"It takes bravery to protest during a pandemic," a student said. After years of seeing social media posts about police killings of black people, many San Diego students say they are fed up.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the San Diego Community College District to transition to online and distance learning, Mesa College journalism student Lance Nelson saw an opportunity to make a difference. He sold virtually all his possessions and flew to New York — the epicenter of the nation’s coronavirus outbreak — where he has been volunteering since April 1 with food banks and pantries that feed struggling residents.

The Mesa College Fashion Department’s students, alumni, and faculty have teamed up to address the issue of mask shortages in the healthcare industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are mobilizing sewists and manning their machines, with some putting their own businesses and operations on pause to support the needs of hospital workers and their patients. Together, they have already managed to sew and distribute hundreds of masks throughout the community.

Troy Cristobal is the winner of this year’s 2020 Mesa Scholarship President’s Award, given annually to a deserving Mesa College student who demonstrates leadership and academic excellence in their undergraduate career. Troy is a worthy recipient on both counts, having served as team captain for Mesa’s track and field team since the spring of 2019, and set to graduate this May as an Engineering major with a cumulative 4.0 GPA.

San Diego, CA. — San Diego Mesa College has posted a SNEEK PEEK of their Summer 2020 class schedule, at www.sdmesa.edu/summer. Students can view the schedule now, so that they can begin planning their classes for this summer. All classes are offered in the conveniently online format so that students can have maximum flexibility in getting courses they need. Priority registration begins in May.

San Diego, CA. — Today, San Diego Mesa College announced that Hanan Dirirsa is one of 50 recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive national scholarship will provide Ms. Dirisa with up to $40,000 a year to complete her bachelor’s degree. Hanan is a human biology major with a 4.0 grade point average who serves as a senator with Mesa College’s Associated Students and is the student representative on the Mesa College Foundation’s Board of Directors.

San Diego, CA. —As of Monday April 20, San Diego Mesa College has begun the process of distributing over $200,000 worth of emergency aid, scholarships and meal vouchers to Mesa students

San Diego, CA. - Today, San Diego Mesa College announced the official launch of the Mesa College COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Students. The goal of this fund is to provide emergency assistance to students whose lives and educational goals have been disrupted by the catastrophic impact of the Coronavirus crisis. Funds will be used to assist students in need and decrease their risk of dropping out of classes or college.