MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Teresa Hendrix
(805) 756-7266
thendrix@calpoly.edu
Media Tipsheet: Great Grad Profiles from Cal Poly’s Class of 2004
SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Cal Poly's Class of 2004 has 3,450 students (3,196
bachelor's candidates and 254 master's candidates), all outstanding. But
if you're looking for interesting grads to profile for a good feature
story, consider these:
Kevin Strong - Was called to duty twice in the Air National
Guard during
his studies at Cal Poly, putting his education on hold both times to
serve. In his senior year in liberal studies, he was called to active
duty after Sept. 11, 2001, and served for a year. He returned, earned
his bachelors' degree in 2002, and began working on his teaching
credential at the University Center for Teacher Education. In the middle
of 2003, he was called to duty with the Air National Guard again, and
served in Iraq for almost a year, crewing C-130 cargo planes. On his
return in 2004, he launched into his student teaching assignment. He
finished in June, and will be receiving his teaching credential. He's
originally from Montana.
Glenda Moscoso - Originally from Guatemala, she learned
English as a
second language in adult school after coming to the U.S. 13 years ago.
She went on to community college in Fullerton and transferred to Cal
Poly, earning a bachelor's degree in agribusiness. Married and the
mother of two girls, she returned to Cal Poly and will receive a
master's degree in counseling and guidance from the UCTE. She's the
first in her family to earn a master's, has been active in the local
Latino community throughout her studies, and wants to teach at the
college level and mentor Latino students.
Lydell Aaron - An African-American student in a major/career
field that
is predominately white, this computer engineering grad candidate spent
his early childhood in South Central Los Angeles and graduated from high
school in Inglewood. When he was 16, his father brought home the
family's first personal computer and put it in Aaron's bedroom -- the
only one with space to hold it. A self-taught computer user who started
out learning to make Web pages, Aaron knew he wanted a career in
computers -- and is now looking at job offers from Jet Propulsion
Laboratories and Northrop Grumman.
Sittada Chaloeicheep - A refugee from Thailand who emigrated
to Walnut
Creek with her father as a child, she worked her way through college at
multiple jobs with no financial aid, because her immigration status is
still being processed. Along the way, she also paid thousands of dollars
for surgery and hospitalizations for her mother, who still lives in
Thailand. Despite her difficulties and the fact that English is her
second language, she'll graduate with a bachelor's degree in political
science. She's been accepted into the master's degree program in
national security studies at Cal State San Bernardino.
Alisa Runstrom -- Deaf from birth, she's had sign language
interpreters
in all her Cal Poly classes, and at times used a service dog on campus
(he's retired now). She has also worked to increase awareness of deaf
issues while at Cal Poly by teaching sign language classes on campus and
in the local community. She'll be receiving a bachelor's degree in
animal science with minors in English and rangeland resources. Her
hometown is Irvine.
Nichole Noroian -- After being accepted as a transfer
student from
Hartnell College in 2000, Nichole was diagnosed with multiple brain
tumors and had to delay her transfer by a quarter. When she arrived at
Cal Poly, she was still dealing with the side effects of her treatment,
including difficulties with hearing, vision, mobility and speech. She
recovered and went on to join clubs, work part time, and complete
several internships. Her hometown is Salinas, and she has earned a
degree in agricultural science.
Danilu Ramierez -- She's graduating from Cal Poly after
only three
years, which included working part time and being active in clubs on
campus. During high school in Calexico, she took courses after school
at
the local community college and took 18-plus units every quarter at Cal
Poly. She'll receive a bachelor's degree in crop science and already has
several job offers she attributes in part to being bilingual. She's most
likely heading to Tulare to be a production agronomist in charge of
9,000 acres of cotton, alfalfa, tomatoes and onions for J.D. Boswell Co.
She continues a family tradition of three generations of farming in
California.
Colleen Jones -- Jones has volunteered her entire college
career with
Partners in Equestrian Therapy, a non-profit group that offers disabled
children and adults horseback riding sessions to improve balance,
coordination and confidence. After hearing about the organization, she
volunteered and wound up serving on its board of trustees. Jones, of
Gualala in Northern California, will receive a bachelor's degree in
kinesiology. She's currently working as a PET employee, serving as head
trainer, and is interested in teaching or working with disabled
students.
Robert Springer -- The Paso Robles auto parts salesman
didn't go to
college after he graduated from high school in 1975, but 20 years later
he decided he should have. He enrolled in Cuesta College and went to
night school, then transferred to Cal Poly. He graduated with honors
with a bachelor's degree in history in 2003, after juggling a full-time
job and full-time class load. Then he entered the UCTE teaching
credential program. He has earned his credential and wants to be a high
school teacher -- to encourage all his students to go on to college.
For more background information or to interview any of these great grads,
contact Media Relations Coordinator Teresa Hendrix at (805) 756-7266
or thendrix@calpoly.edu for
their phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
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