The Rose Parade’s 2026 Sweepstakes Award, marking the most beautiful entry, was presented to the Cal Poly Universities Rose Float,  “Jungle Jumpstart,”on New Year’s Day. The team, comprised of students from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, have been designing and constructing the Rose Parade's only student-built float for 77 years.

This is the seventh time a self-built float has been honored with the Sweepstakes Trophy and the first time for Cal Poly Universities. 

This article was originally published by Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on January 1, 2026