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The competitions bridge classroom learning with real-world application and encourage students to think beyond what they learn in physics, calculus or geometry. These competitions include launching gliders, testing the strength of structures, and evaluating human-centered design projects that help to solidify the core math, science and engineering skills students learn in class.
MESA Day events are geared to showcase students’ math and science know-how. These future technical professionals spend months creating and designing ready-to-compete projects.
2026 SR MESA Day Prelims (High School)
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Time: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: CSU Long Beach
Format: In-person for ALL high school competitions
Registration and Submission Upload
Registration and Submission Upload
All participating teams are REQUIRED to complete the registration form linked below by Sunday, March 1, 2026, no later than 11:59 pm. Please designate a team leader to sign-up on behalf of the entire team.
https://forms.gle/164AL7zaa3v2b8cbA
Participating teams must ALSO upload/submit project file(s) such as engineering lab book, science journal, Bio Breakthrough video, and NEDC design proposal and poster by Sunday, March 1, 2026, no later than 11:59 pm.
Competition Addendums
Competition Addendums
Coding Solutions - Teams must bring a computer (i.e. laptop, Chromebook) to prelims. No tablets or phones allowed.
Math Escape - Teams must bring a computer (i.e. laptop, chromebook) to prelims. No tablets or phones allowed. Maximum # of Teams Per School (as of 1/30/26)
Artesia HS - 4 teams
Mayfair HS - 1 team
Harbor Teacher Prep. Academy - 1 team
Narbonne HS - 1 team
Banning HS - 3 teams
CAMS - 4 teams
McBride HS - 1 team
Odyssey STEM Academy - 1 team
Paramount HS - 3 teams
National Engineering Design Challenge (NEDC)
Poster Symposium
Teams must bring their own poster for the poster symposium.
Each team is scheduled in 9-minute slots
The Symposium discussion will be limited to a maximum of 6 minutes.
Technical Pitch
Each team is scheduled in 10-minute slots (including prep time, pitch duration, etc.)
Technical Pitch Duration: Maximum of 6 minutes.
Maximum # of Teams Per School (as of 2/10/26)
Mayfair HS - 1 team
Paramount HS - 2 teams
McBride HS - 1 team
Odyssey STEM - 4 teams
CAMS - 2 teams
Event Schedule
Event Schedule
All competitions will be held in person and will be run concurrently.
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Arrival & School Check-In
Project Check-Ins
9:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Coding Solutions - Judging (closed to spectators)
Math Escape Challenge - Judging (closed to spectators)
Impromptu Speech - Judging (closed to spectators)
NEDC Poster Symposium (see NEDC Schedule)
Sponge Activities
Fingers of the Hand
Wind Powered Car
10:30 AM – 12:45 PM
Cargo Glider - Judging
Bio Breakthrough - Judging (closed to spectators)
MESA Machine - Judging
Moon Base - Judging
NEDC Technical Pitch (see NEDC Schedule)
Sponge Activities
Fingers of the Hand
Wind Powered Car
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Awards Ceremony
NEDC Competition Schedule
NEDC Competition Schedule
Poster Symposium (9:00 - 10:30)
9:00 TEAM 9 - Mayfair HS - Johnny, Roman, Austin, & Namanpreet
9:09 TEAM 6 - Odyssey - Yaretzi, Denise, & Claudia
9:18 TEAM 3 - CAMS - Noreen, Chirsten, Jhiliane, & Isabella
9:27 TEAM 7 - Odyssey - Ixchel, Yosephine, Alexa, & Jose
9:36 TEAM 4 - CAMS - Elise, Ericka, & Heliana
9:45 TEAM 8 - McBride HS - Nathan, Aidan, & Andres
9:54 TEAM 5 - Odyssey - Emily, Vivianna, & Camila
10:03 TEAM 2 - Paramount HS - Leslie, Myana, & Jaidynn
10:12 TEAM 1 - Paramount HS - Aidan, Jorge, & Anthony
10:21 TEAM 10 - Odyssey - Elvia, Julia, Leonardo, & Joshua
Technical Pitch (10:45 - 12:30)
10:45 TEAM 6 - Odyssey - Yaretzi, Denise, & Claudia
10:55 TEAM 3 - CAMS - Noreen, Chirsten, Jhiliane, & Isabella
11:05 TEAM 9 - Mayfair HS - Johnny, Roman, Austin, & Namanpreet
11:15 TEAM 7 - Odyssey - Ixchel, Yosephine, Alexa, & Jose
11:25 TEAM 8 - McBride HS - Nathan, Aidan, & Andres
11:35 TEAM 5 - Odyssey - Emily, Vivianna, & Camila
11:45 TEAM 10 - Odyssey - Elvia, Julia, Leonardo, & Joshua
11:55 TEAM 2 - Paramount HS - Leslie, Myana, & Jaidynn
12:05 TEAM 1 - Paramount HS - Aidan, Jorge, & Anthony
12:15 TEAM 4 - CAMS - Elise, Ericka, & Heliana
2026 JR MESA Day Prelims (Middle School)
2026 JR MESA Day Prelims (Middle School)
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: CSU Long Beach
Format: In-person for ALL middle school competitions
Registration and Submission Upload
Registration and Submission Upload
All participating teams are REQUIRED to complete the registration form linked below by Sunday, March 8, 2026, no later than 11:59 pm. Please designate a team leader to sign-up on behalf of the entire team.
https://forms.gle/164AL7zaa3v2b8cbA
Participating teams must ALSO upload/submit project file(s) such as engineering lab book, science journal, Bio Breakthrough video, and NEDC design proposal and poster by Sunday, March 8, 2026, no later than 11:59 pm.
Competition Addendums
Competition Addendums
Coding Solutions - Teams must bring a computer (i.e. laptop, Chromebook) to prelims. No tablets or phones allowed.
Math Escape - Teams must bring a computer (i.e. laptop, chromebook) to prelims. No tablets or phones allowed. Maximum # of Teams Per School (as of 1/30/26)
Mayfair MS - 0 teams
Carnegie MS - 1 team
Dodson MS - 2 teams
Stephen White MS - 5 teams
Cubberley MS - 3 teams
Alondra MS - 1 team
Hollydale MS - 3 teams
Jackson MS - 1 team
Para. Park MS - 2 teams
Zamboni MS - 1 team
National Engineering Design Challenge (NEDC)
Poster Symposium
Teams must bring their own poster for the poster symposium.
Each team is scheduled in 9-minute slots
The Symposium discussion will be limited to a maximum of 6 minutes.
Technical Pitch
Each team is scheduled in 10-minute slots (including prep time, pitch duration, etc.)
Technical Pitch Duration: Maximum of 6 minutes.
Maximum # of Teams Per School (as of 1/30/26)
Stephen White MS - 3 teams
Dodson MS - 5 teams
Hollydale MS - 1 team
Mayfair MS - 1 team
Event Schedule
Event Schedule
All competitions will be held in person and will be run concurrently.
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Arrival & School Check-In
Project Check-Ins
9:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Coding Solutions - Judging (closed to spectators)
Math Escape Challenge - Judging (closed to spectators)
Prepared Speech - Judging (closed to spectators)
NEDC Poster Symposium (see NEDC Schedule)
Sponge Activities
Sponge Activity #1
Sponge Activity #2
10:30 AM – 12:45 PM
Cargo Glider - Judging
Crime Scene Science - Judging (closed to spectators)
MESA Machine - Judging
Moon Base - Judging
NEDC Technical Pitch (see NEDC Schedule)
Sponge Activities
Sponge Activity #1
Sponge Activity #2
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Awards Ceremony
NEDC Competition Schedule
NEDC Competition Schedule
Poster Symposium (9:00 - 10:30)
9:00 TBD
9:09 TBD
9:18 TBD
9:27 TBD
9:36 TBD
9:45 TBD
9:54 TBD
10:03 TBD
10:12 TBD
10:21 TBD
Technical Pitch (10:45 - 12:30)
10:45 TBD
10:55 TBD
11:05 TBD
11:15 TBD
11:25 TBD
11:35 TBD
11:45 TBD
11:55 TBD
12:05 TBD
12:15 TBD
2026 LA/Central Coast Regional MESA Day
2026 LA/Central Coast Regional MESA Day
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Location: UC Santa Barbara
Format: In-person for ALL competitions
Registration and Submission Upload
Registration and Submission Upload
All participating teams are REQUIRED to complete the sign-up form linked below by Monday, April 13, 2026, no later than 11:59 pm. Please designate a team leader to sign-up on behalf of the entire team.
Participating teams must ALSO upload/submit project file(s) such as engineering lab book, science journal, Bio Breakthrough video, and NEDC design proposal and poster by Monday, April 13, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
Logistics
Logistics
Please see your MESA Advisor for information regarding logistics for Regionals (i.e. parking, transportation, competitions, etc.).
NEDC Events Schedule 2025-2026
NEDC Events Schedule 2025-2026
NEDC at Prelims (High School): Saturday, March 7, 2026 at CSU Long Beach
NEDC at Prelims (Middle School): Saturday, March 14, 2026 at CSU Long Beach
NEDC at Regionals: Saturday, April 25, 2026 at UC Santa Barbara
NEDC State Championship: Saturday, May 16, 2026 at San Jose State University
NEDC Nationals: June 22-25, 2026 in Maryland, USA
MESA Code of Conduct
MESA Code of Conduct
MESA students agree that MESA competitions are academic events and participants should present themselves in a manner that respects teachers, students, judges, hosts, and other officials at the event. Please remember that countless hours are spent in preparation and execution of the event for your learning and growth and many of the facilitators are volunteers giving their time for you.
The “golden rule” of competition means treating your fellow competitors as you would like to be treated. Show respect for yourself, your teammates, and your opponents, for advisors from all schools and centers and for the judges and other officials. This applies to those who leave the competition with medals and those who do not. Knowledge, pride, and empathy should be the cornerstones of any MESA competition.
All students must participate in a competitive event or other MESA Day activity at all times. Students are never allowed off campus or in areas not associated with MESA Day. Students are guests of the host campus and must respect all facilities, equipment, and property.
This code of behavior applies to MESA Parents, MESA Advisors and teachers, and MESA staff. Any type of misconduct will result in the immediate disqualification of the student, team, and perhaps the entire school. MESA reserves the right to ask anyone who is not conducting themselves per this code to leave the event.
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