Each year, the Center for Community Engagement honors those who go above and beyond in their outreach efforts. Nominated by the campus community, the civic engagement award winners will be recognized on Thursday, April 23 during a luncheon.
The 2015 winners are:
Professor Joyce Emilio, Faculty Award for Community Engagement
Professor Joyce Emilio instructs the Rock Your Future Service-Learning Class (IBM 299S), which brings different academic majors together to orchestrate community engagement projects. Past projects have included school supply drives, care packages for the military and college preparation workshops at neighboring elementary schools. Emilio inspires Cal Poly Pomona students to be involved in their community and to be part of positive change.
Cordelia Ontiveros, Staff/Administrator Award for Community Engagement
Cordelia Ontiveros, associate dean of programs and student services for the College of Engineering, is committed to reaching underrepresented students. From a successful proposal to have CSU STEM Volunteers to securing a Kellogg grant for the Women in Engineering program, Ontiveros inspires people to make a difference. She demonstrates vision and leadership, and she works tirelessly to garner funding and support.
Westmont Elementary School, Community Partner Award for Community Engagement
Westmont Elementary in the Pomona Unified School District has successfully partnered with the Lyle Center for the past four years. The partnership has created opportunities to increase environmental awareness in the community. One successful program is the Regenerative Communities Fellowship Program in which Cal Poly Pomona students teach environmental science to K-6 classrooms. Westmont also partnered with the regenerative studies faculty in after-school workshops on energy conservation and the study of food waste in cafeterias.
Circle K International, Student Organization Award for Community Engagement
Cal Poly Pomona’s Circle K has participated in several service events such as beach clean-ups, Aids Walk LA, LA Food Bank, Kiwanis Rose Floats Decoration, and more. The group prides itself on reaching a goal of over 2,000 service hours each year with their members. Students provide after-school homework help and tutoring with the local INSAN organization to assist families in need. Their mission is to serve the community with developing leadership and fellowship.
Bryan Esparza, Student Award for Community Engagement
As the youngest member to join his participating chapter of the Lions Club, Bryan Esparza has been committed to mentoring youth and building a better community for low-income families. He was the recipient of the Proud Lions Award and is the outreach Chair and Bilingual Event Assistant for Sight Project, in which residents can receive a free eye exam and obtain, refurbished glasses. He also organized Plarn Fest through the Lion’s Club and his fraternity, Lambda Theta Phi, which works on making waterproof sleeping mats for homeless people. In his role as community service chair Esparza coordinates his fraternity brothers to meet with Garey High School students to talk about grades and future choices.