Local Students Learn Engineering Behind Rose Parade Floats

More than 100 middle and high school students got a close look at the engineering that makes Rose Parade floats come alive during a two-day educational program last month.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses partnered with Cal Poly Rose Float to create RoseSTEM. The program ran June 24-25 at the Cal Poly Rose Float lab with support from STEAM:CODERS.

Students ages 12 to 17 from Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley explored how floats are built, learning about mechanical design, animation and structural engineering during hands-on activities.

Cal Poly student teams from the Pomona and San Luis Obispo campuses led the sessions.

The universities have built floats for the parade since 1949. They created the first hydraulically animated float in 1968 and introduced computer-controlled animation in 1978.

“By combining innovation with imagination, RoseSTEM empowers students to think critically, build confidently, and envision futures shaped by their own potential,” said Raymond Ealy, president and CEO of STEAM:CODERS.

The program showed students that STEAM subjects create pathways for future careers, Ealy said. STEAM:CODERS and Day One, both local nonprofits, helped make the program possible.

Mark Leavens, president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, said the experience matches Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” approach. It also supports the Tournament’s focus on youth education.

Cal Poly Rose Float director Cary Khatab said college students could connect well with younger participants. Many of the Cal Poly students are only a few years removed from high school themselves.

“I see the genuine excitement and gratification from my students as they make lasting positive impressions of the students of the future,” Khatab said.

RoseSTEM builds on the Tournament of Roses Foundation’s year-round grants. Those grants support programs that give students access to technology, mentorship and career exploration.

Participants received lunch, free transportation and a college tour. They also met with Cal Poly student leaders on the Pomona campus.

The Tournament of Roses Association is a volunteer organization with 935 members who contribute more than 80,000 volunteer hours each year.

The 137th Rose Parade will take place Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, followed by the College Football Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game.