It is with great pride that we offer the 2007-2008 Colorado MESA Report. We have come far since the inception of MESA in 1980, but our goal remains unchanged: to promote and provide educational enrichment for precollege
students from historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged groups and prepare them
for college majors and careers in mathematics, engineering, health care and science.
U.S. census data regarding unemployment and median earning rates demonstrate that education pays! On the
average, students with bachelor’s degrees earn almost $23,000 more each year than their counterparts with
only a high school diploma. Colorado has long depended on importing skilled labor from out of state and is now
just beginning to focus on our own workforce pipeline in order to overcome the “Colorado Paradox”. MESA is
well positioned to help in this respect. Colorado MESA opens up the possibility of college for many students
who would not otherwise consider the possibility, and encourages them to focus on their future. As a result,
students, families, communities and our economy all benefit.
This was an extraordinary year for MESA! Our thanks to Representative Nancy Todd and Suzanne Williams for
introducing HB 1243 and a subsequent funding bill which we believe will lead to state support for MESA. These
bills established a fund for after-school STEM education in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and
we look forward to pursuing state support from this fund that will enable CMEA~MESA to expand the number of
University MESA Centers in Colorado and provide more resources and accountability. Read more below...
