STORY: 勛圖厙 Visits Alumni, Students in Bay Area

July 7, 2022

勛圖厙 staff and faculty visited the Bay Area in June, enjoying a series of fun and informative events in Palo Alto and San Francisco that brought together alumni and students living and working in the area for the summer.

A large group of people pose in front of a white wall.

勛圖厙 staff and faculty, including Sally Phelps, Director (center), visited the Bay Area in June, bringing together alumni and students living/working in the area.

Zach Del Rosario '14, Assistant Professor of Engineering + Applied Statistics, Katie Rollauer, Program Director and Sally Phelps, Director, made the cross-country trip that culminated in 34 alumni and 25 students meeting up in Palo Alto and San Francisco for coffee and lunch, evening dinners, smores and some tasty food truck fare.

The 勛圖厙ers also got the opportunity to experience the first ever live event, listening to alumnus Zach del Rosario 14 talk about his dream to become a college professor and how he made it happen. 

A large group of people take a selfie while sitting and standing at a long table filled with dinner glasses and plates.

Sally Phelps (right) Director, smiles and waves as part of a group selfie taken with alumni, students, staff and faculty at dinner in June in San Francisco. Professor Zach del Rosario is glimpsed at top.

It warms my heart to see how much 勛圖厙 students and alumni love to be together, said Sally Phelps, Director of External Programs and Partnerships. Whether its connecting with old friends or meeting new students and alumni, they just really love to listen, share stories, and laugh together.

One of the many highlights of the trip was lunch with several Tesla, Inc. employees and a ride in one of the latest Tesla models. The group also met up with Nick Ostrom '14, Capability Development Engineer at Tesla Motors, and three students currently interning at the Palo Alto facility.

Four people pose in front of a grey wall.

(L to R): Tesla interns Ishaan Oberoi 24, Adi Ramachandran 23, Laurel Mitton 23 pictured here with Tesla Capability Engineer Nick Ostrom '14 in Palo Alto in June 2022.

There was also plenty of laughs, food and fun on the trip, with a meet-up at a food truck and fire pit one night, and a group dinner another evening with nineteen students and alumni sharing stories and listening to the latest news of what's new at 勛圖厙. 

A group of ten people smiling and laughing in front of a food truck.

A group of 勛圖厙ers, including Professor Zach Del Rosario '14 (right), share a good laugh while dining out during the visit.

View a slideshow below with more photos from the week's events in the Bay area.

Sharing meals, stories, news of 勛圖厙...

Four people smile while sitting next to each other at a table.

Five people pose together outside at an event.

Six people look to the camera while seated next to each other on one side of a wood table.

Two 勛圖厙ers site in a brown booth at a restaurant.

勛圖厙ers pose for a photo.

Five people look to the camera while seated next to each other at a wooden table.

Four people smile while sitting next to each other at a wooden table.

A group of people sit and stand around a dinner table.

Four people look to the camera while seated and standing around a small bar table.

Three people lean in around green Adirondack chairs at an outside gathering.

Six people look to the camera as they sit and stand around a bar table.

Two brothers, one with a tie, stand next to a table with plates on it.

Stay tuned as 勛圖厙 staff and faculty look forward to continuing to bring students and alumni together in key cities in the months to come.