Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy

The Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy is a paid summer program run by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for Bay Area high school students curious about careers in public service. It is offered jointly with three other regional agencies: the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and the Bay Area Air District. Students join weekly online seminars led by experts and learn how regional agencies handle transportation, housing, air quality and environmental justice. Along the way they take short quizzes and build a final capstone presentation on a local challenge. The 2026 Academy met for two hours each Thursday in July, starting July 2, mostly over Zoom, and ended with an in-person capstone event on July 31 at the Bay Area Metro Center in San Francisco. Nearly 300 students took part in 2026. Students who finish the full program receive a stipend and a certificate of completion.

Students must live in the Bay Area, attend a local high school, be at least 15 years old, and have finished ninth grade by the start of the Academy. They must be able to attend the weekly online seminars and give a final capstone presentation. Students under 18 need permission from a parent or guardian. Grade point averages are not considered. Applications for 2026 closed on April 27, 2026.