Cal Poly Universities’ “Jungle Jumpstart” Wins Sweepstakes Award at 2026 Rose Parade®

By Atascadero News · Mon Jan 05 2026

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Cal Poly universities’ 77th annual Rose Parade float, “Jungle Jumpstart,” earned the prestigious Sweepstakes Award at the 137th Rose Parade® on New Year’s Day, marking the first time in nearly eight decades that the schools have received the top honor. The student-designed and -built float depicted rainforest animals working together to restore a 40-foot robot, illustrating the 2026 parade theme, “The Magic in Teamwork.” The float combined elaborate floral artistry, animatronic features, and LED lighting to bring the story vividly to life.

Measuring 53 feet long, 25 feet high, and 18 feet wide, the float was created entirely by students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Pomona. Students collaborated across disciplines — from engineering and architecture to art and computer programming — to design, build, and operate the moving robot arm, digital screens, and jungle-inspired scenery. Tropical plants, flowers, fruits, and natural textures were creatively combined to simulate the dense rainforest, while mechanical and electronic elements animated the robot and animals.

“It’s really remarkable to win this award and celebrate it, especially on this year’s theme,” Cal Poly Rose float President Aubrey Goings said the after the awards were announced prior to the parade. “We’re really just ecstatic, especially because this year’s theme — ‘The Magic in Teamwork’ — and us winning this is really celebrating our teamwork how we get together and make everything from scratch, learning from each other. What sets us apart from some of the other parade floats is how we built this truly from our hearts and how we are telling our own story in the float through the animals, working together on the robot — just like us, with students from two universities and multiple disciplines working together to support each other and make something beautiful.”

Dozens of student leaders spent months planning, building, and decorating the float, including animators, drivers, and operators who guided it along the 5½-mile parade route.

The 2026 Sweepstakes Award is the highest recognition in the parade and is typically awarded to larger, commercial floats, making this achievement especially remarkable for a self-built student entry. Since 1949, Cal Poly universities have produced 77 floats and earned 64 awards, showcasing their signature “Learn by Doing” approach to hands-on education.

“Every year we’re just really excited to prove ourselves and show what we can do,” Goings said. “Everyone went an extra step beyond what we’re comfortable with having a float that’s so large. We’re going to have to decorate more. We’re going to have to build more. And so by reaching these new bounds, we’re placing more complications on ourselves. But we are always excited to solve these problems to show that we can do something very spectacular and awe-inspiring.”