Oregon MESA

Oregon MESA was founded in 1985 on the belief that access to STEM education and exposure to successful role models can meaningfully change the course of a student’s life. Rooted in the legacy of the civil rights movement and founded by leaders of color in Portland, Oregon MESA is committed to advancing equity in STEM education.
Today, we continue that work by removing barriers, expanding access, and challenging the systems that limit opportunity for students from historically excluded communities.
As we honor Juneteenth, we also uplift the legacy of Black STEM pioneers who have shaped the world through their innovation, resilience, and excellence. 💪🏿
We encourage our community to take time this weekend to reflect, learn, and engage with local Juneteenth celebrations.

After a much-needed breather from hosting our biggest event of the year, we’re so excited to finally share some highlights from Oregon MESA Day 2026! 🎉
On May 22, students from across the state came together for a celebration of invention, engineering, community, and achievement. This year’s theme, Each One, Teach One, encouraged students to look close to home for inspiration, drawing on traditions of collective learning and intergenerational knowledge-sharing. The result? An incredible showcase of innovation, creativity, and solutions designed to uplift the people and communities around them.
Students also put their engineering skills to the test in this year’s MESA Spring Challenge, Stay Fly, designing and launching rubber band-powered flying devices and refining their creations through testing, iteration, and teamwork.
We’re so proud of every student, educator, volunteer, judge, and supporter who helped make this event possible. 💙
Stay tuned for our full Oregon MESA Day 2026 recap blog post and even more photos, stories, and highlights coming soon!

A huge thank you to our MESA Day 2026 Invention Sponsor! 💙✨
We are so grateful for your investment in educational equity and your commitment to empowering the next generation of STEM leaders, creators, and changemakers.
Be sure to check out the amazing work of