IN THIS EDITION
COVER STORY
TRAGEDY AT HOME, TRANSFORMATION AT CAL POLY
Maurice McClure Discovers Himself On the Field and In the Classroom
FEATURES
EDITOR’S NOTE
Reaching New Heights
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Alumnus Steven Beeks Leads Lionsgate Into the Future
A RETURN ON THEIR COMMITMENT
Accounting Students Excel on a Professional-Level Exam
FILLING A FIRE PROTECTION VOID
New Master’s Program Makes a Mark in Industry
HOMECOMING 2011
A King and Queen are Crowned
A LASTING IMPRESSION – HONORED ALUMNI
Notable Grads Found Their Way at Cal Poly
ALUMNI Q&A – JIM BURNS
Engineering Grad Hits the Ground Running at Lockheed Martin
LEARN BY DOING IN HER DNA
Biochemistry Grad Marie Samples Solves Crimes in New York City
40 YEARS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Cal Poly Department Celebrates Decades of Hands-On Learning
PHILANTHROPY – A COLLABORATION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences’ Learn by Doing Endowment
AROUND CAMPUS
Images of Cal Poly – Fall 2011
ALUMNI IN THE NEWS
iCracked Founder A.J. Forsythe appears in Forbes magazine; a Microbiology and Agriculture grad is teacher of the year; a Computer Science alumnus creates the “Ultimate Phone Accessory”; and more.
UNIVERSITY NEWS
Cal Poly ranks highly once again in US News; President Jeffrey D. Armstrong names a new provost and new vice president for Advancement; the Mustang Daily changes formats; and more.
