MESA Day Competitions
MESA Day features grade-specific competitions, each with its own set of rules and curriculum. While students from different grade levels may compete in the same event, they must follow the guidelines for their grade level to avoid disqualification. See the full list of competitions below.
Middle School Competitions
6th – 8th grade
Cargo Glider
Coding Solutions
Investigative Science
Math Escape Challenge
MESA Machine: Bean Bag Throw/Launch
Moon Base
National Engineering Design Challenge (NEDC)
Prepared Speech: Sustainable Development
High School Competitions
9th – 12th grade
Bio Breakthrough (Pilot)
Cargo Glider
Coding Solutions
Impromptu Speech
Math Escape Challenge
MESA Machine: Ball Throw/Launch
Moon Base
National Engineering Design Challenge (NEDC)
The Engineering Lab Book is required for Cargo Glider, MESA Machine, and Moon Base.
The Science Journal is required for Bio Breakthrough and Investigative Science.
MESA Day Goals and Code of Behavior
MESA Day is our biggest day of the year, and every individual being at their best is key to the overall success of this amazing day and the competitions themselves. The UC Santa Cruz MESA College Prep Program follows the rules and guidelines put forth by the MESA Statewide Office, which are adhered to by all MESA centers throughout California. Please review the current rules for this year’s MESA Day competitions on the statewide MESA resources page, and the MESA Day Goals and Code of Behavior.
MESA Day Maps / Directions
MESA Day will be held at the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering. The Baskin Engineering complex is located in the Science Hill area of the campus, near the intersection of McLaughlin and Heller Drives. It is best accessed from the West Entrance of the campus (see link below). Free parking will be available in the Core West Parking Structure.
MESA Day Volunteer Information
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for MESA Day! To register, please complete the MESA Day Volunteer Registration Form.
UC Santa Cruz requires all volunteers to submit waiver forms. Please download, complete them, and bring them to the volunteer check-in table on event day. We appreciate your support!
Former MESA Day Winners
The students listed below participated in the UC Santa Cruz MESA College Prep Program and placed in their competitions at the annual UC Santa Cruz MESA Day. Local winners advanced to the Northern California regional competition, and those who placed at regionals are also listed below.
Regional Winners 2024
Cargo Gliders – Middle School (6th Division)
1st Place: Lupita Chavez, Gizel Loemli, Natalia Cortez-Jacobo – Alianza Charter/ UCSC (Team)
2nd Place: Mateo Jimenez-Lopez, Emiliano Ascencio, Abel Rodriguez-Lopez – Alianza Charter/ UCSC (Team)
Coding Solutions – Middle School: Experience:
2nd Place: Celso Salinas – Alianza Charter/ UCSC (Team)
3rd Place: Oscar Luna Nelms – Alianza Charter/ UCSC (Team)
Preliminary Winners 2024
High School Winners
Think Tank
Alisal High School
Grade11, First place winners
Renata Alvarez
Nicole Trujillo
Marisol Botello
Moon Base
Everett Alvarez HS,
Grade 9, First Place winner
Sierra Giraldez
Alejandra Avila-Reyes
Guadalupe Guerro
Alisal High School
Grade 10, First place winners
Jose Hernandez
Alexis Francisco
Bryan Flores-Hernandez
Harbor High School
Grade 12, First place winners
Marianna Heinecke
Simone Stromberg
Milo Ngo
Luke Wyland
Angel Munoz
North Monterey County High School
Grade 9/11, Third place winners
Stephanie Madrigal
Jose Ruiz-Rocha
Diego Alvarado
MESA Machine
Harbor High School
Grade 10, First place winners
Zev Cohen
Oliver Willet
Alisal High School
Grade 12, First place winners
Aileen Cardenas
Isabella Sanchez
Dessired Tolentino
Soledad High School
Grade 10, Second place winners
Ricardo Flores
Anthony Morales
Alexa Mendoza
Soledad High School
Grade 9/11, Third place winners
Jesse Amador
James Cadanez
Alexis Rodriguez
Cargo Glider
Alisal High School
Grade 12, First place winners
Natalia Jimenez
Sofia Garcia
Samantha Gomez
Harbor High School
Grade 12, First place winners
Nevaeh Karraker
Derick Freitas
Soledad High School
Grade 9, Second place winners
Omar Mendoza
Nate Razo
Esteban Padilla
Math Escape
Alisal High School
Grade 11, First place winners
Ruben Delgado
Nicolas Padilla
Harbor High School
Grade 10, Second place winners
Oliver Willet
Zev Cohen
Harbor High School
Grade 11/12, Third place winners
Milo Ngo
Luke Wyland
Nevaeh Karraker
Coding Solutions
Everett Alvarez HS,
Grade 11/12, First Place winner
Gael Nava
Rachel Shen
Everett Alvarez HS,
Grade 11, Second Place winner
Pedro Covarubius
Viriana Estrada
Soledad High School
Grade 11, Third place winners
Melissa Duenez Ramirez
Annete Ramos
Middle School Winners
Moon Base
Alianza Charter
Grade 7, First place winners
Jayme Russel
Kiara Del Toro
Main Street Middle
Grade 8, First place winners
Brianna Villagomez
Kevin Alcauter
Aleah Calderon
Alianza Charter
Grade 7/8, Third place winners
Reika Silva
Helena Leon
Cargo Glider
Alianza Charter
Grade 6, First place winners
Natalia Cortez-Jacobo
Gizel Loemli
Lupita Chavez
Alianza Charter
Grade 6, Second place winners
Emiliano Ascencio
Mateo Jimenez-Lopez
Abel Rodriguez-Lopez
Alianza Charter
Grade 6, Third place winners
Dalila Duarte Diaz
Karmen Buford
Leeanne Fernadez
Alianza Charter
Grade 7, Second place winners
Oscar Luna
Jayme Russel
Cristina Nolasco
North Monterey County Middle School
Grade 8, First place winners
Edgar Cumplido Terriquez
Uriel Cardenas-Vasquez
North Monterey County Middle School
Grade 7/8, Third place winners
Sara Kroeze
Leo Yireh Morales
Natalia Garcia
MESA Machine
La Paz Middle
Grade 7, First place winners
Otoniel Reyes
Juan Galvan
La Paz Middle
Grade 7, Second place winners
Hazzel Rodriguez
Genri Chararia
Main Street Middle
Grade 7/8, Third place winners
Noemi Guillen
Michelle Perez
Quianna Samoy
Math Escape
Alianza Charter
Grade 7, First place winners
Jayme Russel
Kiara Del Toro Morales
Main Street Middle
Grade 8, Second place winners
Ariana Sanchez
Evelyn Salinas
Zoe Galvan
Main Street Middle
Grade 7, Third place winners
Alissa Gomar
Manny Ovalle
Daniel Trujillo
Coding Solutions
Alianza Charter
Grade 7, First place winners
Jayme Russel
Kiara Del Toro Morales
Celso Salinas-Holz
Alianza Charter
Grade 7, Second place winners
Oscar Luna
Alianza Charter
Grade 7, Third place winners
Joel Hererra
Diego Velasco
North Monterey County Middle School
Grade 8, Second place winners
Nathaniel Buckner