Gifts That Drive Innovation

NEW SCHOLARS PROGRAM SUSTAINS WORLD-CLASS HOSPITALITY EDUCATION

California’s hospitality industry is one of the largest in the country. And while tourism and travel have largely returned following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state and the country continue to struggle with labor shortages; a February 2024 survey found that 67% of hotels had too few staff.

A new $1.4 million cooperative venture by Pebble Beach Company will help meet that need in California, strengthening the education and training of students in Cal State Monterey Bay’s Sustainable Hospitality Management (SHM) program. The Pebble Beach Scholars program combines an annual scholarship of up to $5,000 per year with internship opportunities, bridge housing during academic breaks and potential employment in the region following graduation.​

“Working with Pebble Beach Company is a unique and distinguished privilege for our program,” said Professor Paige Viren, executive director of the SHM program. “Our students have the extraordinary chance to acquire practical experience with a trailblazing organization that sets the benchmark for others to follow.”

CREATING A PIPELINE OF ENERGY SCIENTISTS & STEM PROFESSIONALS

Kern County, home to California State University, Bakersfield, has long been a critical hub for the nation’s production of gas and oil. With a new endowment of $2.5 million by long-time partner Aera Energy, the university can grant undergraduate and graduate students unprecedented access to conduct energy research, creating a pipeline of scientists and STEM professionals for the region.

The gift will establish the Executive Director for Energy Research at CSUB within its California Energy Research Center and brings Aera’s historical gift total, since 1997, to $3.4 million.

“The entire region should feel an immense sense of pride that we will remain the energy capital of the West Coast for generations to come,” said then CSUB President Lynette Zelezny. “With Aera’s trusted partnership, CSUB will launch a new era for science and research, creating unprecedented opportunities for our students.”

GIFT TO HELP GROW THE ECOLOGICAL FARMING MOVEMENT

Fourth-generation farmer and California State University, Chico professor Dr. Cindy Daley is a bona fide visionary. Since joining the university in 1996, she has started a composting enterprise at the University Farm, the Organic Dairy Unit, and an Environmental Resiliency Collaborative.

Dr. Daley has also served as campus coordinator for the university’s Agricultural Research Institute and faculty chair for This Way to Sustainability, the largest student-run sustainability conference in the nation. But it has been her work in leading the creation of Chico State’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS) that has brought international attention.

Since 2019, the center—which has raised more than $30 million in funding—has worked to promote farming practices that reduce greenhouse gasses, restore soil resiliency, increase the sustainability of farms and ranches, and address food and water insecurity. Which made choosing Dr. Daley to be the inaugural recipient of the Gayle E. Hutchinson Award for Excellence an easy decision. Named for a former president of Chico State, the $100,000 award recognizes individuals who exemplify forward-thinking strategies and innovation in technology, academic research and creative activity.

“Today, if you ask Nestlé, General Mills, Unilever, McDonald’s, or other giants who they trust most on regenerative leadership, they all point to [Chico State],” noted Larry Kopaldo, president and cofounder of Carbon Underground in his nomination letter. “Today, a school that lived in the shadows of other, better-known names, is now the go-to place in an education R&D sector for industries representing $11 trillion in revenue and the greatest opportunity for a healthier and more economically robust world.”

SCIENCE AND INNOVATION CENTER CONTINUES FAMILY’S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED

A new two-story, 22,165-square-foot science center at California State University, East Bay will house five instruction spaces, four fully operational laboratories, and a student-support space. Each area has been designed with hands-on experimentation and collaborative discovery in mind, as well as making the most of the outdoors surrounding the university.

The new Braddock Center for Science and Innovation was made possible by a $5 million contribution toward construction costs from Braddock Philanthropies and East Bay natives Robert Braddock and Cherie Keemar.

The gift is a continuation of a long history by the Braddock family toward strengthening the East Bay community begun by Bob and Cherie’s parents, Lois and Robert Sr. Cal State East Bay President Dr. Cathy Sandeen called the generous contribution “incredibly significant for helping our students gain in-demand, hands-on STEM skills and knowledge. Their support really affirms the lasting academic and social value that Cal State East Bay brings to the region.”

STUDENTS HACK A BETTER FUTURE USING AI

Most of us hope the unlimited potential of artificial intelligence (AI) will be harnessed for good. How AI might be used to create a better future was the focus of a recent two-day hackathon at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, enabled by a gift from Avanade Inc., a global leader in Microsoft technology services, to the Mitchell C. Hill Center for Digital Innovation. The “AI for a Better Future 48-Hour Hackathon” showcased the talents of 70 students on 17 teams across multiple fields of study. “Partnering with Avanade for five years has been an incredible journey, enriching the student experience at Cal Poly Pomona and propelling their career development to new heights,” explained primary event organizer Laura Pohopien, an adjunct professor in the College of Business Administration at Cal Poly Pomona.

Avanade’s sponsorship represents a portion of their larger investment to increase the number of women in technology fields. Their funding also provided a four-year renewal commitment to the Avanade STEM Scholarship designed to promote traditionally underrepresented students in the field of STEM to receive financial support, internships and executive mentorship. Up to $80,000 is available annually for up to 15 students based on unmet need, and their gift also supports a faculty fellowship to collaborate on an annual summer conference to engage scholarship recipients in workshops, mentorship and team activities.

“LEARN BY DOING” DONATION DELIVERS A DYNAMIC COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE

Anyone who’s visited California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo knows the university’s “Learn by Doing” ethos is embedded in everything. Two Cal Poly alumni who’ve taken this to heart—Bob and Carlotta Dathe—are making it easier for more students to embrace hands-on education thanks to a new dynamic outdoor workspace. The Dathe Family Student Project Center features a custom-designed shade sail spanning a paved area for team activities. Shipping containers in the versatile space will be repurposed as clubhouses that encourage collaboration among a variety of clubs, including Cal Poly Racing, Hyperloop and Supermileage.

The Dathes had already pledged $300,000 to the center and further bolstered their commitment with an additional $35,000 donation. “What drew us to the project center is its versatility, offering opportunities for various practical applications,” said Carlotta, who graduated in 1960. “My fondest memories of Cal Poly revolve around its Learn by Doing philosophy, which equipped me with a skill set that has served me well throughout my life.” “I’m thrilled to see how this center will directly benefit numerous students and clubs,” added Bob, who also graduated in 1960. “It’s a logical fit for clubs and ongoing projects, and I’m excited to witness its impact.”​