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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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Engineering

John Nielsen

(Mechanical Engineering, B.S., 1965)

Nielsen is the founding donor of the Mustang ’60 Shop, an on-campus machine shop where students can complete the cycle of design from concept to finished product and gain confidence using manufacturing equipment.

2017 Award Recipient Video

Liberal Arts

Chris Trapani

(Political Science, B.A., 1990)

Trapani is the founder and CEO of Sereno Group, a residential real estate company generating more than $3 billion in sales annually, which was named the “Best Place to Work” by the Bay Area News Group for eight consecutive years.

2017 Award Recipient Video

CPAA Alumni Excellence

His Excellency Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair

(Industrial Engineering, B.S. 1977)

His Excellency is the chairman of the Mashreqbank, the largest private sector bank in the United Arab Emirates. He leads the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, one of the largest privately funded philanthropic education initiatives in the Arab world.

2017 Award Recipient Video

Athletics

Steve S. Jones

(Political Science, B.A., 1992)

A football player at Cal Poly, Jones was named the top job creator for two consecutive years by Inc. magazine and has earned the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in addition to being a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.

2017 Award Recipient Video

CPAA Distinguished Service

Kelley Bannon Lashley

(Political Science, B.A., 1995)

Kelley Bannon Lashley graduated in 1995 with a degree in political science and a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law in 1999.

2017 Award Recipient Video

Architecture and Environmental Design

Doug Lowe, FAIA

(Architecture, B.S., 1974)

Lowe’s skills can be seen in a variety of projects, including theme parks and hotels such as Disney’s California Adventure and Universal Studios Hollywood. He has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects for his humanitarian efforts.

2017 Award Recipient Video

Architecture and Environmental Design

Wendy Ornelas, FAIA

(Architecture, '80)


2016 Award Recipient Video

Sandra Gardebring Ogren Leadership Award

John A. Ronca Jr.

(Business Administration, B.S., 1975)

Ronca has served as chair of Cal Poly’s Athletic Directors Council since 2007. He is a member and secretary of the Cal Poly Foundation Board, and chair of the Governance Committee.

2016 Award Recipient Video

Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Cotton Rosser

(Animal Husbandry, H.C. ScD, 1952)

Captain of the Rodeo Team at Cal Poly, Rosser is responsible for establishing the traditional Poly Royal Rodeo event in 1951. In 1956 he purchased the Flying U Rodeo Company and since then his name has become synonymous with rodeo.

2016 Award Recipient Video

Liberal Arts

Jim Kouf

(English, B.A., 1974)

Kouf is a screenwriter, director and producer known for his work on films such as “National Treasure” and the television show, “Grimm.” Kouf devotes his time to the Cal Poly English Department’s Career Connections Program.

2016 Award Recipient Video

Orfalea College of Business

Scott Cooper

(Business Administration, B.S., 1991)

Cooper is the CFO of Allegro Ophthalmics, LLC. A former football player, Cooper is a supporter of the Accounting and International Fellowships, Cal Poly Athletics, and Construction Management.

2016 Award Recipient Video

Engineering

Karen Bartleson

(B.S., Engineering Science, 1980)

Bartleson is the past president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). She is the author of numerous articles and is the recipient of the Marie R. Pistilli Women in Electronic Design Automation Achievement Award.

2016 Award Recipient Video