Cal
Poly Update
The
E-Newsletter for University Friends and Alumni
Alumni in the News: October 2007
Features
Weird Al Heats Up KCPR and Cal Poly's Cohan Center
Weird Al Yankovic returned to his roots at student radio station KCPR Oct. 9. Yankovic (B.S., Architecture, 1980) trekked to the Graphic Communication and Journalism building for a special dedication ceremony at KCPR. Then he went on to wow a sold-out crowd (half between the ages of 11 and 15) at the Cohan Center that evening. Yankovic told the Riverside Press-Enterprise, and KCPR and Mustang Daily interviewers, that his stint as a deejay at his Cal Poly college radio station changed the course of his career. It's where he came up with a spoof of the The Knack hit, "My Sharona" - retitled "My Bologna." Once his song aired on "Dr. Demento," it became a major hit. And the rest is history.
See exclusive video from the KCPR dedication
(For alumni only! Requires login to PolyLink, Cal Poly's online community)
Read the Riverside Press Enterprise Story on Yankovic
Read the SLO Tribune interview with Yankovic
See the KSBY coverage of the KCPR dedication
Tapella Confirmed as New United States Public Printer
Robert C. Tapella (B.S., Graphic Communication, 1991) is now officially the nation’s 25th Public Printer -- following in the footsteps of the nation's first Public Printer: Benjamin Franklin. Tapella, nominated to the post in May, was confirmed in October by the U.S. Senate. President George W. Bush has signed the commission. Tapella will now lead more than 2,200 employees at the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). Tapella comes to the GPO following several assignments on Capitol Hill.
Read the full story on In-Plant Graphics
Marc Garcia is First Latino to Fill a Judge's Seat in Merced County
Private attorney Marc Garcia (B.S., Political Science, 1991) will fill one of two vacant judgeships in the Merced County Superior Court, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Oct. 3. Garcia, 39, is the first Latino and also the youngest appointee to the bench. "I knew as soon as I became an attorney that I wanted to be a judge," Garcia told the Los Banos Enterprise. "I just never thought it would be this soon." Garcia, a Los Banos native and 1986 graduate of the local high school, has worked as a private criminal defense attorney since 1999. He previously spent four years as a deputy district attorney with the Merced County District Attorney's office
Read the full Los Banos Enterprise story on Garcia
Alumnus Receives Jefferson Award for Public Service
Martin Curiel (B.S., Civil Engineering, 1998) has received a Jefferson Award for making a difference in his community. The awards are administered by the American Institute for Public Service, a national foundation that honors community service. After graduating from Cal Poly, Curiel earned a master's in business from Harvard University and became vice president of marketing at Denali Advisors, a prominent investment firm in San Diego. Curiel is also founder and CEO of the Rising Farmworker Dream Fund, a nonprofit organization that empowers migrant laborers and their families. The Rising Farmworker Dream Fund is based in Live Oak (Sutter County), where Curiel spent much of his childhood.
Read the profile of Curiel in the San Francisco Chronicle
Whither the Iceman?
Cal Poly fans are keeping tabs on Ultimate Fighting champ Chuck Liddell (B.S., Business Administration, 1995), and rooting for his next big victory after two setbacks in the ring. What's next for the Iceman? Liddell, a former Cal Poly wrestler, is weighing his options. He was also the subject of an extensive Q-and-A profile recently in Playboy Magazine.
See the KSBY sports story
Alumna is Sprint Cycling Toward an Olympic Goal
Engineering alumna Anna Lang (B.S., Architectural Engineering, 2001) has blossomed as a cyclist since discovering the tactics and sprinting of track racing. Lang has her eyes on the Beijing Olympics. Her focus is on October's national track championships, then upcoming International Cycling Union World Cup races. If she performs well, Lang could be headed to Beijing for next summer's Olympics. Lang told the San Diego Union that her gut feeling, after cycling on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's club team, was that she was built for track racing.
Read the San Diego Union Tribune story
Ag Alum to Retire After Long Career Heading Ventura County Farm Bureau
Rex Laird (B.S., Animal Science, 1968), one of Ventura County agriculture's most effective advocates and consensus builders, will retire next year. The Ventura County Farm Bureau announced Laird's retirement plans in September. Laird, the organization's chief executive officer since 1980, plans to leave June 15, 2008. His retirement will force the 1,700-member organization to seek a new leader for only the second time in 50 years.
Read the Ventura County Star story on Laird
Engineering Alum, Astronaut Speaks in Malaysia
Former Nasa astronaut Captain Robert "Hoot" Gibson spoke recently in
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Gibson (B.S., AeroEngineering, 1969) told a crowd of parents, students and teachers his experience of going up to space was like "a trip to Disneyland." Even though there is plenty of pre-launch anxiety for astronauts, he said, "It's very exciting, really. It's hard to sleep the night before" a launch.
Read the story in the Malaysia Daily Express
Computer Sci Alum Bloom Joins BMC Software Board
BMC Software has announced today that Gary Bloom (B.S., Computer Science, 1982) has joined its board of directors. Bloom has previously served on the boards of four publicly traded companies: Virata, Globespan Virata, VERITAS, and Symantec. Bloom also currently serves on the Cal Poly President's Cabinet and is the Chairman of the Board of the Cal Poly Foundation.
Read the story on TMCnet
Grad Profiled in Wall Street Journal About Post-Degree Internships
After graduation, Cal Poly alumna Nikki Jackson (B.S., Child Development, 2005) decided she wasn't ready to plunge into a profession related to her major. She'd always been interested in business, and turned to recruiting agency for a free consultation. She filled out questionnaires and discussed her career interests, and within a week took a six-month internship placement in the marketing department at Safeway -- and after three months she was offered a higher-than-entry-level position as a pricing analyst.
Read the full story in the Wall Street Journal
Marathon Man: Alum Continues Continuous Marathons For Charity
Cal Poly grad Tim Borland (B.S., Kinesiology, 2004) is on day 38 of his quest to complete 63 marathons in 63 days. He's running to raise awareness and money to find a cure for Ataxia-Telangiectasia or AT, a rare terminal, genetic-disease that causes loss of muscle control.
See the KSBY story, including map of marathon locations
New Sextant Winery in SLO is an Alumni Operation
Craig Stoller (B.S., Ornamental Horticulture, 1991) and wife Nancy have opened Sextant Winery in San Luis Obispo. "I traveled all over Europe to understand wine making, varietals, and the regions they're grown in. Wine is a living, breathing thing," Craig explained enthusiastically. The winemaker for all three of the Stollers' brands is Kevin Riley, also a Cal Poly alumnus, who worked at Opolo in Paso Robles. He's now making the Stollers' wines at a custom crush facility in Templeton.
Read the full story in the SLO New Times
Business Alumna Surfs into Art World
Mo Ryan started painting around the same time she started surfing: while getting business degree at Cal Poly. After taking a painting class with professor and local artist Joanne Ruggles, Ryan (Maureen Mayes Ryan, B.S., Business Administration, 1998) decided to extend her time at Cal Poly by pursuing an art minor. She eventually moved to Santa Rosa and into a traditional business job. But after a stint in business, she went back to school at Sonoma State University to earn a degree in sculpture -- and worked on oil painting. She's now a full-time artist who specializes in surf culture, with shows up and down California and in Hawaii.
Read the New Times article about Ryan and her exhibit at Sextant Winery
Graphic Design Alum is 'Golden Compass' Computer Game Artist
Shiny Entertainment's Concept Artist Sean O'Daniels (B.S., Applied Art and Design, 1998)
talked with Gamespy about bringing the game world to life for the richly detailed "Golden Compass" franchise. "I never 'wanted' to be an artist," O'Daniels told GameSpy. "I just thought I was one. I studied graphic design at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and while there, I taught myself illustration. After I left college, I knew that I needed to grow creatively so I left for Europe..."
Read the full story on O'Daniels at Gamespy.com
Alum Running for Seat on Hartnell Community College Board
Steve McShane, 34, owner of McShane's nursery on Highway 68 in Monterey County, is running for a seat on the Hartnell Community College Board. McShane served on the board of Hartnell representing Area 1 until July, when he moved to Salinas and gave up his seat. McShane (B.S., Soil Science, 1998) is now seeking to represent the college's Area 3, which encompasses south Salinas and the Salinas-Monterey Highway corridor.
Read the story in the Monterey Herald
Alumnus Making a Splash as Coach at AGHS
Steve Allen (B.S., Kinesiology, 2003), a physical education teacher at Arroyo Grande High School, started coaching AGHS school aquatics programs at the junior varsity level from off-campus while finishing up his degree at Cal Poly. Allen’s senior project at Cal Poly was designing plans for building a pool at Arroyo Grande High. His plans became concrete when Arroyo Grande voters passed a school bond in 2004; the pool is where he works with students now. "It was kind of neat to have a senior project come true,” Allen said.
Read the full SLO Tribune story
Ag Communications Alumna is Profiled Teacher in Redding
Beverly Boone (B.S., Ag Communications, 1999) is a second- and third-grade teacher in Redding. She also has an administration credential from California State University, Stanislaus, where she is enrolled in a master's program for elementary administration. Her bachelor's degree is in agricultural communications from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and her teaching was recently profiled in the Redding Record-Searchlight.
Read the full story in the Record
Awards
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Alumnus Ramos Is Honored at Biltmore Banquet
Cal Poly Journalism Department Chairman George Ramos (B.S., 1969, Journalism) was honored Oct. 12 at the the Santa Barbara Hispanic Achievement Council's 24th Annual Awards Banquet at the Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara.
Read the story in the Santa Maria Times
91-year-old Alum is 2007 Colony Days King
Arnold (B.S., Poultry, 1948) and Marian Hoffman have been chosen this year’s Colony Days king and queen in Atascadero. The former egg ranch owners are steam locomotive fans. Arnold Hoffman, 91, was one of 60 students in his graduating class at Cal Poly.
Read the SLO Tribune story
Moving Up
Business Alumna Takes the Helm at Sutter North
Kelly Danna (B.S., Business Administration, 1989) has been named chief at Sutter North Medical Foundation.
She took over as chief operating officer of Sutter North Oct. 1. Danna graduated from Yuba City High School.
Read the story in the Appeal-Democrat
Zurich Financial Group Names Alum as Senior VP For Western Region
Switzerland-based Zurich Financial Services Group named Kevin Dunham (B.S., History, 1986) as senior vice president and global relationship leader for the Western region of its Global Corporate in North America business unit.
Read the full story on Dunham
AgBiz Alum Nelson Now REG Biodiesel National Sales Director
Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG), a leading full-service biodiesel company, announced the appointment of Don Nelson (B.S., Ag Business, 1974) as Biodiesel National Sales Director. Nelson will work with private and public fleets and the petroleum industry to introduce biodiesel into new markets, grow Renewable Energy Group’s current market share and develop national strategies for biodiesel consumption.
Read the Biodiesel Magazine story
Alum Joins Camarillo Engineering Firm
Daniel Walsh has joined RBF Consulting as a project manager and associate in the firm's Camarillo office. Walsh (B.S., Civil Engineering, 1991) is a registered civil engineer and a registered land surveyor. RBF's Camarillo office provides services for public agency and land development clients throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Read the Camarillo Acorn story
Alumna Joins Newport Art and Advertising Firm
Alyse Vultee (B.S., Graphic Communication, 2007) has joined the account service team at Orange Label Art + Advertising, formerly Hunter Barth Advertising. The agency, one of Orange County's oldest privately held ad agencies, has expanded their staff to manage recent account wins.
Read the PR-GB story
Passings
Former Cal Poly Crop Science Club President Douglas Hughes
Douglas J. Hughes, 41, of Porterville, passed away on September 30. Hughes (B.S., Crop Science, 1988) was the president of the Crop Science Club while at Cal Poly.
Read the obituary in the Porterville Times
Food Science Alumna, Famed Dessert Developer Cheryl Brown
Cal Poly Food Science Alumna Cheryl Asplund Brown (B.S., Food Science, 1978) developed some of America's favorite desserts. She passed away Sept. 4 in Newport Beach. In addition to her Cal Poly degree, Brown earned a master's from Cal State L.A. When she saw a newspaper ad for a director of development at Jon Donaire, she applied and got the job. During her 28 years with the company, it increased annual sales from $10 million to $120 million.
Read the obituary in the Orange County Register
Former Basketball Standout Ernie Hall
Former Ventura Junior College basketball star Ernie Hall (B.S., Physical Education, 1956) passed away Oct. 8 at age 77 in Ventura. Hall held the Ventura College career scoring record for 37 years and was the first black player to play basketball for Purdue University. After stellar seasons at the former Ventura Junior College,
Hall transferred to Purdue, where he was the first black player in program's history. He was a standout, but was cut from the team after being accused of assault and battery after defending his new wife from white patrons at a diner where the couple had sought to eat. Hall was later acquitted, and came to Cal Poly to finish his athletic and academic career.
Read the obituary in the Ventura County Star
Read the Indiana Courier-Journal column on Hall and his passing