This past year MESA hosted a series of engaging and lively STEM Club Boba Socials held in the STEM Center (Building 7, Room 7303-7307). These monthly gatherings provided an excellent opportunity for students, club members, and faculty to connect and share their achievements, and foster a sense of community within the STEM community at Skyline College.
In February, the kickoff event set the stage by showcasing the impressive fall accomplishments of STEM clubs and unveiling their exciting plans for the future, allowing students the opportunity to explore a variety of clubs. March’s gathering prioritized networking opportunities, offering exciting updates about upcoming field trips and featuring a dedicated introduction to LinkedIn, along with the chance to capture professional profile photos. As April arrived, the focus shifted to guidance on transferring and updates to Student Education Plans (SEPs), empowering attendees with essential knowledge to navigate their academic journeys effectively.
In contrast to the previous MESA Boba Socials, which primarily centered around support for STEM students, May’s event embraced the spirit of celebrating the vibrant community. The event took place on May 12th, and was started off with an engaging Ask Me Anything session featuring esteemed professors Marco Wehrfritz, Denise Hum, Emilie Hein, and Susanne Schubert. Students enthusiastically posed a range of questions, delving into topics such as their experiences as students to debating the merits of Physics, Math, and Chemistry. The Q&A session was lively and demonstrated the attendees’ curiosity and enthusiasm. The friendly atmosphere within the room created a great environment for the next portion of the event: the Talent Show!
The event commenced with an energetic performance by Rick Hough, who sang a creatively adapted version of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” to raise awareness about the Climate Crisis. Following that, Matthew Dacanay, Leonardo Calle, Eric Linares, and Kaycee Aspacio mesmerized the audience with their rendition of Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.” The entertainment continued as Qimmah Tamu showcased a captivating jazz dance performance, emphasizing the importance of taking breaks from school work. Next up was Chenran Kang, who showcased his impressive cubing skills by solving a 3×3 cube in under a minute, accomplishing the remarkable feat blindfolded and underwater. Lastly, Matthew Dacanay and Sean Ruiz concluded the event on a high note with a karaoke performance of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” To conclude the event, MESA Directors Emilie Hein and Denise Hum brought attention to the Transfer Tree where students can put their name and the university they’re transferring to as a way to celebrate Skyline’s outgoing students.
From captivating performances to impressive feats, the last boba social of the Spring 2023 semester truly ended with a bang. As the academic year draws to a close, the MESA Boba Socials leave a lasting impact, serving as a testament to the thriving STEM community at Skyline College. Although this is the last boba social of the semester, there will be more to come in Fall 2023! Make sure to stay tuned by following MESA on Instagram @skyline_mesa!
Article by Sean Ruiz, Aaron Torres Mendoza, Denise Hum, Emilie Hein
