Recent News
Cal Poly Student Receives U.S. Department of Transportation Student of the Year Award
Feb 16, 2023
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly graduate student Peyton Ratto was honored with the Student of the Year award by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Santa Clarita, California, resident was among 34 students nationwide to receive the title.
The award was presented in January by U.S. DOT’s University Transportation Centers Program (which awards grants to universities across the nation as it advances transportation research and technology and develops the next generation of transportation professionals) and the Council of University Transportation Centers. The council promotes university research, education, workforce development and technology transfer as essential to the nation’s transportation system.
Each Outstanding Student of the Year honoree is selected based on accomplishments such as technical merit and research, academic performance, professionalism and leadership.
Poly Royal Rodeo to be Held April 14-15 During Cal Poly’s Open House
Feb 14, 2023
Tickets Go on Sale Wednesday, Feb. 15
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Tickets will be available starting Feb. 15 for the 81st annual Poly Royal Rodeo, which will be held at the Cotton Rosser Rodeo Complex on campus during Cal Poly’s Open House, with three full nights of action-packed performances.
The two-night general admission events will begin Friday, April 14, with the Annual Poly Royal Rodeo Performance and conclude Saturday, April 15, with the Poly Royal Rodeo Finals. Both events start at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a concert. In addition, a Cal Poly Rodeo Showcase and concert will be held for students only at a reduced cost on Wednesday, April 12.
The Poly Royal Rodeo is the marquee event on campus during Cal Poly’s annual Open House. The event will feature the top collegiate rodeo athletes from around the West Coast who have advanced to the championship performance from the weekend’s earlier rounds. Athletes will compete for a championship title in events such as barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, tie down roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding and steer wrestling.
Cal Poly Accepting Applications for 2023-24 #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Program
Feb 14, 2023
Applications accepted through March 17 for statewide service-learning initiative
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program is accepting priority applications now through March 17 from Cal Poly students interested in joining its 2023-24 cohort.
Created by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps provides more than 6,000 college students throughout the state with service-learning opportunities to address statewide challenges in climate action, K-12 education and food insecurity. The program also provides participating students with up to $10,000, which includes monthly stipends and an award to be used for educational purposes at the conclusion of their service.
Among other efforts, Cal Poly’s College Corps fellows contributed to local storm cleanup efforts in January, assisting residents in need in Los Osos and organizations in San Luis Obispo.
Cal Poly’s Student-Run Hackathon Builds Interdisciplinary Solutions to Local Challenges
Feb 13, 2023
SAN LUIS OBISPO — A team of Cal Poly interdisciplinary students recently won the top prize at Camp PolyHacks for their anonymous blog space, dubbed Lumi, designed to help marginalized groups build community.
During the two-day hackathon Jan. 22-23, 70 Cal Poly students worked in groups to develop a solution to an issue impacting San Luis Obispo. Each of the 13 teams was assigned one of four categories, including inclusive digital spaces, transportation innovation, small business success and groundwater sustainability. Teams could develop solutions in the form of a product, service, information or marketing campaign, policy proposal or a demonstration or prototype of a mobile application.
The Stardust Team won $1,000 for Best Overall Solution. The team also won in the Most Impactful Solution for Inclusive Digital Spaces and Best Logo categories.
Cal Poly Choirs to Present ‘Heaven and Hell’ Concert in Mission San Luis Obispo on March 11
Feb 8, 2023
Concert to Feature the Requiem Masses of Mozart and Howells
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Two Cal Poly Choirs — PolyPhonics and Chamber Choir — will present a concert titled “Heaven and Hell” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11, in Mission San Luis Obispo.
The concert will feature two major works from both old and new traditions. PolyPhonics will perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous Requiem in D Minor, K 626, from 1791; and the Chamber Choir will perform Herbert Howells’ “Requiem,” which was composed in the 1930s.
“Mozart’s requiem mass is one of the most famous pieces in history, as he tragically died before completing it,” said Scott Glysson, Cal Poly’s director of choral activities.
Cal Poly Wind Bands ‘Bandemonium' Concert on March 5 to Feature Cuesta College Wind Ensemble
Feb 8, 2023
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Wind Bands Winter Concert will feature the Cuesta College Wind Ensemble at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 5, in Miossi Hall of the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center.
The concert, titled “Bandemonium,” will be presented by Cal Poly’s Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and is the second in the Cal Poly bands’ season series.
“Cal Poly welcomes the Cuesta College Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jennifer Martin,” Cal Poly Director of Bands Christopher J. Woodruff said. “Our colleagues at Cuesta College are doing amazing things musically, and we are excited to bring all our students together onto one stage.”
The three bands will perform favorite standards of the genre as well as new works for wind bands. The program will include Gustav Holst’s “Moorside Suite,” John Williams’ “Evening at Pops” and James Barnes’ “Yama Midori.” Russell Peck’s “Cave” will be presented in a staging choreographed by students of the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble.
Cal Poly Campus Dining to Host ‘Delight-Ful’ Event on Feb. 15 to Promote Random Acts of Kindness
Feb 8, 2023
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly Campus Dining will be one of 300 college campuses across the nation to participate in Delight-Ful, an event on Wednesday, Feb. 15, intended to recognize and celebrate goodwill on campus.
Delight-Ful is a lunch-time celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. that will feature activities, including a free tasting of Louisiana-style fare, courtesy of former New England Patriots defensive lineman and two-time Super Bowl champion Chef Jarvis Greene.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chef Jarvis Greene to Cal Poly, and we couldn’t think of a more fitting event for him to be at,” said Campus Dining Director Jess Dozier. “Cal Poly will love his Louisiana-style cuisine along with his upbeat and kind personality.”
Super Bowl Ads Will Contribute to Growing U.S. Obesity Problem, Says Business Professor at Cal Poly
Feb 6, 2023
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — While television audiences eagerly await the funny, creative and memorable commercials set to air during Sunday’s Super Bowl, those ads are also likely to exacerbate the worsening obesity epidemic, said a Cal Poly business professor.
“There are plenty of experimental studies showing these ads are affecting people and actually causing people to consume more unhealthy food,” said Brennan Davis, a marketing professor at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business who has researched the impact of marketing on obesity. “And we know that eating unhealthy food leads to higher rates of overweight and obesity.”
Cal Poly Tax Clinics Offer Tax Tips to Help Maximize Your Return and Avoid Trouble
Feb 1, 2023
Lower income individuals actually are more likely to get audited, one expert warns
Editor’s note: Experts from the Cal Poly Volunteer Tax Assistance Program and Low Income Tax Clinic are available to speak to media about these tax tips and more.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Charitable donations and contributions to your 401(k) can help you at tax time. However, to avoid an unwelcome letter from the IRS, you might want to do a little research before you write off that home office.
As W2 forms arrive, this is a good time to think about ways to maximize your tax refund or minimize your burden. With that in mind, staff from Cal Poly’s two tax clinics offer their Top Ten Tax Tips:
Cal Poly Students Honored by Lawmakers at State Capitol Today, Jan. 30
Jan 30, 2023
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Nineteen Cal Poly students will be recognized for their awards, hard work and other accomplishments by state lawmakers on the floors of the state Assembly and Senate in Sacramento today (Monday, Jan. 30).
“These young adults have distinguished themselves in so many ways during their time at Cal Poly,” said university President Jeffrey D. Armstrong, who accompanied the group to Sacramento. “They truly are representatives of our campus’s Learn by Doing ethos and individuals who are an inspiration to students in middle and high schools who seek to achieve a hands-on education.
“It’s a pleasure to share their accomplishments with California’s elected officials, who will get a chance to see for themselves the quality, enthusiasm and energy of what our faculty, staff and I know will be tomorrow’s industry innovators and community leaders.”
The group will be introduced Monday afternoon to the Senate by Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, and to the Assembly by Assemblymember Dawn Addis of Morro Bay, who is the first female Democrat ever to hold this seat. Both officials represent San Luis Obispo County.