Cal Poly Universities Rose Float

Cal Poly Universities Rose Float Logo

Every year Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo jointly build and enter a floral entry (aka float) into the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Parade. These two institutions have continuously participated in the parade since 1949; winning the Award of Merit in their first year. The Cal Poly floats have led in introducing technology to the Parade, including the first use of hydraulics for animation in 1968, the first use of computer-controlled animation in 1978, the first use of fiber optics in 1982, and animated deco in 2014. As of January 1, 2016, the floats have won 56 awards. This program is one of the longest consecutive running self-built^[1] entries in the parade, as well as the only "self built" float designed and constructed entirely by students year-round on two campuses. They compete against professional float builders who manufacture entries for sponsors, many of them with development budgets approaching $1 million.^[2] This tradition continues today and marks the partnership between the two campuses.

Information on how the Cal Poly Universities were first invited to the parade can be found on the Special Collections History page (see External Link Section below). Stories, pictures and videos of the Cal Poly student adventures can be found on our unofficial documentary YouTube site (see External Link Section below). Road & Track magazine did a road test of the Cal Poly Universities Rose Float as part of their annual April issue of unusual vehicles.^[3]

History

List of Cal Poly Rose Floats

Entry #	Year	Title	Photo^[4]	Rendering^[5]	Hi-res Video^[6]	Float Of The Week^[7]	Award^[8]
69	2017	A New Leaf	TBD	Cal Poly Rendering 2017	—	—	TBD
68	2016	Sweet Shenanigans	Cal Poly Float 2016	Cal Poly Rendering 2016	2016 Hi-Res	—	Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy ^[9]
67	2015	Soaring Stories	Cal Poly Float 2015	Cal Poly Rendering 2015	2015 Hi-Res	—	Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy ^[10]
66	2014	Bedtime Buccaneers	Cal Poly Float 2014	Cal Poly Rendering 2014	2014 Hi-Res	2014 FOTW	Crown City Innovation Trophy ^[11]
65	2013	Tuxedo Air	Cal Poly Float 2013	Cal Poly Rendering 2013	2013 Hi-Res	—	Bob Hope Humor Trophy
64	2012	To the Rescue!	Cal Poly Float 2012	Cal Poly Rendering 2012	2012 Hi-Res	—	KTLA Favorite Float Award
63	2011	Galactic Expedition	Cal Poly Float 2011	Cal Poly Rendering 2011	2011 Hi-Res	—	Fantasy Trophy / Viewers' Choice Award^[12]
62	2010	Jungle Cuts	Cal Poly Float 2010	Cal Poly Rendering 2010	2010 Hi-Res	—	Bob Hope Humor Trophy / Viewers' Choice Award^[13]
61	2009	Seaside Amusement	Cal Poly Float 2009	Cal Poly Rendering 2009	2009 Hi-Res	—	Viewers' Choice Award^[14]
60	2008	Guardians of Harmony	Cal Poly Float 2008	Cal Poly Rendering 2008	2008 Hi-Res	—	Fantasy Trophy
59	2007	Arctic Antics	Cal Poly Float 2007	Cal Poly Rendering 2007	2007 Hi-Res	—	No award won
58	2006	Enchanted Reverie	Cal Poly Float 2006	Cal Poly Rendering 2006	2006 Hi-Res	—	No award won
57	2005	Elefun Time	Cal Poly Float 2005	Cal Poly Rendering 2005	2005 Hi-Res	—	No award won
56	2004	Bob's Barnacle Band	Cal Poly Float 2004	Cal Poly Rendering 2004	2004 Hi-Res	—	Founder's Trophy
55	2003	A Sundae Afternoon	Cal Poly Float 2003	Cal Poly Rendering 2003	2003 Hi-Res	—	Theme Prize
54	2002	Birthday Blowout	Cal Poly Float 2002	Cal Poly Rendering 2002	2002 Hi-Res	—	No award won
53	2001	A Grizzly Situation	Cal Poly Float 2001	Cal Poly Rendering 2001	2001 Hi-Res	—	Founder's Trophy
52	2000	Stolen Time	Cal Poly Float 2000	Cal Poly Rendering 2000	2000 Hi-Res	—	Humor Trophy
51	1999	Surfin' the Net	Cal Poly Float 1999	Cal Poly Rendering 1999	1999 Hi-Res	—	No award won
50	1998	Countryside Joyride	Cal Poly Float 1998	Cal Poly Rendering 1998	1998 Hi-Res	—	Founders Trophy
49	1997	Catch of the Day	Cal Poly Float 1997	Cal Poly Rendering 1997	1997 Hi-res	—	Founders Trophy
48	1996	Thumbs Up	Cal Poly Float 1996	Cal Poly Rendering 1996	1996 Hi-res	—	No award won
47	1995	Bending the Rules	Cal Poly Float 1995	Cal Poly Rendering 1995	1995 Hi-res	—	No award won
46	1994	A Novel Adventure	Cal Poly Float 1994	Cal Poly Rendering 1994	1994 Hi-res	—	No award won
45	1993	Hare Raising Fun	Cal Poly Float 1993	Cal Poly Rendering 1993	1993 Hi-res	1993 FOTW	No award won
44	1992	Squeaking By	Cal Poly Float 1992	Cal Poly Rendering 1992	1992 Hi-res	—	No award won
43	1991	Tickle Attack	Cal Poly Float 1991	Cal Poly Rendering 1991	1991 Hi-res	—	Humor Trophy
42	1990	Sound Waves	Cal Poly Float 1990	Cal Poly Rendering 1990	1990 Hi-res	—	No award won
41	1989	Paradin' Around	Cal Poly Float 1989	Cal Poly Rendering 1989	1989 Hi-Res	—	Founder's Trophy
40	1988	Imagine That	Cal Poly Float 1988	Cal Poly Rendering 1988	1988 Hi-Res	—	Founder's Trophy
39	1987	Breaking the Ice	Cal Poly Float 1987	Cal Poly Rendering 1987	1987 Hi-res	1987 FOTW	No award won
38	1986	Bubble Trouble	Cal Poly Float 1986	Cal Poly Rendering 1986	1986 Hi-res	—	Founder's Trophy
37	1985	Only in America	Cal Poly Float 1985	Cal Poly Rendering 1985	1985 Hi-res	—	No award won
36	1984	A Knight to Remember	Cal Poly Float 1984	Cal Poly Rendering 1984	1984 Hi-res	—	No award won
35	1983	While the Cat's at Play	Cal Poly Float 1983	Cal Poly Rendering 1983	1983 Hi-res	—	Princess Award
34	1982	Way Out Welcome	Cal Poly Float 1982	Cal Poly Rendering 1982	1982 Hi-res	—	Princess Award
33	1981	Snow Poke	Cal Poly Float 1981	Cal Poly Rendering 1981	1981 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
32	1980	Hard Rock	Cal Poly Float 1980	Cal Poly Rendering 1980	1980 Hi-res	—	Founder's Trophy
31	1979	Cub O'War	Cal Poly Float 1979	Cal Poly Rendering 1979	1979 Hi-res	—	Princess Award
30	1978	Grin And Bear It	Cal Poly Float 1978	Cal Poly Rendering 1978	1978 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
29	1977	Tons Of Fun	Cal Poly Float 1977	Cal Poly Rendering 1977	1977 Hi-res	—	Princess Award
28	1976	High Hopes	Cal Poly Float 1976	Cal Poly Rendering 1976	1976 Hi-res	—	Founder's Trophy
27	1975	Building A Better Mousetrap	Cal Poly Float 1975	Cal Poly Rendering 1975	1975 Hi-res	—	Princess Award
26	1974	Happiness Is Finding A Friend	Cal Poly Float 1974	Cal Poly Rendering 1974	1974 Hi-res	—	Theme Prize
25	1973	Monster Matinee	Cal Poly Float 1973	Cal Poly Rendering 1973	1973 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
24	1972	Swamp Rhythm	Cal Poly Float 1972	Cal Poly Rendering 1972	1972 Hi-res	—	Mayor's Trophy
23	1971	Once Upon A Dream	Cal Poly Float 1971	Cal Poly Rendering 1971	1971 Hi-res	—	Judges' Special
22	1970	That First Day Of Spring	Cal Poly Float 1970	—	1970 Hi-res	—	Princess Award
21	1969	The Good Ole Days	Cal Poly Float 1969	Cal Poly Rendering 1969	1969 Hi-res	—	Princess Award
20	1968	The Mouse That Got Away	Cal Poly Float 1968	Cal Poly Rendering 1968	1968 Hi-res	1968 FOTW	Princess Award
19	1967	A Child's Fantasy	Cal Poly Float 1967	Cal Poly Rendering 1967	1967 Hi-res	—	Mayor's Trophy
18	1966	It's A Child's World	Cal Poly Float 1966	Cal Poly Rendering 1966	1966 Hi-res	—	Judges' Special
17	1965	Good News Travels Fast	Cal Poly Float 1965	Cal Poly Rendering 1965	1965 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
16	1964	Cutting The Apron Strings	Cal Poly Float 1964	Cal Poly Rendering 1964	1964 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
15	1963	A Young Man's Fancy	Cal Poly Float 1963	Cal Poly Rendering 1963	1963 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
14	1962	Man On The Moon	Cal Poly Float 1962	Cal Poly Rendering 1962	1962 Hi-res	1962 FOTW	1st Class H
13	1961	Slow Boat To China	Cal Poly Float 1961	Cal Poly Rendering 1961	1961 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
12	1960	Special Delivery	Cal Poly Float 1960	Cal Poly Rendering 1960	1960 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
11	1959	St. George And The Dragon	Cal Poly Float 1959	Cal Poly Rendering 1959	1959 Hi-res	1959 FOTW	Theme Prize
10	1958	Summer Daze	Cal Poly Float 1958	Cal Poly Rendering 1958	1958 Hi-res	—	2nd Class H
9	1957	Which Was First? The Chicken or the Egg?	Cal Poly Float 1957	Cal Poly Rendering 1957	1957 Hi-res	—	Theme Prize
8	1956	Steps To Peace	Cal Poly Float 1956	Cal Poly Rendering 1956	1956 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
7	1955	The Sky's The Limit	Cal Poly Float 1955	Cal Poly Rendering 1955	1955 Hi-res	—	2nd Class H
6	1954	Gulliver's Travels	Cal Poly Float 1954	Cal Poly Rendering 1954	1954 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
5	1953	Mission Bells	Cal Poly Float 1953	—	1953 Hi-res	—	3rd Class H
4	1952	A Free World Through Education	Cal Poly Float 1952	—	1952 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
3	1951	College Barn Dance	Cal Poly Float 1951	—	1951 Hi-res	—	1st Class H
2	1950	New Frontiers	Cal Poly Float 1950	—	1950 Hi-res	1950 FOTW	3rd Class H
1	1949	Rocking Horse	Cal Poly Float 1949	—	1949 Hi-res	1949 FOTW	Award of Merit

Awards

Since 1949 the floats have won 56 trophies.

Trophy	Trophy Description	Wins	Winning Years
Award of Merit	Depicting the highest level of Merit	1	1949
Bob Hope Humor Trophy & Humor Trophy	Most comical and amusing, Best display of Humor	4	1991, 2000, 2010, 2013
Crown City Innovation Trophy	Best Use of Imagination & Innovation to Advance the Art of Float Design	1	2014
Fantasy Trophy	Most Outstanding Display of Fantasy & Imagination	2	2008, 2011
Founder's Trophy	Most outstanding self-decorated entry.	9	1976, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004
Judges' Special	Most Spectacular in Showmanship & Dramatic Impact	2	1966, 1971
Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy	Most beautiful non-commercial float	2	2015, 2016
Mayor's Trophy	Best display of Originality	2	1967, 1972
Princess Award	Best Display of Animation (until 1984)	8	1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983
Theme Prize	Most fitting presentation of theme	4	1957, 1959, 1974, 2003
Viewers' Choice Trophy & KTLA Favorite Float Award	Viewers favorite Rose Parade float poll (KTLA)	4	2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
1st Class H	1st Place - Educational division	13	1951, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1981
2nd Class H	2nd Place - Educational division	2	1955, 1958
3rd Class H	3rd Place - Educational division	2	1950, 1953
4th Class H	4th Place - Educational division	0

References

^ Ahrens, Ronald (December 25, 2011). "Even Parade Floats Aren't Exempt From Regulations". The New York Times. p. AU12. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
^ http://www.firstmarkcontrols.com/pmc1299.htm
^ "Cal Poly Rose Parade Float: Answer to the transportation requirements of the future". Road & Track: 123. April 1975.
^ http://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/images.html
^ http://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/images.html
^ http://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/images.html
^ http://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/images.html
^ http://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/awards.html
^ http://www.tournamentofroses.com/news/2016-float-awards-announcement/
^ http://www.myfoxla.com/story/27742917/rose-parade-winners-announced/
^ http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/01/01/awards-list-for-2014-tournament-of-roses-parade/
^ http://polycentric.cpp.edu/news_stories/2011/01/rose-float-wins-fantasy-award----still-vying-for-viewers-choice.html
^ http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_14102323
^ http://www.ktla.com/roseparade_poll

External links

[1] Ahrens, Ronald (December 25, 2011). "Even Parade Floats Aren't Exempt From Regulations". The New York Times. p. AU12. Retrieved December 9, 2012.

[2] ttp://www.firstmarkcontrols.com/pmc1299.htm

[3] "Cal Poly Rose Parade Float: Answer to the transportation requirements of the future". Road & Track: 123. April 1975.

[4] ttp://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/images.html

[5] ttp://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/images.html

[6] ttp://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/images.html

[7] ttp://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/images.html

[8] ttp://www.cpp.edu/~library/specialcollections/rosefloat/awards.html

[9] ttp://www.tournamentofroses.com/news/2016-float-awards-announcement/

[10] ttp://www.myfoxla.com/story/27742917/rose-parade-winners-announced/

[11] ttp://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/01/01/awards-list-for-2014-tournament-of-roses-parade/

[12] ttp://polycentric.cpp.edu/news_stories/2011/01/rose-float-wins-fantasy-award----still-vying-for-viewers-choice.html

[13] ttp://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_14102323

[14] ttp://www.ktla.com/roseparade_poll

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v t e Tournament of Roses
Rose Parade	Rose Parade Bands Rose Parade Floats Rose Parade Grand Marshals Tournament of Roses Association Rose Palace Rose Queen Rose Parade Themes Tournament of Roses Presidents
Floats	Cal Poly Universities (Pomona & San Luis Obispo) Rose Float Valley Hunt Club
Rose Bowl	Rose Bowl Game Rose Bowl Stadium Rose Bowl Game Broadcasters Tournament Park Great Rose Bowl Hoax Bowl Championship Series (BCS) BCS TV & Radio BCS controversies College Football Playoff

History

List of Cal Poly Rose Floats

Awards

See also

References

External links