The Cal Poly Universities received the prestigious 2025 Sweepstakes Award for the most beautiful entry in the Rose Parade, celebrated on January 1, 2025. This marks a significant achievement as it is the first time Cal Poly has been honored with this award, which recognizes outstanding float design, floral presentation, and entertainment value.
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced a total of 23 floats that received official awards, acknowledging excellence across various categories. The accolades included categories such as animation, creativity, and community involvement, showcasing the diverse talents of participants.
Complete List of Award Winners
The following floats were recognized for their outstanding contributions in different categories:
– **Americana**: Most outstanding depiction of national treasures and traditions, awarded to South Dakota (AES)
– **Animation**: Most outstanding use of animation, awarded to “Kindness is Free” by Boys & Girls Clubs of WSGV&E (AES)
– **Bob Hope Humor**: Most whimsical and amusing float, awarded to the City of Alhambra (Phoenix)
– **Crown City Innovator**: Most outstanding use of imagination, innovation, and technology, awarded to “Shrinking,” by Apple TV and Warner Bros. Television (Phoenix)
– **Director**: Most outstanding artistic design, awarded to The UPS Store (AES)
– **Extraordinaire**: Most extraordinary float, awarded to the San Francisco Travel Association (Fiesta)
– **Fantasy**: Most outstanding display of fantasy and imagination, awarded to “Rising Together” (AES)
– **Founder**: Most outstanding float built by volunteers, awarded to the Downey Rose Float Association (Self)
– **Golden State**: Most outstanding depiction of life in California, awarded to Odd Fellows & Rebekahs (Phoenix)
– **Grand Marshal**: Most outstanding creative concept, awarded to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (AES)
– **Isabella Coleman**: Most outstanding presentation of color and floral design, awarded to Elks U.S.A. (Phoenix)
– **Judges**: Most outstanding float design, awarded to Sierra Madre Rose Float Association (Self)
– **Leishman Public Spirit**: Most outstanding floral presentation from a non-commercial participant, awarded to America250 (Fiesta)
– **Mayor**: Most outstanding float from a participating city, awarded to La Cañada Flintridge (Self)
– **Past President**: Most outstanding innovation in floral materials, awarded to the City of South Pasadena (Self)
– **President**: Most outstanding use and presentation of flowers, awarded to OneLegacy Donate Life (AES)
– **Princess**: Most outstanding floral presentation among entries 35 feet and under, awarded to the City of Torrance (Fiesta)
– **Queen**: Most outstanding presentation of roses, awarded to the City of Santa Fe Springs (Phoenix)
– **Showmanship**: Most outstanding display of showmanship, awarded to Shriner Children’s (Phoenix)
– **Sweepstakes**: Most beautiful entry, awarded to Cal Poly Universities (Self)
– **Theme**: Most outstanding presentation of the Rose Parade Theme, awarded to the City of Burbank (Self)
– **Tournament Volunteer**: Most outstanding floral presentation among floats 35 feet and under, awarded to Lion’s International (Phoenix)
– **Wrigley Legacy**: Most outstanding display of floral presentation and entertainment, awarded to Trader Joe’s (Phoenix)
Meet the Judges
The panel of judges for this year’s Rose Parade included notable figures such as Cathy Hillen-Rulloda, an award-winning floral designer; Doris Hardoon, a former Disney executive; and Chaz Perea, landscape manager at Dodger Stadium. Each judge brought unique expertise, contributing to the selection of floats that demonstrated creativity and artistry.
Hillen-Rulloda’s floral designs have earned acclaim in numerous competitions, while Hardoon has been instrumental in major projects like the Shanghai Disney Resort. Perea, in addition to his role at Dodger Stadium, teaches horticulture at Mt. San Antonio College, where he has transformed the stadium grounds into a botanic garden.
This year’s Rose Parade showcased not only artistic talent but also innovation within the community, as exemplified by Cal Poly Universities and the other award-winning floats. The event continues to be a hallmark of creativity and celebration, drawing thousands of attendees each year.
