Celebrate 60 years of CSPA

June 25, 2011
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CSPA is 60Did you stay in Heron Hall? Lassen Hall? Walk to the theatre with Ralph? Lose to Larry in softball? Spend 13 days eating Poly burgers? Cover the Glenn Ellis O’Conner trial?

If you attended the CSPA (or SSA/IPA) Workshop or volunteered as an instructor, you’re part of the family, part of six decades’ worth of memories and success stories. To celebrate our 60th anniversary, the CSPA is having a reunion picnic during this year’s workshop, on Saturday, July 23, in San Luis Obispo.

The picnic, to be held from 2-6 p.m. at Cuesta Canyon County Park — slightly southeast of the Cal Poly campus — will include a full catered meal. More importantly, it’s a chance to reconnect with the instructors and classmates who have helped make CSPA special.

Please join us as we celebrate our past and look toward the future. Your donation of $30 — $20 for kids 12 and under — is tax-deductible and will directly benefit the CSPA, a non-profit organization. Advance payment online is requested. Paypal and credit cards are accepted.

Register for CSPA/SSA/IPA 60th Anniversary Celebration in San Luis Obispo, CA on Eventbrite

Any donations, beyond the cost of the reunion picnic, are also greatly appreciated. Like many organizations, the CSPA is fighting through economic strife. Our costs have doubled in the past 15 years, and we rely solely on student tuition and generous donations in order to keep the workshop going. Our instructors volunteer their time and are not paid. Your support helps ensure that CSPA will be able to continue educating student journalists for decades to come, just as Ralph and Millie Alexander hoped.

We’ll look forward to seeing you in San Luis Obispo on July 23.

Sincerely,
The CSPA Board of Directors
—–
Larry Welborn, chairman | Art Aguilar | Jay Berman | Chris Carlson | Gil Chesterton | Janet Eastman | Rich Hammond | Todd Harmonson | Steve Harvey | Stan Kelton | Don McCaleb | Fred Schoemehl | Nicole Vargas | Jim Wolcott

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What Alumni Say

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I first heard about the CSPA workshop, but now I wouldn’t trade those classes for anything … Every class was so unforgettable. — Jennifer Chou, workshop 1995

It was one of the best experiences of my life and definitely the best thing I could have done this summer. — Allie Silvas, workshop 2011

I met incredible people at CSPA, learned invaluable lessons, made unforgettable friends. I will never forget this experience. — Kim Minugh, workshop 1998

I found that I learned an immense amount about journalism in two short weeks … I would not trade the friendships or the memories I made there for anything. — Crystie McIntyre, workshop 1988

I learned so much in the two weeks I spent at Cal Poly about writing, people skills, and what journalism is really like. — Kerry Murray, workshop 1994

... I came into the workshop a little apprehensive about the intense workload, but after two weeks of nonstop writing and fun, I can definitely say that I wouldn’t trade my time ... for anything in the world. — Camille Amparo, workshop 2007

I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to be immersed in such a fast paced, diverse and incredible 12 days of journalism. — LiAnn Ishizuka, workshop 2007

The workshop was the highlight of my high school years … The last memories, all the laughs, all of the wonderful friends I met and the things I learned about journalism … were invaluable. — Anthony Lee, workshop 1998

What made it so special was the earnest effort that comes through on the part of the instructors … the fact they wanted to be there teaching was inspirational. — Rebecca Marshall, workshop 1990

I learned more about journalism than I did in my entire year working for my school newspaper. — Amy Marcoullier, workshop 1996

What a wonderful, confidence-building, learning experience I had at the workshop. I have never worked so hard and laughed so hard in my entire life. — Alicia P. Ross, workshop 1997

CSPA really allowed me to grow as a writer and a person. It was inspiring to be around people who have the same goals and interests as myself. — Nicole Fisher, workshop 2009

It definitely was a wonderful learning experience. The workshop re-affirmed my love for writing and journalism. — Christine Byun, workshop 1998

My experience was absolutely amazing … Journalism is more than just writing and exposes, but about responsibility to readers as well. — Laura Nelson, workshop 2007

I don’t know how to possibly sum up my gratitude for giving me the most important two weeks of my life. — Nicole Sunderland, workshop 1995

It was probably the best-spent two weeks of my life, and everyone can use an experience like that. — Stewart King, workshop 1993

I can count the workshop as one of the best experiences in my high school career. — Ruth Kwan, workshop 1993

I never considered myself much of a writer, but I think the workshop gave me a chance to pull some writing blood out from within me. — Thomas Lee, workshop 1995

I have never had such a positive, entertaining, educational, informative and stimulating two weeks in my life. — Ally Van Deuren, workshop 2010

The skills I learned and the people I met are truly irreplaceable. — Kelsey Wong, workshop 2007

2012 application online

Apply for the 2012 workshop now

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