FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2015
Danielle McNamara
(510) 987-0230
Press Release
Shehnaz Karu, a teacher at El Sereno Middle School in Los Angeles received the Middle School Advisor of the Year Award from a statewide math and science program.
Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) honored Karu for her outstanding work in assisting educationally disadvantaged students to excel in math and science.
Karu was selected from among MESA teachers representing more than 140 middle schools in California. She’s been a MESA advisor for 10 years.
The MESA program at El Sereno is coordinated by the MESA Schools Program at California State University Los Angeles to support educationally disadvantaged students prepare for college in math-based majors. El Sereno is in the Los Angeles Unified Schools District; eighty-two percent of El Sereno students received free or reduced lunch.
“Mrs. Karu exemplifies a teacher that has a passion and zeal for MESA and her students to not only succeed and win medals but most importantly to learn in the process,” said CSULA MESA director Thelma Federico.
MESA is one of the largest programs in California to support educationally disadvantaged students so they can graduate from college with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees. MESA provides academic support and enrichment to more than 18,000 K-12 students and more than 7,800 community college and 4-year college students each year. Most MESA students are economically disadvantaged, the first in their families to attend college and attend underperforming schools.
For more information about Karu contact CSULA MESA Director Thelma Federico at TFederico@cslanet.calstatela.edu . For more information about MESA, visit mesa.ucop.edu or on Twitter @MESASTEM.