May 8, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susan Opava
Cal Poly Research and Graduate Programs
805-756-1508

Cal Poly Students Succeed at Statewide Competition

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Cal Poly had two first-prize winners among its ten entries at the 22nd Annual California State University Student Research Competition, held on May 2 and 3 at CSU East Bay.

The Cal Poly students were among nearly 200 students from 22 campuses who took part in this year’s competition. The students’ research and creative work was judged by scientists, academics and other professionals from outside the CSU.

Biochemistry major Daniel Le, from San Jose, California, took first prize in the undergraduate physical and mathematical sciences division for his report on kinetic investigations of a radical-based methodology for carbocycle ring expansion.

Mechanical Engineering major Chi-Yeh Hsu, originally from Taiwan and now residing in Mountain View, California, and electrical engineering major Xian Wang, from Pleasant Hill, California, won first prize in the undergraduate engineering and computer science division for their design of a light-weight, mobile, free-space optical communication system.

Also representing Cal Poly in the competition were:  physics / electrical engineering undergraduate student Eric Albin; chemistry / polymers and coatings graduate student Eric Appel; aerospace engineering undergraduate student Brian Butler; animal science graduate student Carrie Kimmell; microbiology undergraduate student Evan Markegard; biological sciences graduate student Gloeta Massie; dairy products technology graduate student Elizabeth Ng; and English undergraduate student David Schwartz.

All participants were first nominated by their respective colleges, then selected in a preliminary competition at Cal Poly.  Final competitors submitted written papers and made oral presentations to juries of experts from major California corporations, foundations, public agencies and universities.

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