March 26, 2002
INFORMATION: Sue Bozman or John McElwain, (661) 362-3415 or 3494

MESA Program Named Among Top-Five Innovators in Nation

SANTA CLARITA ­ Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA), a statewide program that operates a center at College of the Canyons, was one of just five recipients nationwide of the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award.

The MESA program was nominated by Governor Gray Davis and was one of more than 1,200 nominees ­ and the only California winner of this award.

A project of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the Ford Foundation and the Council for Excellence in Government, the award recognizes public programs that exhibit outstanding problem solving and creativity.

MESA helps more than 32,000 educationally disadvantaged students excel in math and science, as well as graduate with baccalaureates in math-based fields. In the last three years, 100 percent MESA community college students who transferred to four-year institutions entered a math-based field.

Note to editors: Susan Crowther, director of the MESA program at College of the Canyons, can be reached for additional comment at (661) 362-3377.