are completed.  Plaques and medals will be presented to all individual and team winners from 1:35 p.m.-2 p.m.

The goal of MESA is to provide globally competitive and individually competent students in mathematics, engineering and science with full participation of under-represented students, including African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and women. This competition is a celebration of their efforts and an excellent opportunity to see young scientists in action.

WSU Spokane houses a number of programs dedicated to enhancing K-12 math and science education to strengthen our competitiveness and workforce readiness. WSU Spokane is the urban campus of Washington State University, a land-grant research university founded in 1890. The campus features advanced studies and research in health sciences and health professions, the design disciplines, education, social and policy sciences, and science and technology. Washington State University is one of just 95 public and private research universities with very high research activity, according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifications. In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranks WSU as one of the top public research universities in the nation.

Media Advisory: 
To arrange interviews with student participants at the event, call Terrie Ashby-Scott at (509) 358-7967.