About
Oregon MESA offers hands-on invention education where students work on creating and developing their own ideas. The program equips teachers to support underserved middle and high school students in STEM through this hands-on invention education. It focuses on students of color, low-income youth, and girls, and engages parents directly in their child’s success.
• Ages: 11–18 years old
• Price: MESA breaks down barriers to access by providing no-cost programming at the schools where underserved students are enrolled.
Oregon MESA has been serving students since 1985 and was founded by leaders of color in Portland, born out of the civil rights movement. It serves more than 600 students each year. The program reports that 98% of its students report increased confidence in invention skills, and that its students are three times more likely to graduate high school than non-MESA peers. Its mission is to provide students underrepresented in STEM fields with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to develop their talents, explore technology-based careers, enter college, and compete successfully in the workforce.
MESA’s ecosystems approach to education brings schools, families, businesses, and mentors together. The program partners with Portland State University, which hosts the MESA program and provides students with exposure to postsecondary academic programs and other opportunities hosted by the university.
Testimonials from students, educators, and partners describe students having the opportunity to create things and be heard, and highlight that students are seen for their innovation and creativity and recognized for the ideas they have and the products they create. A student, Victoria C., states that MESA reminded her that she has the right to pursue any career, especially engineering. An advisor, Kerryn, notes that this recognition changes the way students feel about themselves and how they see themselves working in STEM fields. Dr. Carol Dahl from The Lemelson Foundation describes MESA’s work as critical to advancing invention education. Oregon MESA advisor and middle school teacher Melanie Ramsey states that it is important for students to see a person of color who is passionate about science and that she wants to pass on that passion and motivation so students can see that they can have fun.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
• Ages: 11–18 years old
• Price: MESA breaks down barriers to access by providing no-cost programming at the schools where underserved students are enrolled.
Oregon MESA has been serving students since 1985 and was founded by leaders of color in Portland, born out of the civil rights movement. It serves more than 600 students each year. The program reports that 98% of its students report increased confidence in invention skills, and that its students are three times more likely to graduate high school than non-MESA peers. Its mission is to provide students underrepresented in STEM fields with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to develop their talents, explore technology-based careers, enter college, and compete successfully in the workforce.
MESA’s ecosystems approach to education brings schools, families, businesses, and mentors together. The program partners with Portland State University, which hosts the MESA program and provides students with exposure to postsecondary academic programs and other opportunities hosted by the university.
Testimonials from students, educators, and partners describe students having the opportunity to create things and be heard, and highlight that students are seen for their innovation and creativity and recognized for the ideas they have and the products they create. A student, Victoria C., states that MESA reminded her that she has the right to pursue any career, especially engineering. An advisor, Kerryn, notes that this recognition changes the way students feel about themselves and how they see themselves working in STEM fields. Dr. Carol Dahl from The Lemelson Foundation describes MESA’s work as critical to advancing invention education. Oregon MESA advisor and middle school teacher Melanie Ramsey states that it is important for students to see a person of color who is passionate about science and that she wants to pass on that passion and motivation so students can see that they can have fun.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
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