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Coming for Open House?
Connect with Cal Poly Alumni
Open House 2007 is set for Thursday-Sunday, April 19-22 on campus. The weekend starts with club preview night at San Luis Obispo's Farmers Market April 19. Thousands of students and their families will visit campus on Admitted Students Preview Day April 20. Students, parents and the community are invited to campus April 21 for Open House -- starting with the Poly Royal Parade through campus at 9 a.m. The day features club displays, food, entertainment, a children's fair, the Design Village architecture and construction competition in Poly Canyon, the Cal Poly Rodeo -- and of course the tractor pull -- and more. Don't forget to stop by the Cal Poly Alumni Association "Welcome Back" booth on Dexter Lawn while you're on campus Saturday. And check in with Art Professor Emeritus Robert Reynolds, signing copies of his latest book at El Corral both days from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
More Open House Links & Information | Details on Reynolds book & signing
With New Lab, Rose Float is Headed for Poly Royal Parade
The Cal Poly Rose Float has a brand new lab -- and is headed for the Poly Royal Parade. The lab was built specifically to house the rose float with separate bays for machining, hydraulics, electronics, decorations, raw steel supplies, and an office for the club. With the completion of the new lab, the 2007 Rose Float team is ready to gear down and prepare the float for another kind of parade: the Poly Royal Parade. Instead of featuring white roses for snow and coconut for polar bear fur as it did in Pasadena, at Open House the float will feature its raw, solid backbone: steel. And students with welding equipment, blow torches, and power drills.
More on the new lab & Poly Royal Parade float -- and a slideshow from the 2007 parade
University News
Architecture and Environmental Design
Comes Out On Top Again
Cal Poly’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design received two top rankings in the 2007 DesignIntelligence survey of the nation’s best architecture and design schools. In its annual poll of western architecture and design professionals, Cal Poly's undergraduate architecture and landscape architecture programs were chosen as “Best in Nation” for 2007. It's the fifth year in a row Cal Poly has earned a top ranking in the polls.
More
New Look, Features
for Engineering, Athletics Web Sites
If you haven't surfed the Cal Poly Web site lately, now might be a good time. Cal Poly Athletics has a new look sure to satisfy sports fans, with more photos and links, an athlete of the week feature, online ticket purchase links, and more. Check it out at http://www.gopoly.com. The Cal Poly College of Engineering Web site also has a new look, with more photos, college information and updates on CENG students and alumni. Visit the new Engineering Web site at http://ceng.calpoly.edu/.
More
Organic Farm Weekly Veggie Subscription Program is Blossoming
The Cal Poly Organic Farm is once again making it easy for Central Coast residents to eat their vegetables. The farm's spring and summer Community Supported Agriculture Program is now in its eighth season, and has grown from 25 to 300 subscribers. The 24-week season begins April 1 and closes Sept. 14. Each week, CSA subscribers receive a mouth-watering selection of farm-fresh organic produce. Students and staff at the Cal Poly Organic Farm harvest its vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers Monday and Thursday mornings and box the seasonal produce. Subscribers pick up their boxes Monday or Thursday afternoons between 3 and 7 p.m. at the farm or one of the county-wide drop sites.
More on the Organic Farm Program| KSBY Video
Arbor Day is April 27 -- And Cal Poly's Got Big Trees Covered
Arbor Day is a national day of tree-planting and celebration of all things arboreal. The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. By 1884, the idea had spread to all 50 states, which now celebrate Arbor Day each spring on different days. In 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day. Wondering how to celebrate, looking for the latest information on trees or wanting to amaze friends with tree trivia? Cal Poly's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences can help.
Click here for tree trivia, links to the
Cal Poly Big Tree Gallery, and more
Food Science Labs to Step Up Freeze-Drying Research
Cal Poly's Food Science and Nutrition Department is partnering with a Danish firm to do research on state-of-the-art freeze drying. The department, part of Cal Poly's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, has just added a Niro Ray-1 vacuum freeze-dryer to its pilot plant and laboratory. Drying is the earliest form of food preservation, practiced as far back as the time of the pharaohs, explained Professor Hany Khalil. Now, food is frozen then dried under vacuum in a freeze dryer. The frozen water in the food evaporates through a process known as sublimation. The equipment can be used to process fruits, vegetables and meat products. "The result is dehydrated food with the same color, taste and shape of the fresh food, not to mention a long shelf life," Khalil explained.
More on expanded freeze-drying research at Cal Poly
Today's Students
WVit Students Putting On Annual Cal Poly Wine Festival April 28
Tickets are now available for the fifth annual Cal Poly Wine Festival, Saturday, April 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch just north of San Luis Obispo. The event is a benefit for the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture Program. More than 90 wineries from across California will be pouring some of their best wines at this year's event, with Central Coast restaurants and caterers providing appetizers, cheeses and desserts. The festival will feature live music throughout the day as well as a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture Program. Tickets are $50 for the public, $30 for Cal Poly students and staff. The event is for those age 21 and over.
More on the Cal Poly Wine Festiva
Construction Management Team
Places First at ASC Student Competition
For the second consecutive year a Cal Poly construction management team has won in a national category at the Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition. The team earned the national award in Marine Construction. This was the students’ first ASC Student Competition and first marine competition.
More on the Construction Management Team Win
Mustang Daily Wins Recognition in National Competition
Cal Poly’s student-run daily newspaper, the Mustang Daily, received an honorable mention at the 23rd Associated Collegiate Press National College Newspaper Convention held recently in Portland. The Mustang Daily earned the honor in the contest’s four-year daily category. UC Berkeley’s The Daily Californian took first place, the Oregon Daily Emerald from the University of Oregon won second, and UCLA’s The Daily Bruin took third. The Mustang Daily's winning trend began last year when the student newspaper earned four top awards at the 2006 California Collegiate Media Association competition.
More
Civil Engineering Students Design
LA Transportation of the Future
Cal Poly's Society of Civil Engineers (SCE) entered a winning design in the “City of the Future” challenge. The contest was co-sponsored by IBM and The History Channel in partnership with the American Society of Civil Engineers. The group designed a transportation system for the Los Angeles of 2106. As the winners of the contest, the SLOMobility team received a $5,000 award, and each member was given a brand new IBM Thinkpad. The team spent more than six weeks working on the project, the focal point of which was the versatile interconnecting Archway system.
More on the Civil Engineers' winning design
Faculty & Staff
Art Professor Signing Latest Book During Open House
Noted artist and retired Cal Poly art professor Robert Reynolds will sign copies of his new book, “Quiet Journey,” at the El Corral Bookstore during Open House. Reynolds will be signing books at El Corral Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reynolds and Journalism Professor Emeritus Jim Hayes collaborated for “The Art of Robert Reynolds: Quiet Journey,” a 176-page hardbound book released in November. “Quiet Journey” showcases 178 of Reynolds’ paintings of scenes from the Central Coast and California's Sierras, alongside written musings by Reynolds and Journalism Professor Emeritus "Jim" Hayes -- both masters in their fields.
Read more about the book & signing |
| Order A Copy of "Quiet Journey"
New Department Heads Named in CAFES, CAED
Cal Poly deans announced the appointments of three new department heads within the past few weeks. The College of Architecture and Environmental Design has named Allen C. Estes to head the Architectural Engineering Department. Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences has named Bruce L. Golden to head the Dairy Science Department, and John Peterson to head the Horticulture and Crop Science Department.
Read about the new department heads
Professors Cota, Cooper Receive Statewide Awards
Professors Harold Cota and Allan Cooper recently received statewide awards. Cota, an engineering professor emeritus, will be recognized in June with the Charles W. Gruber Association Leadership Award for outstanding service. Under his leadership, the Cal Poly Chapter of A&WMA has received the award for the category of Best Student Chapter for the past six years in a row. Cooper, a professor of architecture in Cal Poly's College of Architecture and Environmental Design, recently received the 2006 Octavius Morgan Distinguished Service Award. Each year, the California Architects Board presents the Morgan award to volunteers for their contribution to the profession and the people of California.
More about awards for Professors Cota & Cooper
Coming Up: Events & Entertainment
CS Forum to Focus on 'Building Information Modeling' April 10-11
Cal Poly's 10th annual Construction Sciences Forum will focus on “Building Information Modeling” and its integration in the construction industry. The forum, scheduled for April 10-11, is sponsored by the Construction Specifications Institute Club of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. All events are open to the public.
The keynote address, “How BIM Technology is Changing Design and Construction," is being presented by speaker Dennis Hall, an architect with Martinez and Cutri Architects in San Diego. He'll discuss the use of BIM as the primary design and production platform.
More on the construction forum
Music Department Pays Tribune to Mozart April 13 & 14
On Friday and Saturday, April 13 and April 14, the Music Department will present “Happy Birthday, Amadeus!” A Tribute to Mozart. Curtain times are 8 p.m. both evenings in the Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre. Music Department singers from Cal Poly’s Opera Workshop will perform “concert style” in elegant gowns and tuxedos. The evening includes Mozart’s arias, as well as scenes from some of his operas, including Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) and Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro). The production will be directed by Ross Halper of the San Francisco Opera and produced by Cal Poly Professor Jacalyn Kreitzer.
Tickets are $10 general, $6 seniors and students.
More on the Mozart Tribute
Open House All-State Band Festival is April 22 at the PAC
On Sunday, April 22, Cal Poly will host the All-State Festival Concert, featuring the Festival Wind Orchestra, String Orchestra, and Jazz Band. Some 180 of the state’s finest young musicians have been chosen by recorded audition to participate in the festival. Conducting the 85-member Festival Wind Orchestra will be guest composer/conductor Stephen Melillo. Melillo’s more than 925 works range from interactive video scores to three symphonies and more than 14 hours of music commissioned for wind and percussion ensembles. He studied conducting with Jens Nygaard and Atilio Poto, a student of Arturo Toscanini. Special guest soloist and conductor for the Festival Jazz Band will be saxophonist Mel Martin.
More on the All-State Band Festival
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