2020 Annual Report
FRED CLAYTON, BOARD CHAIR
On my first day as a young staff consultant at Price Waterhouse, the global professional services firm now known as PwC, I was at my desk when a mailroom associate dropped by with a delivery. He reached into his cart, handed me an envelope, and with a smile said, “Welcome to the firm!”
Curious, I immediately opened the envelope and discovered my copy of the Los Angeles Office Alumni Directory. Apparently, my new employer referred to former colleagues as “alumni” of the firm unless, of course, they resigned to join a competitor – one of the other “Big 8” accounting firms – in which case, their name was unceremoniously deleted from the directory. All the others though, whether they had left in good standing or were asked to leave, could be found in the directory and would forever be a part of the Price Waterhouse “family”.
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of family and being part of a community. With the sudden shift to remote learning, working from home, and social distancing, the Caltech Y continued to program virtually, including student programs, Friends webinars, and email updates. Although these intentional virtual efforts were not the same as meeting in person, we hoped to maintain these important connections to foster a sense of community.
This annual report focuses on those connections and the Y’s efforts to stay mission driven. As a Friend of the Caltech Y, you are part of the “family” and an important member of our community. Thank you for your support during this challenging year.
LEADERSHIP
LAURA HU, EXCOMM PRESIDENT
It has been a joy and an inspiration to serve as the Caltech Y’s student ExComm president during an unprecedented time. 2020 has been full of unique challenges. Caltech and institutions around the world have transitioned to online models, fundamentally changing the ways in which we learn and engage.
Amidst the challenges, we have seen versatility and new opportunities. During a time that can be isolating, the Caltech Y provided avenues of connection. ExComm and student leadership continued to meet regularly and plan new programming adapted to the virtual environment. Technology brought together alumni and speakers from all over the world, speaking on an array of timely topics interacting with pressing social issues. Students were also motivated to serve their communities, leading to a record-number of participants in the Caltech Y’s tutoring programs. With these programs and others, such as the Science Policy Symposium, the virtual Community Service and Advocacy Fair, and the Adventure 101 series, the Caltech Y continued to build community around our five pillars of leadership, service, adventure, civic engagement, and perspective.
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Although my senior year at Caltech has progressed in unexpected ways, I am thankful for the consistent presence of the Caltech Y, linking both in-person and online experiences. For me and so many others, the Caltech Y has been a central part of my experience at Caltech. This is made possible by your support. Thank you for your commitment to students and the Caltech Y. We are grateful for the opportunities to stay connected.
2019-20 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
PETER HUNG
Chair
FRED CLAYTON
Vice Chair
DONNA SHEPHERD
Secretary
DONALD COLLINS
Treasurer
SUNNY CUI*
Student ExComm President
ATHENA CASTRO
Executive Director
STUDENT LEADERS
(Continued)
"
We are all working hard to ensure that the Y continues to serve as a resource for students, complementing students’ academic experiences with other opportunities to engage the community."
Sunny Cui BS '20
Student ExComm President '19
Y OUTDOORS COMMITTEE
Julie Andre
Camille Bernal
Sydney Corona
Rebecca Gallivan
Ben Herren
Toussaint Pegues
Kathryn Plant
Cullen Quine
Jimmy Ragan
Eitan Rapaport
Jillian Reed
Danny Sawyer
I have been able to access the outdoors and go to a lot of places I wouldn't have known about or been able to go without the knowledge and support of the Y. Being a part of the community at the Y is among the best choices I have made at Caltech.
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-Rebecca Gallivan
PROGRAMS
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, student leaders coordinated some amazing programs. Thanks to their hard work, the Caltech Y offered an array of options to stay connected, engage with thought-provoking speakers and presenters, and have fun!
Community Service
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Community Service & Advocacy Fair
Friends In Deed Hygiene Product Drive
(co-sponsored with The Interhouse
Committee)
Young & Healthy Toiletry Kits
Amigos de los Rios Tree Planting
(co-sponsored with Techers for a
Sustainable World)
Marshall Credit Recovery Program
Mentors for Life
Pasadena LEARNS
Orientation Service Project with
Union Station
Kids Reading to Succeed
Hathaway Sycamores Family Services
Make-A-Difference Weeks:
Virtual Volunteering
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Ongoing Service Programs
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Union Station
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Rise Program & Y-Tutor
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Explore LA
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Frozen: The Musical
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Holiday Magic at Disneyland
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Lakers vs. Grizzlies
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Natural History Museum
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Pasadena Symphony
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UCLA Gymnastics vs. Utah
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LA Zoo Lights
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Fall Decompression
Social Programs
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Orientation Open House
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Caltech COVID Cookbook
Outdoor Adventures
Adventure 101
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Hiking Options in the Greater LA Area
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Yosemite Y-Hike Pre-Orientation Trip
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Day Trips
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Beaudry Loop Hike
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Ice House Canyon Hike
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Los Liones Hike
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Mt. Islip Hike
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Fly Fishing
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Big Bear Ski Trip
National Park Camping Trips
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Joshua Tree
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Red Rocks
Wilderness First Aid Training
(co-sponsored with the Alpine Club and supported by the Moore Hufstedler-Fund)
Cultural & Educational
Programs
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India ki Khoj Cultural Trip
(co-sponsored with the Indian Institute of Technology, Ghandinagar & the Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships Program)
Washington, DC Science Policy Trip
Lunch & Learn
Fraud and Predatory Lending Targeting College Students: Deter, Detect, Defend Against Identity Theft (co-sponsored with CEFCU)
World Fest
(co-sponsored with International Student Programs)
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Italian Pasta Making Zoom Demonstration
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Journey to India Zoom Talk
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Journey to the Northern Lights Zoom Talk
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Virtual International Food Fair & Culture Show
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Student Activism Speaker Series (SASS)
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Black LA: A Conversation with Dr. Darnell Hunt, Moderated by Dr. Danielle Wiggins
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The California Housing Crisis, an Overview: Lunch Talk with Liam Dillon of the LA Times
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Electrifying LA's Green New Deal: Webinar with Michael Samulon
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Housing, Tenant Justice, and Rent Control: Lunch Talk with the Socialists of Caltech
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LA Housing: Lunch Talk with Sean McKenna
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Race & Science Policy Webinar: Theories and Tools to Assess Racial Gerrymandering and Racially Polarized Voting with Dr. Matt Barreto
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Science Policy & Diplomacy: Lunch Talk with
Dr. William Colglazier
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Science Policy Webinar: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Evaluations of Partisan Fairness in District-Based Democracies with Dr. Jonathan Katz
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Student Policy Opportunities in Washington DC: Lunch Talk with Reina Buenconsejo and
Sarah Cohen
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The WHO and Global Policy: Webinar with Dorine van der Wal and Oliver Rosenbauer
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Voting During the Pandemic: The Benefits and Challenges of Voting in the Time of COVID-19 with Dr. Barry Burden
MLK Commemoration Week
(co-sponsored with the Caltech Center for Inclusion & Diversity)
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MLK Service: A Day On, Not Off at
Muir High School
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MLK 2020 Keynote: Featuring Alumna
Dr. Schetema Nealy
STUDENT AWARDS
Patrick Hummel and Harry Gray Travel Award
Rita Aksenfeld, Isabella Camplisson, Elisabeth Gallmeier, Jeff Ma, Iman Wahle, and David Wu
The Patrick Hummel and Harry Gray Travel Fund was established as a joint gift from Carla and Paul Hummel, Patrick Hummel, and Shirley and Harry Gray, Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry. The fund supports travel opportunities for undergraduate students to promote professional and leadership development and broaden students' perspectives as engaged, responsible citizens of the world.
Lucy Guernsey Service Award
Alexandra (Alex) Phillips and Iman Wahle
Initiated in 1992 by the Caltech Y ExComm in honor of Lucy Guernsey, the Caltech Y’s Executive Director from 1989-1992, in recognition of her leadership, dedication to students, and diligence in furthering the Y’s commitment to volunteerism.
Y HIGHLIGHTS
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
We are GRATEFUL to the hundreds of people who support our mission through the annual campaign and additional contributions. Here, we recognize those who have donated so generously this past year from October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020. Thank you!
Visionary
John Andelin and Virginia Geoffrey
Rolf and Gunilla Hastrup
Cheryl Kane
Susan Murakami and Lee Fisher
Phil and Nancy Naecker
Lajos Piko
Rainer Schaaf
Wes Hershey
Benefactor
Matt Cedeno
Michelle Jiang
Ravi and Sandhya Ravichandran*
Doris Shimabukuro*
Richard Beatty
Sunney and Irene Chan
Fred and Susan Clayton
Harry and Shirley Gray
Vansh Kumar
Mike and Paula Stefanko
Mary Wahl and Nick Hutzler