PolyX Showcase

Showcase

On November 21, 2024, Cal Poly Pomona hosted its 7th annual Fall PolyX Showcase, a vibrant celebration of student innovation, creativity, and hands-on learning. This event brought together students, faculty, industry partners, and community members to explore how CPP’s signature learn-by-doing approach is shaping the future—one project at a time. Attendees had the chance to connect, collaborate, and be inspired by student-led work that spans disciplines and tackles real-world challenges with bold, forward-thinking solutions. 

Ericka Olguin, senior innovator of the Innovation Incubator, captured the energy of the day: “The PolyX Showcase is a culmination of months of hard work, creativity, and dedication. It’s incredible to see the passion and innovation our students bring to life. This event is more than a presentation—it's a launching pad for future changemakers,” she said.

Whether you’re a student, mentor, or guest, the PolyX Showcase is a reminder of what’s possible when curiosity meets action!
Source Credit: Caitlyn Kubulan, CPP News

PolyX 2024 Program

Article

Photos from the Event

Showcase

The 6^th annual PolyX Showcase, held on November 16, 2023, served as a platform for students to present their Signature Polytechnic Experiences and highlight their innovative contributions to their fields of study. The showcase proved to be a major success as there were 433 attendees, 202 teams who presented, and 13 FYE faculty mentors. Ericka Olguin, the senior innovator of the newly established Innovation Incubator shared her enthusiasm for the PolyX Showcase. "We are thrilled to see the PolyX Showcase grow and evolve, now encompassing all PolyX courses," she said.

Articles

Showcase

On November 17, 2022, the PolyX FYE Showcase returned to an enthusiastic, in-person format for the first time since the onset of COVID-19— bringing together over 200 students, faculty, and staff inside the Bronco Student Center’s Ursa Major A, B, and C. The event gave first-year students a dynamic platform to present the Signature Polytechnic Experiences (PolyX) they completed during their first semester at Cal Poly Pomona.

Attendees explored a wide array of student-led projects that reflected the heart of CPP’s learn-by-doing philosophy. Through vibrant poster sessions, students shared the questions that sparked their curiosity, the research that shaped their ideas, and the innovative solutions they developed with support from faculty mentors and peers.

Dr. Olukemi Sawyerr, associate vice president for Academic Innovation, addressed the audience with enthusiasm and pride: “The hallmark of a Cal Poly Pomona education is learn by doing. Most people who choose to go to Cal Poly Pomona do so because they want to have the learn-by-doing experience,” she said. “PolyX and FYE wanted to make sure that in your first semester here at Cal Poly Pomona you experience the hallmark of Cal Poly Pomona.”

The 2022 Showcase wasn’t just a display of student work—it was a welcoming, empowering moment for first-year students to discover their voices, build community, and begin their academic journeys with confidence and purpose.
Source Credit: Emely Bonilla, The PolyPost

Article

Photos from the Event

Showcase

Over 500 first-year students engaged in a Signature Polytechnic Experience (PolyX) their very first semester at Cal Poly Pomona through the Learn Through Discovery (LTD) FYE Showcase.

Happening in person for the first time since 2019, the event gave participating students in the First Year Experience (FYE) program an opportunity to engage in a hands-on project by creating a research poster on a topic they care about. Half of the students presented in person at the University Library on Nov. 18, while the other half submitted video presentations.

“It was amazing to see so many first-year students sharing the results of their learn-by-doing PolyX projects,” said Winny Dong, faculty director of LTD. “After more than a year of virtual instruction and a semester of hybrid instruction, it was energizing to be in a space with so many talented students who are excited to talk about how they plan to make a positive impact in their communities.”

Articles

Photos from the Event

Showcase

Over 250 faculty, staff, students, and guests attended the Learn Through Discovery FYE Showcase on Dec. 1, 2020. The showcase gave the participating students the opportunity to present the Signature Polytechnic Experiences (PolyX) they completed in their FYE classes during their first semester at Cal Poly Pomona. During the event, students presented their innovative solutions in the LTD FYE Challenge, displayed their posters in the FYE PolyX Showcase, and awarded the FYE Common Read essay contest winners. 

“The FYE Showcase represents the learn-by-doing philosophy of the institution and demonstrates our polytechnic advantage,” said Dr. Olukemi Sawyerr, AVP of Academic Innovation.

• 2020 LTD FYE Challenge & Showcase Program
• 2020 FYE Showcase Poster Collection

Challenge

Prompt: Identify a social justice issue in the book, Occasional Magic: True Stories About Defying the Impossible, edited by Catherine Burns. Define the issue(s), describe the specific community(ies) the issue impacts, and develop a creative and innovative solution that addresses the issue that can be implemented or launched for the benefit of the identified community(ies).

Team Projects: 

• Team 1 - Ladies Who Protest (PPT)
• Team 2 - The Right to Fair Arms (PPT)
• Team 3 - WLWC

About the Challenge:

• Read about the LTD FYE Challenge

Articles

• Read PolyCentric Article
• Read College of Ag Article

 

Showcase

The 2019 LTD FYE Showcase allowed for students in the First Year Experience (FYE) programs to have a Signature Polytechnic Experience (PolyX) their very first semester at Cal Poly Pomona. Student created PolyX posters as part of a pilot program in their FYE classes and presented them at the showcase at a poster session. Moreover, the second year of the LTD FYE Challenge occurred at this event, giving FYE students in the Kellogg Honors College a chance to read the FYE common read book and engage in a PolyX based on the book Becoming. There was also a panel hosted by the FYE program that guests and participants were able to engage with before announcing the winner of the Challenge and FYE essay contest. 

• 2019 LTD FYE Showcase

Challenge

Prompt: Identify an opportunity or problem from the book, Becoming. Describe the problem or opportunity and identify a specific community or group of people impacted by this problem or opportunity. Develop a creative and innovative solution to this opportunity or problem that you could launch in the impacted community. 

• Fistbump video & Project website
• Think Alive Initiative (PPT)

• Read about the LTD FYE Challenge

Articles

• Read PolyCentric Article

Showcase

The 2018 Showcase included special activities related to the FYE common read book. This was also the first year of the LTD FYE Challenge, giving First Year Experience (FYE) students a chance to read the book and engage in a Signature Polytechnic Experience (PolyX) based on the book So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. There was also a panel hosted by the FYE program with special guest Kallen Allen. They announced the winner of the Challenge and FYE essay contest after the panel. 

Challenge

Date: 11/03/2018
Book: So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Number of Participants: 10 (3 Teams)
Winning Team: #SHHHAME: A Campaign to End Public Shaming
Judges: Kenneth Lamb and Jessica Perez

• Read about the LTD FYE Challenge

Articles

• Read PolyCentric Article
• Read Poly Post Article