Norman Mineta High School Summer Academy | Metropolitan Transportation Commission Tuesday, March 24, 2026 Update Norman Mineta High School Summer Academy The Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy is a paid program that introduces Bay Area high school students to public sector career pathways through exposure to regional policy issues such as transportation planning, housing, environmental justice and air quality management through interactive sessions with partner agencies. Remote video URL 2026 Norman Mineta High School Summer Academy Applications for the 2026 Summer Academy are now open. Applications are due by Monday, April 27, 2026 at 10 p.m. Apply now. Named for Bay Area transportation giant Norman Y. Mineta , the Bay Area Summer Academy offers high school students a paid learning opportunity from four of the Bay Area’s regional government agencies: the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and the Bay Area Air District (Air District). High school students attend weekly, expert-led online seminars and learn how regional agencies deal with issues like environmental justice, housing and transportation equity, community health and social justice. Interactive sessions allow students to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of how public agencies work to improve people’s lives.MTC, ABAG, BCDC and the Air District address key issues, and how the public – including students – can help advance equity across the Bay Area. Students learn: What regional agencies do, and the skills needed for a future career in the public sector. How to weigh in on decisions that impact the air we breathe, the neighborhoods we live in, how we get to work and school, spaces for exercise, and other factors that shape the health of our communities. How to have a voice in making decisions that benefit their communities. How to answer questions like: How long is a bridge supposed to last? Why are there so many potholes? Why does housing cost so much? Is the sea level really rising in the Bay Area? In the program, students attend online sessions, complete quizzes, and at the end of the program, make a brief presentation on a local challenge involving transportation, housing, environmental justice and/or related topics. Students who complete the entire Bay Area Summer Academy program are given a stipend and a completion certificate to include in college, vocational and/or job applications. 2026 Program Applications Now Open Applications are due by Monday, April 27, 2026 at 10 p.m. Apply now. Program Schedule Sessions will take place virtually on Thursdays in July, with the first session on July 2, 2026. There will be an optional final session in person at the Bay Area Metro Center in San Francisco on Friday, July 31. Participants will be able to share their capstone presentations and connect with members of the cohort. Past Capstone Videos See capstone project videos from some of the 2024 program participants: Om Rajan: Baylands Airport Expansion Maanya and Mahati Sreegiriraju: Bay Area Morning News Show Applicant Qualifications Must live in the Bay Area and attend a local high school. Must be at least 15 years old and have completed the ninth grade by the beginning of the Academy. Must be able to attend online seminars and present on a topic related to the seminars. Must have the permission of a parent or guardian to participate, if the student is under 18 years old. Student participants come from across the Bay Area, with a focus on young people who might not otherwise consider a public sector career. Students of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Grade point averages are not considered. Participating Agencies Participating agencies include the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Bay Area Air District and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Staff Contact Email: Academy@BayAreaMetro.Gov About Norman Mineta Norman Mineta dedicated his life to public service: as San Jose City Council member and mayor, representing the South Bay in Congress, and serving as the Secretary of Transportation. Throughout his accomplished life, he cared deeply about creating educational and career avenues for the next generation of public servants. MTC is proud to name the Bay Area Summer Academy after Secretary Mineta, honoring his memory by inspiring youth to become public servants. Equal Opportunity Employer The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is an equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory employer. MTC provides all employees and applicants with an equal opportunity in every aspect of the employment experience regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical handicap, medical condition or marital status. Related News March 24, 2026 High School Students: Apply Today for the Bay Area Summer Academy 2026 August 12, 2025 It's a Wrap: Fifth Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy Finishes with a Flourish March 17, 2025 High School Students: Apply Today for the Bay Area Summer Academy September 3, 2024 2024 Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy Achieves Record Numbers Related Gallery 2025 Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy High school students from the 2025 cohort of the Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy came together at the Bay Area Metro Center for a capstone presentation event on August 1, 2025. 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