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Honored Alumni Awards

For 60 years, the Honored Alumni Award has served as the highest honor bestowed upon Cal Poly alumni. The awards recognize alumni from each of the university’s six academic colleges, Cal Poly Athletics and the Cal Poly Alumni Association. Through their contributions to their fields, to Cal Poly, and their impact in their communities and beyond, our Honored Alumni represent the best of Learn by Doing.

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Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Dennis Stroud

(Crop Science, '75)

Stroud has been instrumental in the success of Cal Poly's Wine and Viticulture Department and is passionate about the industry and supporting student success.

2022 Award Recipient Video

Orfalea College of Business

Katherine Johnson

(Business Administration, '81, Concentration in Accounting)

Johnson has a passion for bookkeeping and for helping students succeed. She is a longtime volunteer with youth causes and recently established a scholarship for Cal Poly students who, like herself, didn't have financial support through college.

2022 Award Recipient Video

Sandra Gardebring Ogren Leadership Award

Clinton and Connie Pearce

(Agricultural Business, '91) (Animal Science, '87)

Clinton and Connie Pearce are dedicated volunteers and supporters of Cal Poly across disciplines. They are especially supportive of the Cal Poly Rodeo team, of which they were both members as students, and volunteer their time to coach and mentor young rodeo athletes.

2022 Award Recipient Video

Architecture and Environmental Design

John R. Pangrazio

(Architecture, '67)

Regarded as one of the country's leaders in healthcare architecture, Pangrazio devoted his 40-year career to the relationship between the physical environment and healing. Pangrazio retired as partner, NBBJ Seattle. Body

2021 Award Recipient Video

Sandra Gardebring Ogren Leadership Award

Kenric B. Stone

(Architecture, '80)

Stone is a committed supporter of Cal Poly, the Cal Poly Alumni Association and the California State University system. He represents and advocates for the university as a CSU Alumni Council member and past president and is a member of the Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors.

2021 Award Recipient Video

Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Walter J. Ruzzo

(Natural Resources Management, '78)

During Ruzzo's long and successful career, he was a leader in environmental health and safety in the mining and biopharmaceutical industries. He retired as Director of Security, Gilead Sciences.

2021 Award Recipient Video

Orfalea College of Business

Ryan A. Martinez

(Business Administration, '97)

A trusted resource in the wealth management industry, Martinez has had a substantial impact on helping Cal Poly students move into the field of wealth management.

2021 Award Recipient Video

Athletics

Kelly McInerney

(Aerospace Engineering, '91)

A former softball player at Cal Poly, McInerney is an advocate for women in STEM and supports the softball team and student athletes through mentoring and leading by example.

2021 Award Recipient Video

CPAA Distinguished Service

Kraig Scheyer

(Environmental Engineering, '79)

Scheyer is a strong advocate and supporter for Cal Poly Career Connections, a student-alumni mentoring and networking platform. He has served on the Cal Poly Alumni Association (CPAA) Executive Board and led the development of the board's master plan.

2021 Award Recipient Video

Engineering

Edward L. Burnett

(Aerospace Engineering, '83; MEN, Engineering, '85)

Burnett began his career with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. as a student at Cal Poly. His dedication to the company is matched only by his support for the Cal Poly College of Engineering. He serves as Lockheed Martin Senior Fellow, Emeritus, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company.

2021 Award Recipient Video

Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Karen Carey Watts

(Ornamental Horticulture, B.S., 1979)

Watts is the Market Manager at Nutrien Ag Solutions, the retail division of Nutrien Ltd., the world’s largest crop inputs company. Nutrien helps growers achieve the highest yields with the most sustainable solutions possible.

2020 Award Recipient Video

Architecture and Environmental Design

Donna Clandening

(Architectural Engineering, B.S., 1987)

Clandening is the Principal and Chief Strategy Officer at AC Martin Partners, a Los Angeles-based architecture, planning, interior architecture and research firm that use

2020 Award Recipient Video