PASADENA, Calif. — The float co-constructed by students from Cal Poly and California State Polytechnic University in Pomona received the Crown City Innovation Trophy at the 125th Tournament of Roses Parade held New Year’s Day.
The Cal Poly float, “Bedtime Buccaneers,” depicts children, pets and stuffed animals playing on a bed-turned-pirate-ship, illustrating the 2014 parade’s theme of “Dreams Come True.”
The float featured something never before seen at the Rose Parade: a system for making the flowers themselves move, creating a ripple effect on panels of the blue flowers on the front and back of the float representing water around the “ship.” This system was conceived, designed and built from the ground up by students in the Mustang 60 lab at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
The float was one of 45 entered into the 2014 parade. The Cal Poly float is the only one in the parade designed and built entirely by students.
"This project is the epitome of Learn by Doing,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “It also demonstrates working across disciplines. There are all types of majors working here, from both campuses. And it brings together the whole Cal Poly community — students, parents, alumni, people who have been involved for years.”
Students from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo have collaborated with their peers in Pomona every year since 1949 to design and build a float for the annual New Year’s Day parade. The floats frequently win awards.
The Rose Float teams practice hands-on learning in moving the project from concept to design and construction. The Cal Poly team in San Luis Obispo constructs half and then transports it to Pomona shortly before New Year’s Day. There, students from both universities work with other volunteers to assemble the float and apply flowers during the week prior to the parade.
Before the parade, both Cal Poly universities were recognized as "California-Grown Certified" for committing to source from the Golden State a minimum 85 percent of the fresh cut flowers and greens that adorn their float. California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and Assembly Member Chris Holden from Pasadena held a special ceremony honoring the Cal Poly students.
For more information about the Cal Poly Rose Float, visit www.asi.calpoly.edu/rose_float.
For more on the Tournament of Roses Parade, log on to www.tournamentofroses.com.
Source: California Polytechnic State University
