Second-year student Zora Williams is using her voice to bring more mental health and nutrition programming to San Diego Mesa College. Williams was elected president of the college’s Associated Students (AS) for the 2024-2025 academic year and serves as the college’s student representative on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.
Sometimes, you hear a story that makes you want to know more. Kevin Gonzalez has such a story. The last time this story was updated, San Diego Mesa College student Kevin Gonzalez was a 15 year-old heading off to Massachusetts to complete his high school education. In the ensuing years, he has travelled to the other side of the world, built houses, but remained in close contact with his Mesa College professors and connections he made while on campus.
The San Diego Community College District has appointed four new student trustees for the upcoming academic year. Dalia Ramirez (San Diego City College), Zora Williams (San Diego Mesa College), Hailey Hua (San Diego Miramar College), and Haydee Zuniga (San Diego College of Continuing Education), will be sworn in during the June 20 SDCCD Board of Trustees meeting.
April 19, 2023
San Diego Mesa College student, Renee Smaldino, competed in the International Interior Design Association Southern California Chapter Student Design Charrette on March 11 at the HLW International Office in Santa Monica. Renee was nominated by Mesa College for a chance to win cash awards and move on to the Regional Student Charrette Competition in Arizona.
Renee was placed into a team with three other students from different colleges, making her the only Mesa College student. The team placed first, moved on to the Regional Competition, won first place, and was awarded $10,000 dollars. The team will be honored on May 12 at the Calibre Design Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
According to IIDA SoCal (iida-socal.org), “Twenty-eight students were divided randomly into 6 teams and challenged to design a new Headquarters for the Mental Health America of Los Angeles in an existing adaptive reuse building – The Dairy – in South LA. They were asked to fulfill a long list of intricate program requirements that considered structural constraints and the connection to the surrounding community. Designs should also consider the culture and mission of the MHALA.”
The teams had to organize and depict a design for an adhesive concept in just 4.5 hours. A third way through the challenge, a twist was added to make the competition more intense. They included a former undisclosed component into their design.
Read more at IIDA SoCal (iida-socal.org).
Renee reflects on the concept that her and her team came up with that resulted in them winning the competition:
“My group and I focused heavily on keeping consistency on the design and concept. Our concept statement was rooted in inclusivity, fluidity and diversity. We wanted our design to reflect the community while also offering solace to those who were entering the building to utilize the mental health services. We were inspired by the local landscape of Los Angeles, specifically the Los Angeles River, with all of its fauna and flora and its unique ability to be in constant flux. We developed a reflected ceiling plan that highlighted the winding curves of the river and our material selection encompassed all native plants such as Blue Yarrow and Sage and highlighted local sculpture artists. We added a seed bank at the front desk so that anyone seeking mental health can take a native plant home and tend to it. We believe that our existence is ultimately rooted in taking care of ourselves and others which was integral to our design approach because we did not want the integration of care to end when the patient left their therapy session.”
About the Mesa College Interior Design Program
The Interior Design program at Mesa College offers a comprehensive curriculum to prepare you for your Interior Design Certification and career in interior design. With an introduction to space planning, elements and principles of design, and the history of interior design and architecture, you will learn how to create unique design solutions that foster productivity and wellness. From custom millwork and lighting design to residential and commercial interiors, you will learn to apply critical analysis, knowledge of building codes and standards, color theory and material, and finish selection to a broad range of projects. Design courses emphasize hand-drawing, hand-drafting, and model-making, and utilize industry-standard software, including computer aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling, which will help you effectively communicate your design solutions to clients.
To enroll, visit:www.sdmesa.edu/enroll
Read more at https://www.sdmesa.edu/academics/v2/programs/interior-design/
Tags: In The News
Jennifer Nichols Kearns
Director of Communications
jnkearns@sdccd.edu
(619) 388-2759
Five students at San Diego City, San Diego Mesa and San Diego Miramar colleges have been named as semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship that provides a tuition-free pathway to a four-year degree at a college or university of their choice.
San Diego Mesa College student, Renee Smaldino, competed in the International Interior Design Association Southern California Chapter Student Design Charrette on March 11 at the HLW International Office in Santa Monica. Renee was nominated by Mesa College for a chance to win cash awards and move on to the Regional Student Charrette Competition in Arizona.
San Mateo, CA – On April 12, 2023, a Project entitled Benefits and Opportunities: California’s Community College Baccalaureate Programs, led by Hai Hoang, Acting Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at San Diego Mesa College, was awarded as a 2023 Honorable Mention Project.
