Natomas High Students Place At MESA Competition

Rooha Gealani & Jared Stone

Ashleen Rai

Shimran Devi

THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Fourteen Natomas High School students attended the MESA Day regional competition held last month at California State University East Bay, bringing home first-time awards in several categories.

Nighthawk wins include:

• Ashleen Rai – 1st place in Balsawood Bridge (a first for the school) and 3rd place for design creativity;
• Shimran Devi and Aidan Freeman Butalla- 1st place for EggXpress (also a first-time win at the state level); and
• Rooha Gealani and Jared Stone – 3rd place in Balsawood glider (another first).

Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) is nationally recognized for its innovative and effective academic development program. MESA engages thousands of educationally disadvantaged students so they excel in math and science and graduate with math-based degrees.

Natomas High engineering and physics teacher Kim Knestrick is the school’s MESA adviser.