Cal Poly 2008 President's Service Awards Announced

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Faculty, students and community members were recognized by Cal Poly’s President Warren J. Baker for their efforts this year at the 22nd Annual President's Community Service Awards on May 15.

Programs that received recognition included a childcare program benefiting homeless infants and toddlers, an entirely new service program called Alternative Breaks, and creative fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Students recognized for Significant Contributions:
Kara Callaway, Alternative Breaks – Callaway created Alternative Breaks, a program that provides students with the opportunity to perform service work during academic holidays. She organized a trip that sent 24 students to New Orleans over winter break, completing a combined 734 hours of community service in 4.5 days. Callaway was instrumental in planning the first-ever international Alternative Breaks trip, sending 10 students to Jamaica to volunteer on an organic farm and promote organic agriculture to local farmers.

Brandon Styles, Senior Prom – Styles created the first annual "Senior Prom," a fundraiser to benefit the Alzheimer's Association, coinciding with the national campaign, "MOVE!" Brandon helped raise nearly $10,000 at the second annual event.

Chelsea Starr, Hands for Homeless – For her senior project, Starr developed Hands for Homeless, a program to bolster resilience in homeless infants and toddlers. Currently working at the San Luis Obispo Child Development Center as Lead Teacher, Starr has also been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Family Care Network, helping foster children and at-risk youth in the community.

Educators recognized for Service-Learning:
Kathy Chen, Linda Vanasupa, Will Hughes, Trevor Harding, and Rich Savage, Transforming Education – Collectively, they have transformed their department by integrating service-learning and project-based learning in half the courses that the department offers, setting a new standard for a “service-learning-engaged department.”

Phil Barlow and Student Brett Mullnax – Together, the pair developed a service-learning course for the Construction Management Department that will be offered every spring. The goals were to create a positive learning environment, give students an opportunity to take on a real-world projects, and help the community of San Luis Obispo.

Karen Christian, Bilingual Tutors and Translation Services – Pacheco Elementary is a dual immersion English/Spanish school that lacked Spanish-speaking tutors. Christian saw that as an opportunity for her students to practice their Spanish outside of the classroom, establishing a tutoring program. She also enlisted the help of other students to translate more than 20 documents for 11 different non-profits in San Luis Obispo County.

Tom Trice, Student Volunteers – Partnering students with the volunteer breakfast program at Prado Day Center, Trice established a community-based opportunity for students to study roles and influences in society.

Community Groups recognized:
Fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha, Fundraising – After news of a student diagnosed with Stage-IV lymphoma, a type of cancer affecting the lymph nodes, the fraternity hosted “Boarding for Cancer” raising funds to benefit the student’s family, and Saint Joseph’s Lymphoma Research.

United Blood Services, Community Service – The organization makes a difference in people’s lives by recruiting volunteers, inspiring people to donate blood, producing a safe and ample blood supply, advancing cutting-edge research, and embracing continuous quality improvement.

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