Alhambra High School’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program continues creating opportunities for students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields while helping participants build academic and leadership skills.
MESA is an academic support program designed to prepare students for college and future careers by providing mentorship, academic resources and hands-on learning experiences. Through tutoring, workshops, collaborative projects and engineering challenges, AHS students strengthen skills in math and science while gaining experience applying knowledge to real-world problems.
This year, Alhambra’s MESA team competed at the Regional Competition during MESA Day at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Several AHS students earned top placements across multiple events. Juniors Ann Vo and Brandon Cong earned first place in Impromptu Speech. Sophomore Julia Huang and freshman Sophie Huang placed second in NEDC. Juniors Abigail Trang, Samantha Kha and Shirley Phung earned third place in Bio Breakthrough. Sophomores Joshua Murti and Samuel King also placed third in Coding Solutions, while seniors Allison Liu, Hongsheng Zhou and Zihan Mi earned third place in Math Escape.
“My partner, Brandon Cong, and I were excited to win first place in Impromptu Speech,” junior Ann Vo said. “The competition had many STEM-related events and talented competitors from different school centers. Overall, the competition was an amazing opportunity, and everyone competing had fun both during their events and while exploring UCSB.”
Junior Brandon Cong also reflected on the experience. “It was cool because we got to explore the UCSB campus and walk down to the beach,” Cong said.
Beyond competition results, MESA continues providing students opportunities to strengthen academic skills, build confidence and explore STEM-related career pathways. The team’s accomplishments highlight the dedication and teamwork of AHS students while demonstrating the impact programs like MESA can have in preparing students for future success.