Cal Poly Update - July 2009
Alumni News
Celebrate the Class of 2009 with a Cal Poly Wine
Cal Poly wines, and the vineyards they come from, have a long-standing tradition of producing quality wine. Starting with the 2006 vintage, Cal Poly established a new relationship with Orcutt Road Cellars, makers of Baileyana, Tangent, Trenza and Cadre wines. Cal Poly's location allows our student winemakers to maintain close ties with the wines during the entire process – from vineyard to bottle. A great example is Cal Poly’s 2006 Pinot Noir, a distinctly French style with a California twist. Cal Poly's first Chardonnay is a true expression of the five different clones on the campus' 10-year-old vineyard, with notes of white nectarine accented by characteristic coastal minerality. The familiar Mustang Red is a bold blend of Paso Robles Zinfandel and Edna Valley Syrah. These wines can be ordered on-line and shipped within California and to 20 other states.
Purchase Cal Poly Wine online at www.calpolywine.com/purchase
Limited time on-line only 10 percent discount: enter coupon code GRAD09
(offer expires July 31, 2009)
Hike to Point San Luis Lighthouse, Catch Baseball with Cal Poly Alumni
Take a hike to the Point San Luis Lighthouse off Avila Beach with Cal Poly alumni if you're on the Central Coast July 18. The Cal Poly Alumni Association's San Luis Obispo chapter is organizing the four mile hike to the Avila lighthouse. Hikers will learn about the history of the lighthouse and enjoy beautiful scenery. If you wanted to catch a performance of "Wicked" with the San Francisco Chapter -- you're out of luck; it sold out! But you can still catch a Visalia Rawhide baseball game and Orange County's Pageant of the Masters with CPAA. Friends are welcome at all CPAA events!
Get details on these and other CPAA Events anytime
Cal Poly Magazine Summer Edition 2009 Now Online
The Summer 2009 edition of Cal Poly Magazine is available now, exclusively online. Go to Cal Poly Magazine online now to read about graduating seniors who’ve already lined up great jobs, plus a photo slideshow from spring ceremonies; Jon Hall, Mustang fullback – and opera singer (multimedia:hear him sing!); Harnessing the wind in a Cal Poly engineering program preparing students for careers in green energy. Check out Cal Poly Magazine's "Summer '09" edition and while you're there, fill out our online reader survey for a chance to win free Cal Poly Gear
Read Cal Poly Magazine Summer 2009 online today
Alumni in the News: Bike Treks, Rodeo Cowboys, Politicians and More
Brand-new alum David Sacher (B.S., Business, 2009) is setting out on a 10-month bike trip that starts in the Alaskan wilderness and leads through rain forests, deserts, mountains and tundra and across plenty of borders to reach his final destination in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. A race for one California State Assembly Seat is turning into an almost all-alumni contest: four alumni have tossed their hat into the ring so far. And Influential architect Homer Delawie (B.Ar., Architecture, 1951), Cal Poly's first licensed architect, passed away in San Diego June 26. Read about more alumni in the news -- and see if you know any of them.
Alumni in the News
PolyLink Photo of the Month is a Whopper
Cal Poly alum Jonathan Tsui (B.S., Ecology and Systematic Biology, Minor, Child Development, 2006) is the July Photo of the Month Winner. The winning shot captured Tsui hoisting a whopper dorado after some pretty successful sport fishing. What's a dorado? It's also known as "Mahi-mahi or dolphin fish, and to validate my education/degree at Poly: Coryphaena hippurus," Tsui writes. The photo was taken in August 2007, off Baja California. Tsui was there with three other Cal Poly alumni.
Just how big was that fish? "As accurately as we could measure it (on a beach on the Sea of Cortez), it was 56 inches total length -- mouth-to-tip-of-the-tail -- and weighed approximately 40 lbs.," Tsui says. "Six days (and about a thousand miles) later, that lovely dorado became a choice of three different dishes for about 30 people streaming in and out of my tiny two-bedroom apartment ... and there was still about 10 pounds left to give away!" When he's not fishing off Baja,
Tsui is currently in Florida, where he's in the U.S. Navy attending the Explosive Ordinance Disposal School.
PolyLink alumni can check out Tsui's personal page for more details (login required)
Everyone Else: Check out the full photo and more Photo of the Month winners on the PolyLink University Photo Gallery anytime - no password needed
PolyLink University Social Network Nearing 13,000 Alumni
Jonathan Tsui is one of 12,939 alumni in PolyLink, the university's free, private, secure social network for all alumni, faculty and staff. Bookmark it at www.calpolylink.com. PolyLink alumni have access to the PolyLink Job Boards -- with nearly 200 private postings this month from employers looking specifically for Cal Poly grads. They can also browse through more than 500 PolyLink alumni photo albums, check out PolyLink groups to find everyone in their major, and look up and e-mail nearly 40,000 alumni in the PolyLink database.
Alumni: Not in PolyLink yet? Why wait!
Click here to confirm your identity and get your first-time entry code
University News
Cal Poly Facing Furloughs, Plus $33 Million in Campus Cuts
CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed and the 23 campus presidents met in late June to discuss options to manage a proposed $584 million budget deficit. Two employee unions have agreed to discuss mandatory furloughs of two days per month at all campuses -- including Cal Poly. While no details have yet been set, discussions will continue at a special meeting of the CSU Board of Trustees July 7. The trustees will then use their regularly scheduled July 21 meeting to adopt an action plan that will be implemented systemwide and at the campuses. While Cal Poly awaits word on the final state budget, the university is continuing planning efforts on campus for a minimum $33 million funding cut.
More details on the state budget crisis and Cal Poly
Cal Poly Ice Cream Featured on Capitol Hill
Ice cream made by Cal Poly’s Dairy Products Technology Center was featured at the International Dairy Foods Association’s 27th annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party. About 8,000 people – most of them members of Congress and their families and friends – attended the event at Upper Senate Park across from the capitol in Washington, D.C., June 18. Cal Poly’s English Toffee Reduced-Fat Ice Cream with probiotics were served at the VIP tent.
More on Cal Poly's ice cream and the Capitol Hill event
Cal Poly Helps SLO Become One of
'10 Best Places to Live' on US News List
US News and World Report has ranked San Luis Obispo among its Best Places to Live 2009. And according to the magazine, Cal Poly played a big part in the distinction. “Tucked into California’s sweeping Central Coast region is lovely San Luis Obispo ... Its warm, gentle climate, with temperatures rarely surpassing 90 degrees, is perfect for hitting nearby beaches or touring local vineyards,” reads the magazine’s story. “In addition, California Polytechnic State University, which is located in town, infuses the community with intellectual energy.”
More on the magazine's rankings
Cal Poly Hosts Third Summer Chemistry Workshop
for
Blind and Sighted Students
Cal Poly is hosting "Access Chemistry 2009," the third annual hands-on summer laboratory chemistry workshop for blind and sighted high school students. Twelve students – ranging in age from 14 to 18 – are attending from throughout California. Several students are from the Central Coast area.
More on Chemistry Workshop
See the KCOY News story
Graphic Communication Tests New Printing Application for Business
Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department recently installed a new lighting system as part of the first North American test site for photoluminescent lighting technology in the graphic arts. The system is designed for manufacturing and service companies that are now capable of doing their own printing due to the proliferation of short-run digital presses that are cleaner, greener and easier to run.
Read more about the graphic arts test site
Faculty & Staff
College of Engineering
Announces
New Assistant Dean for Advancement
Cal Poly’s College of Engineering has appointed Matthew Cottle as assistant dean for advancement. He will join the university in that position on July 1, bringing more than 20 years of advancement experience in engineering and science organizations – primarily in higher education – to the position.
More on Cottle
Outstanding Students, Staff and Faculty
Recognized by CLA
Cal Poly's College of Liberal Arts recognized outstanding faculty, staff and students at its annual reception held at the Dallidet Adobe in San Luis Obispo on June 4. The college presented Richard K. Simon Faculty Awards to Shawn Burn, Patrick Lin and Alyson McLamore. Students recognized were Kyle Wilhelm and Brittany McKinney. College staff recognized were Terry J. San Filippo and Melissa Bodin.
Read more about the CLA Honors
Dandekar Appointed to head
City and Regional Planning
A nationally ranked department at Cal Poly has a new leader. Hemalata Dandekar has been named department head for City and Regional Planning at Cal Poly, bringing a strong interdisciplinary and international background to the position. Dandekar is currently professor of planning at Arizona State University. She served as director of the School of Planning at ASU from 2002-2007.She holds a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning from UCLA, a master’s in architecture from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s in architecture from the University of Bombay.
More on Dandekar
Fuad Hanna Tellew
Fuad Hanna Tellew, 82, professor emeritus of economics at Cal Poly, died peacefully June 6. Professor Tellew came to San Luis Obispo in 1960 with his wife after the professor accepted a position in Cal Poly’s Social Sciences Department. Professor Tellew was instrumental in founding the Department of Economics at Cal Poly, where he specialized in money and banking and international development. Over his career, he served as first head of the Economics Department, associate dean and acting dean of the School of Business (now the Orfalea College of Business) as well as director of International Programs. He retired in 1991 after 31 years with the university.
Read the full obituary in the SLO Tribune
Current Students
Record Number of Cal Poly Students Move On to Vet School in 2009
Cal Poly is sending a record number of its students to veterinary school after spring Commencement, at a time when university officials say the industry is in need of new professionals. As of June, 34 Cal Poly students have confirmed acceptance to vet schools around the U.S. and internationally.
More on the success in Cal Poly's pre-vet program
Coming Up
Sign Up Now for Cal Poly Organic Farm’s Weekly Summer Produce
The Cal Poly Organic Farm is accepting members for its Community Supported Agriculture Program, which provides members with a weekly box of the farm’s harvest. Along with fresh produce, members will receive a weekly newsletter with recipes highlighting the week’s bounty.
More on the Produce Program
Cal Poly Arts Announces 25th Season
Full of Dance, Music, Classics and Comedy
Cal Poly Arts is turning 25 this year and celebrating with an expansive mix of theatre, music, dance companies and artists from all over the world. Cal Poly Arts 2009-10 season at the Performing Arts Center on campus features 41 unique performances designed to fire the imagination. From the comedy of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" to "Camelot" to Gaelic Storm to Los Lobos to Momix to Martha Graham, the season has something for everyone.
Details and Coming Cal Poly Arts performances
Festival Mozaic Concert Finale is July 26 in the Cohan Center
The Festival Mozaic finale concert will present a musical journey through three sonic landscapes: the open prairies of America's Shaker country, Grieg's beloved Norwegian countryside and the feelings inspired in Beethoven on his walks through nature. Pianist John Novacek has been lauded on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, and is a frequent guest at festivals in the U.S. and abroad. Enjoy a special pre-concert lecture at 2 p.m. Concert begins at 3 p.m.
More on the Festival Mozaic Finale
Grammy Winner Lyle Lovett Performs August 8
Cal Poly Arts presents Lyle Lovett in concert Saturday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. in the Cohan Center. Four-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Lovett remains at the height of his career, which includes 13 albums and over 4 million records sold. Appearing with his "Large Band" in support of his latest "It's Not Big, It's Large" release, Lovett's return to San Luis Obispo is the perfect sound for summer. Tickets for the performance range from $56 to $74 and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Ticket Office. For more details visit www.calpolyarts.org.