The Student Innovation Idea Labs (SIIL) hosted a series of events in March to celebrate their five years on the Cal Poly Pomona campus. Overall, 274 members of the CPP community participated in workshops and events showcasing the SIIL’s three spaces: the iLab, Maker Studio, and Innovation Orchard. During the week, SIIL also introduced a new name and unveiled a new logo.

The SIIL celebrations spanned four days across the SIIL spaces and the Cal Poly Pomona campus. The first day began with an event titled “Start Off Sweet,” at the first SIIL facility to be established five years ago, the iLab. University President Soraya M. Coley, students, faculty, and staff congregated to create their own chocolate molds.

SIIL student employees created 3D prints made of food-safe alginate material for attendees to use for molding their creations, pouring melted chocolate into the shapes. Once refrigerated and ready, everyone enjoyed their chocolate creations with a scoop of ice cream.

Day 2 included the “Totes N’ Doughs” event located in the newest space, the Maker Studio in the University Library. Attendees learned how to heat press designs cut from vinyl in the Maker Studio onto tote bags, while enjoying complimentary doughnuts.

On Day 3, “Soaring High” maintained the high level of excitement flowing through the SIIL spaces. Students assembled cardboard planes with a variety of precut designs created at the Innovation Orchard by the SIIL student employees. After designing and decorating their planes, attendees entered them into a flight competition. Each plane was placed onto a launching device, and the two planes that traveled the furthest won Bronco Bucks.

On the final day, members of the campus community gathered to culminate the entire SIIL Celebration Week experience, enjoying lunch and the Bronco Makers Fair, where students showcased their inventions and creations. Many of these products had passed through at least one of the SIIL spaces in the design process, exhibiting how these spaces could provide support for students, faculty, and staff on campus.

The week jump-started the bright future of SIIL and its continued growth and reach across the CPP campus. The SIIL is always open to students, faculty, and staff and is willing to help in any way possible through the creative and innovative process.

For more information, visit the iLab’s website, SIIL Instagram account or email iLab@cpp.edu.