STEM Shadow Day
MESA's STEM Shadow Day will be on the Thursday before the Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday, November 17, 2022
Through the free annual STEM Shadow Day event, college students from San Diego State University, San Diego City College, Southwestern College, and college prep students from San Diego and Imperial Valley counties will have a unique experience to witness the “real world” of work in an engineering or scientific environment.
Industry’s involvement will provide a great opportunity for our up and coming students to “test the waters” in a field of their interest and see first-hand how classroom skills relate to the workplace. What better way to do that, than observe and work with a professional in action!
Employers can make a positive impact on the lives of students, our future engineers and scientists, and students can picture themselves in these positions in the near future while creating attainable goals to get there.
The 2022 STEM Shadow Day will mark a return to hosting in-person, instead of virtually.
For questions about STEM Shadow Day, please contact Eric Pamintuan ([email protected])
2022 STEM Shadow Day Timeline
- August: Industry registration opens
- Sunday, September 4: Industry registration closes.
- Monday, October 3: Student registration opens.
- Sunday, October 16: Student registration closes.
- October 17-23: Student matches are made/collection of any special documentation.
- October 27: Student matches sent to industry registrants.
- October 31 - November 6: Student prep meetings:
- SDSU students:
- Wednesday, November 2 @ 2:00-2:50 pm, E427
- Wednesday, November 2 @ 3:00-3:50 pm, E427
- Friday, November 4 @ 12:00-12:50 pm, Zoom
- Friday, November 4 @ 2:00-2:50 pm, Zoom
- Friday, November 4 @ 4:00-4:50 pm, Zoom
- Friday, November 4 @ 6:00-6:50 pm, Zoom
- San Diego City College students: Thursday, November 3 @ 4:00-4:50 pm
- Southwestern College students: Thursday, November 3 @ 1:00-1:50 pm
- High school students: Will be notified by MESA Advisor/Staff.
- SDSU students:
- Friday, November 11: Veterans Day holiday.
- Thursday, November 17: STEM Shadow Day!
- November 24-25: Thanksgiving break.
Sample Agenda
2nd Floor Conference Room Titan
- 9:30-10:00 am Welcome and introduction to company
- 10:00-10:30 am HR (internship, entry level, special programs, growth opportunities)
- 10:30-11:30 am Tour of facility, worksite/projects review
- 11:30-12:30 pm Roundtable/Q&A lunch with mentors, recent grads, interns, etc.
- 12:30-1:30 pm Hands-on activities, alternate departments
- 1:30-2:00 Closing/picture for PR
Breaks worked in between as applicable. Industry hosts have flexibility to structure their agenda and timing to best match their working environment and student demographics.
Typical start times have been ~8:30-10:30 am, with end times from ~2:00-4:00 pm.
Photo Galleries
- 2022 photo gallery
- 2021 photo gallery
- 2020 photo gallery
- 2019 photo gallery
- 2018 photo gallery
- 2017 photo gallery
- 2016 photo gallery
- 2015 photo gallery
Photo galleries are hosted through Google Photos.
Photo albums prior to 2015 can be found on the San Diego MESA Alliance Facebook page.
News Releases
- 2022 news release
- 2021 news release
- 2020 news release
- 2019 news release
- 2018 news release
- 2017 news release
- 2016 news release
- 2014 recap
- 2013 news release
- 2012 recap
- 2012 news releases:
- 2011 recap
- 2010 recap
- 2009 news releases:
Recaps of MESA STEM Shadow Day can also be found on San Diego MESA Alliance Industry Advisory Board December meeting minutes, December meeting presentations, and on the STEM Shadow Day archives on the San Diego MESA Alliance website.
Information for students
Student eligibility: Students recruited to participate include the San Diego MESA Alliance campuses of: San Diego City College, Southwestern College, San Diego State University, and various middle and high schools in the San Diego and Imperial Valley regions. Certain companies may have additional eligibility requirements.
Preparation meeting: Students will be required to attend an in-person or virtual preparation meeting prior to STEM Shadow Day. Topics include professional etiquette, required media releases, other documentation, and event expectations.
Registration: Registration will open for students once industry participants have been confirmed. Fully completed registrations will then be reviewed to match with participation companies based on major/interests, meeting company eligibility requirements, and potential carpool assignments. Priority is given to MESA program students.
Student documents
Student registration options:
Register to partcipate in STEM Shadow Day! Students, select the online registration Google Form link below based on your school campus. Deadline to register is Sunday, October 16, 2022:
San Diego State University students
Industry participants
- Rick Engineering Company
- Located by Fashion Valley mall
- ~8:45-3:30 pm
- 12 students
- NAVAIR Fleet Readiness Center Southwest
- Located on military base in Coronado
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Government photo I.D. required
- 8:00-2:00 pm
- 12 students
- Harris & Associates
- Located in downtown San Diego
- 9:00-1:00 pm
- 2 students
- Kimley Horn
- Located in downtown San Diego
- 8:30-1:00 pm
- 30 students
- San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Located by Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley East
- 10:00-3:30 pm
- 6 students
- Masimo
- Located in Irvine, will utilize charter bus from SDSU KPBS building*
- ~8:00-~5:15 pm*
- 12 students
- Ardurra
- Located in Poway
- 9:00-2:00 pm
- 5 students
- Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific
- Located in Point Loma
- U.S. citizenship required (but cannot be a dual citizen)
- 8:00-12:00 pm
- Meals not provided
- 20 students
Location
- Northrop Grumman Mission Systems
- Located in Kearny Mesa
- U.S. citizenship required
- Government photo I.D., proof of U.S. citizenship required
- 9:30-2:00 pm
- 8 students
- Qualcomm
- Located in Sorrento Valley
- 9:45-2:00 pm
- 8 students
- Sanford Burnham Prebys
- Located in Torrey Pines
- Photo I.D. required
- 10:00-3:00/5:00 pm
- 20 students
- City of San Diego Engineering & Capital Projects
- Located in downtown San Diego (tentative)
- 9:00/10:00 - 3:00-5:00 pm
- Meals may not be provided
- 12 students
- Collins Aerospace
- Located in Chula Vista
- Government issued photo I.D. required
- 8:30-2:00 pm
- 4 students
- HDR
- Located by Fashion Valley mall
- 9:00-2:00 pm
- 8 students
Information for industry
Student eligibility: Students recruited to participate include the San Diego MESA Alliance campuses of: San Diego City College, Southwestern College, San Diego State University, and various middle and high schools in the San Diego and Imperial Valley regions.
Students that register will be matched by the MESA STEM Shadow Day Coordinator based on major/interests, meeting company eligibility requirements, and carpool logistics.
Requested information: The registration form will cover hosting questions, desired student demographics, any eligibility restrictions, documentation requirements, and other logistics. Please note some personal information is protected by the FERPA Act and cannot be disclosed by the STEM Shadow Day Coordinator unless needed for security clearance.
Liability agreements: Students are provided with insurance coverage by their respective campuses or school districts. College students are required to sign a liability release, which covers their respective schools and MESA programs. High school students under the age of 18 have their parents sign permission slips authorizing their school to release students for participation in STEM Shadow Day. The registration form will cover teacher or staff chaperone inquiries. Industry hosts may require liability releases to be signed as well. It is preferred to have students sign industry host release forms prior to STEM Shadow Day, but understand that in some cases, must be signed at the industry host location during the morning check-in of STEM Shadow Day.
Industry documents
- Sample form: Media release form
- Sample form: Liability waiver form
- STEM Shadow Day Industry Recruitment Flyer: (.PDF) (.PNG)