“Jungle Cuts,” the Cal Poly Universities’ entry in this year’s Tournament of Roses Parade, has made history by winning two major honors: the Bob Hope Humor Trophy and the Viewers’ Choice Award.
Take a look at what it took to get the Rose Float gliding down Colorado Boulevard by viewing this slideshow.
The float, depicting a monkey barber shop replete with a menagerie of customers wearing mullets, beehives and mohawks, drew loud cheers as it ambled down Colorado Boulevard. It was also a favorite of the judges, who awarded it the Bob Hope Trophy as the most comical and amusing entry in the parade.
“It’s pretty much what we were gunning for,” Rose Float Club member Johnathan Jianu said of winning the prestigious award. “The long hours put in by so many volunteers really paid off.”
“Jungle Cuts” made history the day after the parade by winning the Viewers’ Choice Award, which is voted on by the public. The float received 20,788 votes in the online poll sponsored by KTLA-Channel 5, edging out “FFA Today,” a floral tribute to the organization traditionally known as the Future Farmers of America.
The Cal Poly Universities won the inaugural Viewers’ Choice Award last year as well, but the competition this year was much more intense, with more than 50,000 votes cast, about 10 times as many as in 2009.
“The results are a real tribute to our universities, our students and our alumni,” said Marla Franco, senior coordinator in the office of student life. “It’s an honor to know that so many people took the time to go online and show their support. It’s a tribute to the hard work of the students involved in building the float.”
“Jungle Cuts” was the 62nd consecutive float jointly built by students from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Soon, “Jungle Cuts” will return to the Float Lab on the eastern fringe of campus, where it will be disassembled, and parts will be stored for the 2011 entry.
“The students will be back at work before we know it,” Jianu said. “But for now, we’re going to savor the moment.”