CP Next: Empowering Innovation (October 2019)

AUTOMATING AGRICULTURE - College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering students work with industry partners to design, fabricate and manufacture automation equipment in agriculture. MAKE AN IMPACT: $8,000 funds one automation project. The college has 12 new projects scheduled this academic year.

CENTER FOR COASTAL MARINE SCIENCES - College of Science and Mathematics

Cutting-edge marine research informs understanding, engagement with ocean resources and policies around conservation. MAKE AN IMPACT: All proceeds go toward the restoration of the Cal Poly Pier and the expansion of the labs and classrooms that facilitate learning and research one kilometer out into the ocean.

DE ORO DEVICES - Orfalea College of Business, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Building mobility solutions to empower those in need. The Nexstride is an easy-to-use device that helps people with Parkinson’s disease overcome freezing of gait. MAKE AN IMPACT: $10,000 supports one student run start-up in the CIE Startup Accelerator program.

KCPR RADIO - College of Liberal Arts 

The voice of what’s next in San Luis Obispo, KCPR is a hands-on radio experience from the morning news to music, events and social justice efforts. MAKE AN IMPACT: $115,000 keeps KCPR on the air for one academic year with $15,000 of private funding needed to cover operations.

MUSTANG NEWS - College of Liberal Arts 

Where the next generation of journalists is trained, students turn to Mustang News for the stories that matter at Cal Poly and in the community. MAKE AN IMPACT: One weekly issue of Mustang News costs $1,400 to print with private support accounting for a majority of this cost.

PROVE LAB - College of Engineering 

The Cal Poly Prototype Vehicles Laboratory (PROVE Lab) is a multidisciplinary organization whose mission is the design and construction of alternative energy vehicles to break world records. MAKE AN IMPACT: PROVE Lab is primarily funded by donor support and requires about $100,000 a year to operate.

QUALITY OF LIFE PLUS (QL+) - College of Engineering 

A multidisciplinary student club engineering solutions to physical challenges people face in order to improve the quality of their lives. MAKE AN IMPACT: All donations support the cost of materials and specialized equipment.

SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECT (SURP) - College of Engineering 

Students and faculty members working together for eight weeks over the summer blocks on research to fuel the future of engineering. In 2019, 39 projects were funded. Next summer the program would like to expand to meet this year’s demand by funding closer to 100 projects. MAKE AN IMPACT: Operating costs for SURP are more than $300,000 per year.

THE FUTURE OF WINE - College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences 

Wine and Viticulture students are working to solve real-world problems that make a direct impact on the California wine industry. Currently, students are studying how variations in berry size effects the quality of wine, providing valuable information to grape growers and winemakers. MAKE AN IMPACT: We are seeking $13,500, which would allow this project to continue into its second year.

VELLUM - College of Architecture and Environmental Design 

The Vellum competition encourages students to push the boundaries of creative design while gaining valuable experience. MAKE AN IMPACT: Every donation made to Vellum helps continue the forum for student design passion. 

WAYVE - Orfalea College of Business, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Take clean drinking water with you, wherever you go with the world’s first portable water purifier that doubles as a reusable water bottle cap. MAKE AN IMPACT: $10,000 supports one student run start-up in the CIE Startup Accelerator program.

WOMEN AND INFANT MOBILE HEATH UNIT -College of Science and Mathematics

Teaming up to provide essential care to uninsured women and infants on the Central Coast, the Cal Poly Center for Health Research and the NOOR Foundation take the Mobile Health Unit on the road to reach those in need. MAKE AN IMPACT: Women and Infants Mobile Health operations are entirely privately funded and require $120,000 a year to operate. All support goes toward operating costs.

For questions or to learn more about parent giving, contact:

Morgen Marshall Director of Parent Philanthropy (805) 234-5982 mnmarsha@calpoly.edu