For this year’s Poly Gives, alum Scott Gaudineer (BA Architecture, ‘79, BAR Architecture, ‘80) is once again matching gifts up to $25,000 to the College of Architecture and Environmental Design’s Interdisciplinary Studios and Labs & Student Support Fund, a new initiative focused on providing funding for interdisciplinary projects and activities that encourage students from all five departments within the CAED to work together to design, collaborate and innovate.

“Poly Gives has started to become a friendly competition amongst the colleges which is exactly why I wanted to up the ante, so to speak,” Gaudineer said. “I am a strong believer that you have to make the opportunity to give worthwhile and, if possible, fun. Having now multiple matching gifts on our part shows that the idea is catching on. More importantly, I expect that it will continue to broaden our donor base if we can continue to market the event. In the end, everyone wins.”

Gaudineer previously provided the same generous amount for last year’s Poly Gives as well, which helped propel the CAED to raise $144,471 from 165 gifts, the largest amount raised by any Cal Poly college. 

Gaudineer has stayed closely connected to Cal Poly over the decades. He has volunteered and served on several Cal Poly boards and councils, including the CAED’s Dean’s Leadership Council, the Cal Poly Alumni Association Board, and the Cal Poly Foundation Board. He encourages his fellow Mustang grads to get involved through their time, talent or treasure.

“I would say to my fellow alums, you'd be surprised at what you get back when you get engaged. When you do, it invariably comes back to you with different connections, opportunities or just friendships that blossom out,” he said.

Gaudineer runs Flewelling & Moody, Inc., an architecture and planning firm based in Los Angeles that he first joined after graduation 40 years ago. His firm specializes in building community facilities, schools, colleges, and multifamily and senior housing. He credits much of his professional success to the hands-on education and training he received at Cal Poly.

“The Learn by Doing approach is built into your classes where you actually do things, not just read it in a book,” he explained. “You had to do it to see it and feel it. So, to me, that makes it quite a bit different than other colleges of architecture that are maybe more theoretical.”

Looking ahead, he’s excited about the impact Cal Poly grads will continue to make in the world. But he wants current and future Mustangs to always remember where they came from.

“You're going to begin a great ride,” he said. “But the ride isn't four years or six years. It's a lifetime. And I would just hang on and enjoy the ride, because it is an amazing, amazing journey.”

Help the College of Architecture and Environmental Design meet his match of $25,000 during Poly Gives!

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