Cal Poly to build new student success center after $20 million donation

Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-founders of the agriculture magnate, the Wonderful Company, have pledged a $20 million donation to Cal Poly to go to building a new student success center, the university announced Friday.

The donation will go to the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Success Center, a 25,000-square-foot facility that will provide space for career development services, advisor services, cultural spaces and more, according to a Cal Poly news release.

“This program will ensure first-generation students have access to the resources, collaboration and learning tools to help empower them to build successful lives and careers and make meaningful contributions to the world,” the Resnicks said in the release.

The Resnicks, who also own Justin Vineyards and Winery in Paso Robles, have been supporters of Cal Poly for over 20 years, along with the University of California Davis, Fresno State, CalTech and others, according to the release.

The Resnicks are also the flagship supporters of the Cal Poly College Success Scholar Program, which provides 82 Central Valley students with scholarships of up to $30,000, according to the release.

“The new Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Success Center will provide critical support for our first-generation students and an increased emphasis on career programming for all students,” Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong said in the release. “By engaging students early and often, the center will instill a culture of career readiness — helping to further elevate the value of a Cal Poly degree.”

The new facility will replace the H-4f parking structure located on Village Drive and North Perimeter Road.

This story was originally published March 1, 2024 at 10:09 AM.