Student Leadership Awards

Students and clubs were recognized at the annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on May 29. Several outstanding seniors, along with a few prestigious student awards, were honored. The small and large clubs of the year were also honored. View photos from the night.

Louis H. and Stella Soares Outstanding Achievement Award: Andrew Angulo, third-year agricultural communication major

CAFES Ambassador’s Dean’s Award: Tatum Hilands, third-year agricultural communication major

Academic Excellence Award: Coco Rael, fourth-year nutrition major

Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the College: Anna Bibby, fourth-year agricultural business major

Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the University: Megan Dixon, fourth-year agricultural business major

Service to the Community: Ava Sabella, fourth-year environmental management and protection major with a wildlife biology concentration

Service to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Angeli Morales, fourth-year agricultural science major

Large Club of the Year: Agribusiness Management/National Agri-Marketing Association Club

Small Club of the Year: Young Cattlemen’s Association

Club Representative of the Year: Macy Lloyd

Club Member of the Year: Tatum Hilands

Spring Student Research Symposium Results

More than 90 posters were presented by undergraduate and graduate students at the annual Spring Student Research Symposium, held at the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture. Hundreds of attendees learned about the significant findings of their peers while also enjoying light refreshments. 

Grad student poster winners: first place: Abraham Ahumada (Plant Sciences, ’24); second place: Ashlee Pike (Agricultural Communication, ’23); third place:  food science major Griffin Prough, who partnered with graduate student Jack Madden.

Undergrad student poster winners: first place: fourth-year animal science major Giana Hollingsworth; second place: fourth-year computer science majors Beck Schemenauer and Gavin Lynch (co-advised by Animal Science Assistant Professor Mohammed Abo-Ismail); third place: fourth-year bioresource and agricultural engineering majors Annali Lynch, Ethan Chea, Cory Kuntz, and Christopher Williams.

BRAE student elected ASI President

Third-year bioresource and agricultural engineering student Marc Cabeliza was elected as 2025-26 ASI president. Creating a sense of community, improving student safety and transportation are just some of the goals he has for his term. He also hopes to preserve Cal Poly’s green spaces and agricultural land from construction and development. Cabeliza currently serves as chair of the University Union Advisory Board.

In addition, agricultural communication majors Morgan Oliveira, Andrew Angulo, Garret Gomes and Bella Twiss were elected to represent CAFES on the ASI Board of Directors.

Cal Poly Mule Packing Claims World Title

Coach Lou Moore-Jacobsen and 12 students from the Cal Poly Mule Packing club attended Bishop Mule Days over Memorial Day weekend. Milena Wilson, Claire Saydah, Madison Martinich and Lauren McEwen cinched the title of world champion intercollegiate packers, competing against nine other college packing teams for the position. Competitions included individual packing, team loads, a pack scramble, comedy load and parade. Mule packing is a time-honored tradition turned competitive sport where teams race against the clock to efficiently and flawlessly pack gear used in the back country on horses and mules.

California State FFA Finals Competition at Cal Poly

Each year, thousands of students from throughout the state come to Cal Poly’s campus for the annual State FFA Finals, thanks to a longstanding partnership with the California FFA Association. This year’s competition on May 3 welcomed more than 2,000 students from 170 high schools for the culminating event which sends top teams to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana this November.

CAFES students, faculty and staff facilitate every aspect of the event, where competitions range from agricultural communication media plans to livestock judging, land evaluation, vegetable crop judging and more. Third-year agricultural science major Annika Wharton served as general chair for the event, overseeing student sub chairs for each competition. Awards were organized by fourth-year agricultural communication major David Lopez and fourth-year agricultural science major Audrey Herrera. Numerous faculty served as contest advisors and students worked with committee chairs to ensure the event ran smoothly.

Interns needed for Clean Air Ambassadors Program

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD) is seeking college students to participate in our Clean Air Ambassadors Program for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a paid, part-time position with a flexible schedule up to 15 hours per week and $17/hour starting pay. Clean Air Ambassadors will work remotely, occasionally in the District’s Santa Barbara or Santa Maria office, as well as travel to schools throughout Santa Barbara County.

Clean Air Ambassadors will gain valuable teaching experience by educating elementary-level students about air pollution and ways to help improve air quality. This position will involve co-teaching hands-on, interactive curriculum in elementary school classrooms, soliciting teacher participation by conducting outreach, and assisting with the ongoing development of elementary-level curriculum and engaging activities related to air quality. Applications close Wednesday, May 7.

Please visit the website for more information and email CleanAirAmbassadors@sbcapcd.org with any questions.

Dressage Team Top Five in the Nation

The Cal Poly Dressage Team placed fifth in the nation at the Intercollegiate Dressage Association national competition with second-year animal science major Caroline Kargenian winning reserve champion at lower training level.

Lily-Rose Bacon (biomedical engineering) placed seventh at first level, Kaileen Grace (animal science) placed fourth in upper training, Caroline Kargenian (animal science) placed second in lower training level and Lucas Rupp (materials engineering) placed tenth at introductory level.  The team is coached by Jackie Eckhaus and kinesiology student Makenzie Ford.

Cal Poly Performance Horse Sale

The annual Cal Poly Performance Horse Sale was held at the Oppenheimer Family Equine Unit on Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31. Students and faculty welcomed hundreds of spectators and hopeful buyers of this year’s 25 quarter horse colts. All horses sold are bred, foaled and started under saddle by Cal Poly students. Student handler Josie Payne’s colt CP Natty Light “Nellie” sold at the highest price of $37,000.

Learn more about the horses for sale and their student handlers here.