MESA Day 2026MESA Day is USC MESA's signature regional series of STEM-based competitions. For more information about Pre-MESA day, head over to our designated Pre-MESA Day page by clicking here.
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MESA Students preparing to show their complex machine
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MESA Day 2026 - LA / Central Coast Region
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Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026 (tentative)
Location: UC Santa Barbara Format: In-person for ALL competitions LA / Central Coast Regional MESA Day 2026 will be held in an in-person format for ALL competitions, including Coding Solutions and Math Escape Challenge. All participating team members are invited to this in-person competition day. ONLY the first place team in each competition and division from USC MESA's Preliminary MESA Day will advance. |
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Registration and Submission/Upload
- Information and registration/upload link will be available in March 2026.
All participating teams MUST adhere to all competition rules. There will be no arbitration at Regional MESA Day; all judging decisions will be final.
Other Competitions
USC MESA CoderZ LeagueUSC MESA is excited to launch a new initiative by offering middle school and high school teams an opportunity to compete in an online coding competition! League will be launched in October!
USC MESA League Dates: November 3 to December 6, 2025 Top teams will be invited to the USC MESA CoderZ League Finals.
Please contact your MESA Advisor for more information. |
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STEM on the SidelinesDucommun Inc, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering MESA Program are excited to present the 8th Season of STEM on the Sidelines!
This year, teams will design, build, and code an athlete (vehicle) to compete in an NFL-style Training Camp! Gear up for an action-packed competition where engineering innovation meets the gridiron!
Registration will remain open until we reach capacity, but don't wait - secure your spot by the priority deadline! Competition rules will be provided after registration confirmation. |
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JPL Invention Challenge
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The annual JPL Invention Challenge is celebrating 26 years! The JPL Invention Challenge combines the skills of creativity, team building, designing, fabrication, testing, and solving complex problems into a fun and exciting contest. The JPL Invention Challenge is open to both middle and high schools.
2025 Contest: Bucket Brigade Contest Regional Competition: Saturday, November 8, 2025 JPL Finals: Friday, December 5, 2025 Registration Deadline: October 4, 2025 |
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Congressional App Challenge
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Every year, students in congressional districts are challenged to create and submit their original apps for a chance to win the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). Each challenge is district-specific. As U.S. Representatives we publicly recognize the winning teams and each winning app may be put on display in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. Additional prizes may be available.
Students can register in either the congressional district they reside or attend school in. To find out your congressional district and if your district is participating in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, please click here. Entry Deadline: October 30, 2025 |
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American Rocketry ChallengeThe American Rocketry Challenge is the world's largest rocket contest with nearly 5,000 students nationwide competing each year. The contest gives middle and high school students the opportunity to design, build and launch model rockets and hands-on experience solving engineering problems.
2026 Challenge Objective: Design, build, and launch a model rocket that cradles one raw egg to an altitude of 750 feet and a flight duration between 36 and 39 seconds. Registration Deadline: December 6, 2025 Due Date to submit flight results: March 30, 2026 |
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eCYBERMISSIONeCYBERMISSION is a web-based STEM competition for students in grades 6-9.
For the competition, teams choose one of two paths: Path 1: Scientific Inquiry – Investigating a problem. Path 2: Engineering Design – Solving a problem Deadline for Mini-Grant Application: November 12, 2025 Deadline for Team and Advisor Registration: February 25, 2026 |
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National STEM Challenge (PAST)
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Your mission? Craft a STEM project that tackles a real-world challenge. Choose from one of the 2024 listed themes and use the scientific method or engineering design process.
150 National STEM Champions and a caretaker will have travel and accommodation expenses covered to attend The National STEM Festival in Washington DC in March 2025 presented in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. The weekend will be filled with invaluable opportunities for these future STEM leaders to gain knowledge and make life changing connections. Entry Deadline: October 20, 2024 |
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