CPP/Cal Poly Rose Float is Hands-on Teamwork

Biology major Jasmine Ly grew up watching the Rose Parade. Like most of us, she usually watched it on TV but has attended the parade in person with her family a couple of times.

“The opportunity to work on the rose float is very special. Most colleges don’t have one, so it’s unique to the Cal Poly Universities,” Ly said. She seized the opportunity, volunteering to work on the 2020 float, Aquatic Inspirations. Unfortunately, the 2021 Rose Parade was canceled due to the pandemic. 

Ly is the decorations lead on the 2022 float, Stargrazers. The float depicts the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle” and true to the polytechnic philosophy the design combines pastoral elements with high tech. The cow jumps over the moon with the help of a jet pack.

Ly manages and helps other volunteers. She says she’s gained valuable experience in teamwork. “We work with our hands and we work as a team. There’s a lot of team bonding. It’s a great experience to get hands-on skills. We have volunteers in design, construction, and decoration. You get to work with other majors too such as engineers.” 

As the end of the year draws near the pace of work picks up. Ly is now working Saturday and Sunday at the lab. She’s been processing statice which is grown here at CPP. They’ve also been processing rice powder, blended rice grains, and onion seed powder.

Volunteers get a one weekend break during finals. December 26 to 30 is decoration week and the teams work daily from early in the morning till late at night. There are volunteer opportunities for that week. People interested in volunteering to decorate can sign up starting December 6 here: https://www.rosefloat.org/this-year

Some interesting facts about the two Cal Polys' participation in the Rose Parade:

The only student built and designed float constructed year-round by two campuses

Participated every year since 1949 

Won 60 awards in 72 years

True to their polytechnic nature the universities are responsible for these technological innovations:

Animation using hydraulics, 1968

Animation controlled by computer, 1978

Use of fiber optics, 1982

Stargrazers - The 2022 Cal Poly and Cal Poly Pomona Rose Float