Obituary for Alum Mike O’Connell

On March 19, 2021, alum and former front row Mike "Oak" O'Connell passed away at the age of 67 due to a prolonged illness. O’Connell grew up in Salinas California, where he attended Palma High School. He is also an alum of Hartnell College.  In 1976 O’Connell transferred into Cal Poly where he played for Cal Poly Rugby Football Club…

Former Mustang Rugby Standout Battles El Dorado Fire as Member of ‘Hotshots’ Crew

California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) graduate and former Mustangs rugby standout Shelby Robinett — who now works for the U.S. Forest Service as a crewmember of the Arroyo Grande Hotshots — is helping fight the El Dorado fire in the San Bernardino National Forest. Robinett, an environmental management and protection major who played with the Mustangs for three seasons and…

Fly-Half Elena Strom Selected as One of Cal Poly’s Most Influential Women

Senior fly-half Elena Strom has been selected as one of Cal Poly’s most influential women by the Cal Poly Women in Business Association. The honor recognizes women in the Cal Poly community who “are influencing and inspiring other women and are going above and beyond their job descriptions to change the world,” according to an association email release. Cal Poly’s…