Cal Poly Update - May 2010
Alumni News
See the Open House Photos
Open House 2010 - See the Photos
Thousands of students, families, friends, alumni and Central Coast residents enjoyed Cal Poly's annual Open House under sunny skies April 17. The event marked the 70th Annual Poly Royal Rodeo, and included the annual Design Village competition for architecture students from across the state and the "RoboRodentia" robot wars. More than 200 student clubs participated.
Click here to view photos from Open House 2010
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Alumni in the News: May 2010
It was a big month for Cal Poly Crop Science alum Abel Maldonado, who went from state senator to lieutenant governor of California - and then made an appearance on "The Colbert Report" TV show. Alumna Karen Kraft Rigsby, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, was inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame. Find out who else was in the news this month -- and if you know any of them.
More on Alumni in the News
Save the Date for Fresno State Tailgate Oct. 2
Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 2 if you're a football fan. That's when Cal Poly will take on Fresno State at Fresno. The Cal Poly Alumni Association and Cal Poly Athletics are teaming up for a 3 p.m. tailgate before the 7 p.m. football game, and turn out to cheer on the Mustangs against rival Fresno Bulldogs. Central Coast fans who don't want to drive can sign up for bus transportation from San Luis Obispo (first come, first serve -- seating will be limited). For those who'd rather watch Mustang Football in Spanos Stadium, Homecoming 2010 is set for Saturday, Oct. 30. Enjoy the game, tri-tip barbecue and annual CPAA Wine Tasting on the O'Neill Green beforehand. For details as they become available, visit www.alumni.calpoly.edu or www.gopoly.com or watch Cal Poly Update.
Alumni Events: Golf, Wine and More
Cal Poly Alumni Association chapters are hosting events across California this month. Join Modesto area alumni for their annual Robert J. Cardoza Golf Tournament at Stevinson Golf Course May 21. The North Bay Alumni Chapter is holding a wine tour, reserve tasting and lunch under the redwoods at Simi Winery in Healdsburg. May 22. The Graphic Communications Chapter is holding the 23rd Annual GrC/Jason Gore Golf Tournament at Hunter Ranch in Paso Robles the same day - May 22. On June 26, join alumni at the annual Nor Cal Golf Tournament held at Roddy Ranch in Antioch.
Register and get details on the Alumni Events Calendar at www.calpolylink.com/alumnievents.
PolyLink Photo of the Month: Venice Street Scene
Biochemistry Alumna Kate (Schaeffer) Feist is the May Photo of the Month winner for her shot of a street musician and a little fan in Venice. Feist took the photo in 2007, while living in Europe with her husband (Engineering Technology alum Bob Feist) and four children. The family lived in Dresden, Germany from 2004 – 2007, where she was the site manager of a semiconductor equipment company. The Feists are now in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Kate Feist is an engineering technologist with a semiconductor firm.
Kate Feist is just one of the 14,300 Cal Poly alumni in PolyLink, the university’s free, private, secure online community. Alumni can log in to see more of her photos in PolyLink (www.calpolylink.com). Everyone can visit the PolyLink Photo of the Month gallery any time to see more winners (no login needed) at http://www.calpolylink.com/photogalleries.
University News
New Center for Science and Mathematics On Its Way
Cal Poly hosted a ceremonial ground-breaking May 1 for a new $132 million state-of-the-art building for science instruction. The six-story building will replace the north half of the old science and mathematics building, known to generations of students as "The Spider Building" because of its layout. Formal construction of the nearly 200,000-square foot science center is scheduled to begin later this year. The building should be ready for students in the fall of 2013. The building is being funded by $113 million in state bonds and more than $19 million in private support raised by the Cal Poly Foundation Board.
Details on the new Center for Science and Mathematics
See video from the groundbreaking
Spring Graduation Ceremonies Set for June 12
More than 3,800 students are set to graduate in June. Cal Poly will return to holding all commencement ceremonies on the same day: Saturday, June 12. Ceremonies are set for 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., both in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The Cal Poly Alumni Association website is offering "Grad Packs" as gifts for new grads. Grad Packs include a one-year Alumni Association membership, benefits packet and more -- all for the special rate of $20.10.
Details on June 2010 commencement ceremonies
PolyHouse Project Aids Disabled 9-Year-Old
Cal Poly students are renovating a Nipomo home to help a family with a disabled child. This year, the PolyHouse team will renovate the Nipomo home of Simon and Ruby Todd. The couple’s 9-year-old son, Caleb, has achondroplasia dwarfism and hydrocephalus. Caleb has endured more than 13 brain surgeries, and the medical bills are straining the family’s finances. Both of his parents were recently laid off from their regular jobs. For the past six years, Cal Poly’s industrial and manufacturing engineering project management class has completed a home renovation service project to help a local family struggling with issues related to disabilities.
More on the PolyHouse project
Cal Poly Engineering Equipment Would Aid Central Coast Search and Rescue
A team of researchers from the College of Engineering are leading an effort to bring the advanced technology of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) to Central Coast search and rescue teams. Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Lynne Slivovsky and Aeronautical Engineering Professor Rob McDonald have submitted a request for a state grant to develop two UAVs to assist the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team to find lost hikers and off-road vehicle users.
Read more on the College of Engineering Web | Read the SLO Tribune story
Now Playing on YouTube:
Why Industry Likes Cal Poly
Lockheed Martin is among the many firms that recruit at Cal Poly. Hear Lockheed senior fellow Ed Burnett discuss why in a short video on Cal Poly's YouTube Channel.
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See more videos online anytime at www.YouTube.com/calpoly
Today's Students
Student Research on Fish, LEDs, Branding and Online Games Take Top CSU Awards
Cal Poly had four student winners among its 10 entries at the 24th Annual California State University Student Research Competition. The three first-prize winners and one second-prize winner were among some 205 students from 21 campuses who took part in this year’s competition in San Jose earlier this month. The winning student research project topics looked at environmental contamination affecting fish; an identity, branding and marketing launch for a Colorado company; increasing energy efficiency in LED lights; and gender discrimination in online role playing game communities.
Details on the student research awards
Society of Civil Engineers Wins National Award for Most Outstanding Chapter
For the second year in a row, the American Society of Civil Engineers named Cal Poly the winner of the prestigious ASCE Robert Ridgway Award. It's given to the most outstanding chapter out of the 280 student groups across the country. Winning two years in a row is a rare feat. Other ASCE national awards earned by the Cal Poly chapter this year include individual student leadership awards, outstanding faculty adviser award and recognition for community service.
More on the Cal Poly SCE awards
Cal Poly Women’s Water Polo Team Captures
Third Straight National Championship
Cal Poly’s Women’s Water Polo Team defeated the University of Michigan on April 25 capture a third consecutive National Collegiate Club Championship. Cal Poly entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and defeated Michigan, the No. 4, by a 6-5 final score.
More on the Women's Water Polo championship
Student Captures National Triathlon Title in Texas
Cal Poly student Chris Stehula captured his first national title at USA Triathlon’s Collegiate National Championship on April 17 in Lubbock, Texas. In addition, Cal Poly’s Men’s team placed third overall in the competition, behind the University of Colorado and the U.S. Military Academy. And Cal Poly’s combined men’s-women’s team placed fourth overall.
More on Stehula's victory
Sororities Receive Awards at Leadership and Values Conference
The nine sororities in Cal Poly’s Panhellenic Association received four awards at the National Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values recently. The conference brings fraternity and sorority boards from across the nation together to stimulate growth and foster leadership skills among members of the Greek community.
More about the award
Faculty & Staff
Longtime Professors Mark, Johnson, Jaster Are Among Those Retiring in June
Bill Johnson, the early days
After 38 years, Professor Walter (Wally) Mark will retire from his current position as a faculty member in the Natural Resources Management Department. In addition to teaching, Mark spent 25 years in several administrative positions including academic program planner and director of institutional research; associate dean, College of Agriculture Food and Environmental Science; and Dairy Science department head.
And Dairy Science Professor Edwin (Dr. J) Jaster is retiring after 18 years. In addition to teaching, Jaster has served as Dairy Science Department Head, Los Lecheros Dairy Club Advisor and the ADSA Dairy Quiz Bowl Coach. Music Professor William "Bill" (J) Johnson is retiring after 43 years. The current coordinator of instrumental music, he also conducts the university Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensembles. He'll conduct his final Cal Poly concert as a professor June 5.
The Music Department is looking for alumni and student comments for a Memory Book for Johnson - click here to submit yours. And after 26 years at Cal Poly, Peter Wilt is retiring from his position as the Spanos Theatre Manager/Cal Poly Arts Program Manager.
Coming Up
Theatre & Dance Department Presents 'Marisol' in May
The Cal Poly Theatre & Dance Department presents 'Marisol' May 13-15 and May 20-21 in the Spanos Theatre. Using dark comedy and fantastical events, Obie-Award winning Jose Rivera ("The Motorcycle Diaries") suggests the consequences of such critical issues as the credit crisis and environmental destruction within a rich story of humanity and compassion.
More on 'Marisol'
Student Ensembles Featured in Free 'All That Brass' Concert May 18
For the third year in a row, Roy Main’s Trombone Choir and Christopher Woodruff’s Brass Choir will team up for an evening of fabulous fanfares, flourishes and fantasies in the new Methodist Church in San Luis Obispo. Also performing will be two of Cal Poly’s Brass Quintets.
More on All That Brass
Cal Poly Early Music Ensemble Presents 'A Parisian Feast' May 21
Cal Poly’s 16-voice Early Music Ensemble will present “A Parisian Feast” on Friday, May 21, at 8 p.m. in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center. The concert will feature chansons of the 16th century. A chanson is the French cousin of the English and Italian madrigal.
More on 'A Parisian Feast'
DJ Logic to Perform with Cal Poly Jazz Bands on May 22
Turntablist DJ Logic, a veteran of performances with jazz luminaries such as Wayne Shorter and Medeski, Martin, and Wood, will scratch and sample with Cal Poly’s best jazz musicians in a concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 22, in the Performing Arts Center. DJ Logic will use a standard phonograph record on a turntable as a musical instrument while Cal Poly’s University Jazz Band No.1 performs a variety of innovative hip hop and funk compositions for big band.
More on DJ Logic and the Jazz Bands concert
Cal Poly Symphony and Choirs Join Forces May 29
On Saturday, May 29 the Cal Poly Symphony and the Cal Poly Choirs will join to present "An American Tapestry" at 8 p.m. in the Christopher Cohan Center. They will perform selections from a variety of musical styles from two of America's most beloved composers: Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, David Arrivée and Thomas Davies.
More on 'American Tapestry'
MultiMedia 'RSVP' Concerts are June 1 & 3
On
Tuesday, June 1, and Thursday, June 3, join Cal Poly's Music Department for "RSVP XV: Chiaroscuro" at 8 p.m. in the Pavilion of the Christopher Cohan Center. This marks the 15th season for the diverse transmedia series.
More on RSVP
Cal Poly Wind Bands' Spring Concert is June 5
On Saturday, June 5, the Cal Poly Wind Bands present their annual Spring Concert. This year's concert is a "Walt Disney Concert Hall Preview." The event features the Cal Poly Wind Orchestra & Wind Ensemble and starts at 8 p.m. in the Cohan Center
More on the Wind Ensemble's Spring Concert
Arab Music Ensemble Spring Concert is June 6
Hear the Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble's Spring Concert Sunday, June 6. Showtime is 7 p.m. in the Spanos Theatre. The ensemble will perform vocal and instrumental selections of some of the best-known art and popular music of the Eastern Mediterranean and larger Middle East. San Luis Obispo’s own Middle Eastern dancers will also perform.
More on the Arab Ensemble's Spring Concert