Sept. 26, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Contact: Stacia Momburg
(805) 756-6260 smomburg@calpoly.edu |
Contact: Suzanne Wickham-Beaird Wickham-Beaird Public Relations (818) 832-1407 phone (818) 832-4041 fax swickhambeaird@aol.com |
Kinko's Founder, Cal Poly Supporter Paul Orfalea to Visit Campus Oct. 5
SAN LUIS OBISPO - Kinko's founder Paul Orfalea will make Cal Poly his official Central Coast stop on Oct. 5, promoting his new book, "Copy This! Lessons from a hyperactive who turned a bright idea into one of America 's best companies."
Orfalea's will speak to at 4:30 p.m. in the Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre on campus. The event is free and will be followed a book-signing reception. The campus community and the public are invited.
"We are thrilled that Mr. Orfalea chose Cal Poly as the Central Coast stop for his book signing," said President Warren J. Baker. "The Orfalea family's continued generosity makes it possible to transform what, and how, our students learn to be business leaders."
A longtime supporter of Cal Poly, Orfalea took a philanthropic interest in the university in 2000 when he discovered its learn by-doing-philosophy coincided with his personal philosophy. He has since donated more than $16.2 million to the university.
"I think Cal Poly's commitment to small-class size is really cool. That tells me that the school is serious about mentoring students. I know I would not have been able to succeed in life without a bunch of great teachers. Several of them really helped with my self confidence and with my dyslexia and ADHD (even though we didn't have either of those words when I was younger). I just don't see how mentoring can happen in classes of 300 students," said Orfalea.
The opportunity to meet with students is always a highlight of his trips to Cal Poly. "I enjoy seeing the enthusiasm and natural curiosity of Cal Poly students, and I hope that some of the life lessons I share through my book and talk can help them see the importance of passion and building long-term relationships with others," he said.
Orfalea College of Business Dean Dave Christy looks forward to Orfalea's visits. "As the only named college at Cal Poly, we proudly carry the name of the individual who had such strong faith in our students and faculty that he was willing to invest personal resources in our future," said Christy. "Paul Orfalea's gift continues to make an indelible mark on the life of students at the OCOB."
For additional event information, contact Leslie McKinley in Cal Poly's Orfalea College of Business at (805) 756-2219 or lmckinle@calpoly.edu.
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