Spirit Week is taking over San Diego Mesa College campus this week, and as faculty, staff and students start to don their blue and gold, there are plenty of activities to celebrate with.

Festivities start off early in the week with the Spirit Week Office Decorating Contest, the goal of which is to feature the school’s Olympian pride and spirit to increase a sense of community for the students. This year, eight departments on campus will be competing to win an office pizza party, $50 Mesa Café gift card or a basket of office treats for first, second and third prize respectively. The contest will be judged on Wednesday, Oct. 12, with winners being announced Thursday during the pep rally.

Local high school students were welcomed to join students from San Diego Mesa College as part of the school’s SEEDS (STEM Engagement for Enrichment of Diverse Students) Scholars Program’s second annual Sustainability Summit on Sept. 30.

A total of 94 students attended the event – a combination of 49 students from Kearny High School, Mission Bay Senior High School and James Madison High School, with 45 students from Mesa College. Some Mesa students participated in the Sustainability Summit by facilitating various sessions throughout the day, the Mesa College Ambassadors gave campus tours for the high school students throughout the day and other students were attendees learning about sustainability.

San Diego Mesa College’s Debate Team won first place in the 2-year school division at their first tournament of the academic season on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 at the San Diego State University Aztec Invitational and Mills Invitational.

San Diego Mesa College’s women’s soccer team moved up to first place in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Junior College Division III on Oct. 4.

San Diego Mesa College students received information and advice about transferring to four-year colleges and universities during the Fall Transfer Fair on Oct. 4 at the Mesa Promenade.

Representatives from more than 78 colleges attended the event, handed out pamphlets and gave out advice about transferring to their colleges to the approximately 1,638 students who attended the event throughout the day.

San Diego Mesa College’s Vocal Ensemble traveled to Puebla, Mexico the week of August 19 to represent the school and the United States in the 17th Annual International Choir Ensemble Festival.

San Diego Mesa College was named National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) College of the Year for 2015 for its Interior Design Program.

Hispanic, first-generation and low-income college students at San Diego Mesa College will receive a big boost, thanks to a just-announced five-year, $5 million Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The award will be used over a five-year period to improve and increase Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) progress through a student, faculty, and pathways focus.