Physics Alumni Info and Comments

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1999

• Julian De Anda
  • email:juliandeanda@hotmail.com
  • Hello everyone. I am currently concluding my first year at Cal Poly under civil engineering. Things have been good for me here in San Luis Obispo. I have to admit that Dr. Cude does a great job in preparing you for the university. I am glad to announce that I was just elected 2nd Vice President of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Keep up the good work SPS and don't forget your free body diagrams because you will use them extensively in dynamics.

• Joe Beals
  • email:jbeals@calpoly.edu
  • Hi guys! This is my second year at Cal Poly and I will be graduating with a BS degree in Mathematics with a minor in Statistics after the spring quarter of 2001. I have learned quite a bit at Poly and the skills I learned from professors like Dr. Cude, Dr. Bates, etc. at Hartnell have really paid off. To be a little more specific, the linear algebra course at Hartnell covered much of the linear algebra track at Poly and made learning the information a great deal easier. I didn't realize at the time how great the professors at Hartnell really are until I needed to call upon the information I gathered from them. So, to all my past instructors,... Thank You! And, to all of the current students,... be thankful of the teachers you have. You can learn a lot from them.

• Donna Jolliff
  • email:crazy_d26@yahoo.com
  • Hi everyone! Well, I graduated in May with a BA in math and a minor in physics from Fresno State. I am spending the summer working on a research project in the physics department here. I start the graduate program in August working toward my MA in math and MS in physics. If I survive all that I plan to transfer to a UC for my PhD in physics. The experience I gained from classes with Dr. Cude and Dr. Bates definitely prepared me for my work here. For all the new students--be prepared to work hard and learn a lot.

1998

• David Beals
  • email: djbeals@calpoly.edu
  • I am currently at Cal Poly, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and running on the track team. Classes went well for me last quarter, and I looking forward to another enjoyable quarter here in beautiful San Luis Obispo.

• Emad Nimri
  • email: ennimri@ucdavis.edu
  • I am majoring in computer science at UC Davis and so far I am doing good in my classes. I have special thanks to Dr. Cude because his physics classes that I took prepare me to the university.

• Joe Vigil
  • email: jtvigil@ucdavis.edu
  • Hello Everyone. I am attending UC Davis majoring in Chemical Biochemical Engineering. I've had an enjoyable first year at Davis. It's been an adjustment going from the long 18 week semesters at Hartnell to the faster paced 10 week quarters at Davis C but I definetely enjoy being done with a class in 10 weeks. In addition to studying like crazy I've been active with the Davis chapter of the American Institue of Chemical Engineers. I'm a member on the design team which recently won the Western Regional Design Competition in Berkeley and will be competing in the national competition in November. I'm going to stay in Davis for the summer so if any of you are going to be coming up this way and want to check out the campus feel free to get in touch with me. See ya.

• Michael Varela
  • email: mcvarela@ucdavis.edu
  • Hello All!!! Well, I finished up my first year at UC Davis and had so much fun that in addition to my Chemistry major I decided to add Biochemistry. So, I'll most likely be at Davis for another two years in order to complete the second program. Other than that bit of news, things went pretty well. I'm going to be taking the MCAT exam next summer and applying to medical school the following fall. Thanks to Dr. Cude, Mr. Yee, and Ms. Johansen for all the help in Physics and Chemistry!!!!

• Fabian Bravo
  • email: jbravo@alumni.calpoly.edu
  • First I would greet Dr. Cude, Dr. Bates, and the alumni who I shared classes with. Last time I left an update on this page I was attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I have to restate that the course I took at Hartnell prepared me well. When I graduated from Cal Poly in June of 2001 in electrical engineering and realized I needed some time to bum out, finish tasks I previously had no time for, and do some traveling. After a few months of doing that I found myself working for Raytheon in Santa Barbara. I am learning all about electromagnetic interference, and I'll have to say that the introduction to what I do was in Dr. Cude's Physics 4B. Don't hesitate to contact me. Hope this message finds everyone well.

• Apoli(nario) Vivit
  • email: awvivit@yahoo.com
  • Hey guys, I'm now a Senior at Chico State. I'm the Corresponding Secretary of TBP (Tau Beta Pi), and am having a great time. I working hard and think about the SPS sometimes. I hope that everybody is doing well, and I'm praying for you all.

• Maunik Patel
  • email: maunikp@ecst.csuchico.edu
  • Hello All, I am majoring in Computer Science -- Emphasis on Systems at CSU, Chico. I transferred to Chico State in Fall 1998. Hartnell College's CS, Mathematics & Physics classes prepared me for the challenging courses at Chico State. A few things to know about Chico State. Chico State's CS program is more of an application programming oriented. In other words, more of practical rather than theoretical. CS program is pretty intense too. Students (BS/MS with CS degree) gets starting salary ranging from 60k-90k. Believe me, it's a fact. Lots of programming assignments involves maths & physics concepts. Currently, I am doing my internship with IBM, San Jose (Jan'00 - Aug'00). I would be graduating in Dec'00. One should definitely consider applying to CS program at Chico State. Besides studying, one can party!!! Yeah, it's a pure party school. Great people choose Great school. Email me if anyone need more info.

1997

• Dylan St. John
  • email: stjohn@usc.edu
  • Hey everybody hope everything is going well wherever you are at. I am now a student at the GREAT University of Southern California. (The Best School in L.A. huh Rich?) I went to my 2nd meeting of the SPS chapter here at U.S.C. last night, now I am vice-president, always wanted to be V.P. at Hartnell but it never quite worked out, thanks Cory... Still kind of early to say too much about Hartnell preparing me for this school, but so far so good. (Dr. Cude I am now a Physics tutor :>) Will update again before too long, need to get back to work... Dylan

• Cory Getty
  • email: gettyjazz@aol.com
  • e-mail: gettyjazz@aol.com cgetty@polymail.calpoly.edu
    Hello everyone, Sorry it has taken so long to update the alumni page. I got sick of everyone telling me to update so here I am. My experience with Hartnell College is a great one that will prepare me for the university level of education. My experience with Dr. Cude's physics classes and Dr. Bates' classes, even though they sometimes seemed rather challenging, are the classes that really prepared me for classes at Cal Poly. Right now I am not working but am doing plenty of homework and studying. Also my position as an ex. Physics Club President was also a position that I enjoyed. We had a club that was really energetic and advisors who stood behind us and helped us whenever we needed it. From the collecting of canned goods to the falling out of a perfectly good airplane, Dr. Bates and Dr. Cude were both there with us. So to all the physics clubs or classes of the future lets keep the program going. See you all at the next alumni picnic and feel free to send an e-mail my way if you need a hand. Dylan St. John (I would vote for you but...)

• Sophey Tiet
  • email: dragontiet@aol.com
  • Hey, This is Sophey checking in. I know it's been a long time, but I've been busy with school and trying to get used to my new environment. Classes are great here. I'm doing quite well actually! UOP's Engineering Department also asked me to be a liason between Hartnell and UOP. I agreed, but so far I have not done anything! Today is Mar 10th, 1998, I'll be back into town next week. I'm planning to stop buy to say Hello. Well, I have to go now! Sophey signing off!!!!!!

• Brian Dresser
  • email: bjdresser@ucdavis.edu
  • Hello SPS friends! How are things down by the coast? Things here are just starting to heat up. Lately like the majority of CA we've been bearing the brunt of El Nino. Let me tell you about the things I've been doing atDavis. I am just now completing my first year here and am happy to say it's been a good one. I'm currently a member of the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! playing the trumpet. Outside of the band I've been keeping busy pounding my head against the wall over viscious homework problems. I recently changed my major to Mechanical Engineering and Material Science. Classes here are difficult chalenging ones ability to grasp concepts fast and apply them with precision. In June I will be moving out of the college dorms here (finally) and will be moving into a more tranquil house across town. The engineering department has fulfilled the criteria that I set for picking a school. It has supplied chalenging material,accessible professors, and academic resources. Class sizes have been relatively small hovering around the 30 people range. Campus life is good although I often find myself leaving town to hit the trails in Yosemite or going to San Francisco. If you are considering coming up to Davis for school and need a hand don't hesitate to email me for a hand.

• Heather Lehfeldt
  • email: suvann@yahoo.com
  • I am in my last quarter of classes here at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I will then be leaving for a 4 month stay in Munich Germany to study and finish off my last 7 units of classes. Even after being gone for 3 years, my time at Hartnell was still the Best. I've done a lot of things (for those of you who've read my previous updates, we finished the float, and got the Humor trophy. Only the second time in the last 52 years that Cal Poly has one that one!). I've gone to conferences, and participated in other clubs, but I really treasure the time I spent with the SPS. BTW be thankful for your lab reports now...They get worse...MUCH worse....

• Hideki Sugwara
  • email: sugawara@tnf.co.jp
  • I deeply appreciate Dr Cude's passion for teaching me physics. So I had enjoyed while belonging to his class. After I leave Hartnell College I work at a Software House. I get excited about developing a WEB SYSTEM. New students!!!! you are so lucky because Dr Cude can give you exciting knowledge about physics.

• Hideki Sugawara
  • email: sugawara@tnf.co.jp
  • I deeply appreciate Dr Cude's passion for teaching me physics. So I had enjoyed while belonging to his class. After I leave Hartnell College I work at a Software House. I get excited about developping a WEB SYSTEM. New students!!!! you are so lucky because Dr Cude can give you exciting knowledge about physics.

1996

• Ching Ching Law
  • email: chinglaw@uclink4.berkeley.edu
  • majoring in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley

• Yan Yan Law
  • email: yanlaw@uclink4.berkeley.edu
  • majoring in chemistry at UC Berkeley

• Kim Hanh Nguyen
  • e-mail: nguyenkh@uclink4.berkeley.edu
  • majoring in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley

• Sal Duran
  • e-mail: sduran1@lfsus.jnj.com
  • Transfered from Hartnell College to UC Berkeley and majored in Computer Science and Mathematics. Hi, Dr. Cude and all other influential teachers and friends who I had the luck to run across at Hartnell College. I am happy to announce that I have dropped out of college for the time being. I endured 5 semesters at UCB and aged twice that long. I have completed all major requirements and except for a couple of gen. ed. classes, I would be done. However, running short of cash, I worked while going to school for my last semester at CAL. I took a temporary assignment at 3Com in Santa Clara. Shortly before the end of the semester I interviewed for a position at a company called LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company, which manufactures blood glucose meters. I was hired right after finals and started to work immediately. My position consists of forecasting, data analysis and the building and mantainance of simulation applications. I am on the work force management team within costumer services department. I have a lot of work but I do enjoy my job. It combines very well my main two interests: CS and Math. My compensation is not too much but they offered me about 20% more than what I had asked for...OK to start with. I have little time since I still learning the operations of this company. Good luck to all of you and don't dismay. If it gets too tough,......well, it is not really that bad, at least compared to Berkeley. But if you are at Berkeley,......it was your choice :) Drop me a line and let me know how you guys are doing and how is school/work.

• Kelly Cude
  • email: kjcude@ucdavis.edu
  • majoring in genetics at UC Davis enjoying my spare time travelling the country with the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh!

• Richard Corey
  • email: richard.d.corey@accenture.com
  • Majoring in Civil Engineering at UCLA and writing The Great American Novel. I took a fairly light load my first quarter which is something that I would suggest to any transfer if they can help it. This quarter is a different story though. If you remember, I had said that I was going to have to take Statics again because they have it paired with dynamics in an upper-division class here. Well, I am quite glad that I did take the Statics class at Hartnell though. We are using the same book here, and we just finished with it!!! Five weeks to cover the same thing that we did in a semester at Hartnell. Granted there are only a few basic concepts involved in statics. But, even so, there were quite a few people lost in the class. I am glad to say I am not one of them. Another interesting thing involves another engineering class I am taking called Deformable Solids. ...right off the bat we use STATICS!!!! Talk about some lost souls. It is in this class that we have used a lot of shear and moment diagrams and distributed loads. Needless to say I really feel I am at an advantage in both of these classes because of taking Statics at Hartnell. But, I don't think it stops there. I really feel as though Hartnell Physics and Math classes are the equal if not the better of the classes here. Perhaps the sememster system is a little better for learning those subjects. I don't think it matters as much in the upper-division classes because you start to get a little more specialized, but I can't imagine taking Physics on the quarter system. Not to mention that neither the Material Science or the Circuits class here that I got credit for (from Hartnell) have a lab!!! For civil-engineers it is the only EE class you have to take. How can you have circuits without a lab? "This is what happens, take my word for it!!!"

    February 2002 update: Graduated from UCLA in 1998 with a degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering. Took an unforseen detour into the profession of custom computer systems development and consulting services working for Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting - no, not the now infamous Enron accountants). I'm working in our State Government market unit, specifically with Child Support Services. I have worked with Child Support Systems in California and Wyoming, and probably know more about child support than the average person would ever want to. I am currently living and working in Sacramento. I consider the education I received at Hartnell to be the cornerstone of my successes at both UCLA and the professional world. In Dr. Cude's classes (as well as many of the math classes I took while at Hartnell) I learned the basics that placed me in a position that I considered head and shoulders above the average UCLA engineering student entering their 3rd year at the university. I believe that most of the folks that left Hartnell at the same time I did would agree that no matter where life takes you after your time at Hartnell, you will be hard pressed to find a better professor than Dr. Cude.

• Sara Barrett
  • e-mail: aras@stanford.edu
  • I am currently working as a Research Assistant in Cell Biology at Stanford University. It keeps me busy. I liked Hartnell and especially physics. Yay Dr. Cude!

• James D. Polo
  • e-mail: jpolo@POboxes.com
  • acquiring a BS degree in Computer Engineering at San Jose State University; working for IBM as a Co-Op student; hoping to move on to Stanford to acquire an MS in Software Engineering. Currently -- Secretary of Engineering Honor Society (Tau Beta Pi). Soon to be -- Tutor Chair for the Society of Computer Engineers. (There is no better preparation than that found at Hartnell.)

• Irvan Lasmana
  • email: navri@cs.utexas.edu
  • Majoring in Computer Science at UT Austin

• Veronica Reis
  • email: wongway@UCLAlumni.net
  • I just earned my Bacherlor's of Science in Psychobiology at UCLA. I am currently taking the Kaplan GRE prep course filling out grad school applications and trying to get my personal statement together. My plan is to become a counselor with an emphasis on dealing with a life-threatening illness. For those of you just starting out, I highly recommend studying hard asking lots of questions and making use of office hours--not very glamorous, but you will learn alot. Dr. Cude's Physics classes were an EXCELLENT preparation for the classes that were ahead of me at the four-year university and not just the physics class that I had to repeat. Dr. Cude's classes will help you think scientifically which is a must for future academic success. If any of you are thinking about transferring to UCLA, feel free to email me anytime with questions. Best of Luck to you.

• Steven Chow
  • email: jc008@hotmail.com
  • I am former student at Hartnell College. I am majoring in civil engineering at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I am very impress with Dr. Cude the way he teachs us physics. He makes physics so interesting, especially demonstrating some experiment. I hope the new students will appreciate Dr. Cude for his excellent in physics.

• Tran Van Thu
  • email: spinup@cats.ucsc.edu
  • Well, I am not sure if anyone will remember me, I haven't seen any updates from the 1996-1997 Physics 2A-B course. If somebody does know me, I say hello and drop me an E-mail. All in all, everything here at UC Santa Cruz is fine, though I was suprised to find out that I will be one of the last Psychobiology majors to graduate from here due to budget cutbacks that gutted my major of faculty. I got a job as a Chemistry faculty clerk and I won the campus lottery and got a free wireless modem for my laptop. The highlight of this past summer was the MCATs, I got an 11 on the biological, 11 on the verbal, and a 10 on the physical section. It does appear that I am going to Medical School. I hope someone from my physics class E-mails me and says Hi, I am really curious to how everyone is doing. Good luck to everyone on all their academic endeavours. Bye.

• Hong Ku Kim
  • email: hkk@usc.edu
  • Hi! This is Hong Ku Kim majoring in Cell Molecular Biology in UCLA and being a first year student of USC Dental School. As you guys expect there were a lot of freshman parties in the beginning of the 2002 class. It was just fun. However, we start to take more exams than ever. The 3-4 midterms per week mad me feel like being in hell. One of the most memorable time to me is still the time when I was studying in the Hartnell physics lab with friends the place where some of you are doing the experiments right now. I was always dreaming about my goal at that time. Personally, I had a great experience when I was studying over there due to the fact having a number of good friends and distinguished professors. Still, the annual bridge competitiion is my valuble memory in Dr. Cude's class as well as a trip to Standford University to see the Linear accelator. Come to think of it, you guys who study under Dr.Cude might be proud of yourselves because you are getting valuable education under his dedication ,which should help your easy transition to university transfer. By the way, if some of you as a premed student are planning to transfer to U.C.L.A., you'd better take calculus based Physics for one full year. Otherwise, those of you , who have already taken 2A and 2B might need take another one quarter of calculus physics course after your tranfer. In addition, since the requirement classes vary depending on tranferring school, don't forget to check with a counselor all the times. I guess, all of you are wise enough to make your own decision. Only comment I can make here is to keep your belief while you are in school and never discourage yourself at any time for any reason. Instead take advantage of pieces of good advice like Dr. Cude's inspiration and have fun. I dare to tell without the inspiration and motivation I would not be here. Again have fun and Happy Halloween Day everyone. I wish you have a great moment while you are learning at Hartnell. Good luck!

• David Boudreault
  • email: dboudrea@polymail.calpoly.edu
  • Without a doubt, Dr. Cude is the teacher who prepared me for college life. One peice of advice I can offer is to take physics 4a-c. The experience is one you will always remember. Many of the classes you will take will be challenging but none will be as rewarding. I am in my last year of school at Cal Poly studying to get a B.S. in Biochemistry. After Cal Poly I plan on continuing my education at UCLA's medical school. My time spent at Hartnell was well spent. All of the math and physics paralleled university standards.

• Thomas Pongo
  • email: tpongo@polymail.calpoly.edu
  • Majoring in Electrical Enginnering at Cal Poly. The physics program at Hartnell is a great program, headed by a great instructor, Dr. Cude. Hartnell prepared me very well for my studies at Cal Poly. I know just as much (if not more) as anyone else in my grade level in physics and math.

• Jesus Rodriguez
  • email: jerodrig@calpoly.edu
  • Hello Hartnell students. I graduated from Hartnell Spring 96. I am currently majoring in Electrical Engineering at Cal Poly SLO. My advice is to study as hard as you can and take as many transferrable classes at Hartnell. It only gets harder.

• Susan Whitford
  • email: skwhitford@ucdavis.edu
  • Hello Everyone. I hope that all is well with fellow alumni and current students. I am enjoying my final year here at UC Davis. In June I will receive my degree in Evolution and Ecology and minor in Communication. A shock to us all C isn 't it? I have been fortunate in my pursuit of furthering my interests in Paleobiology and have also picked up a few skills in Wildlife Biology. I spent a few weeks this summer researching interspecific competition in three species of Nuthatches and I hope to find myself venturing out to Montana this coming summer to search for fossils. Until then I am completing required coursework and working away in the Museum of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology on campus. I am responsible for cleaning seabird skeletons for the collection preparing bird and mammal skins and other random duties. June is definately coming too quickly. As for post-graduation a!ctivites a job is in my future...in exactly what I am unsure. I am keeping my eyes open for nearly anything related to my field of study. As for the advice that I have for future transfers and the like there isn't much. You are attending Hartnell and are interacting with some fantastic instructors so you are on the correct path. Hartnell and it's faculty provided me with a fantastic background that helped me to jump into my junior year at Davis without any problems. Attending Hartnell was the best decision that I have made in my academic career. I truly believe that I received a superior experience than any other undergrad that attended UC Davis. It as a pretty strong statement but it as true. So all that I may recommend is for students to work as hard as they can before graduating and to thoroughly investigate the programs that are available to them in their fields of interest. After you transfer you don't have much time to begin exploring . One final thought that I'd like to add...never ever will you escape the laws of physics. Even after you turn in your final exam those formulas and principles remain buried inside your head. Believe me it's not a bad thing. I lost my notecard after my final and haven't needed to make myself a new one. Nearly every class that I have completed included some aspect of physics. I am sure that this is to the delight of Dr. Cude that I have come to realize this. Take care, best of luck on your exams and enjoy the rest of the year.

• Edgar Diaz
  • email: ediaz@usc.edu
  • I am currently attending the University of Southern California. In the fall I will graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering. Although I have had many good memories from both USC, and the city of Los Angeles, I have to say I will be very happy to go home for summer vacation. I am currently working part-time in an off-campus testing laboratory. Upon graduation I plan to work in Southern California for a couple of years then move back up north. As far as the Hartnell curriculm goes, I find it is well worth taking advantage of for $13 a unit. Not until after I transferred did I realize how good both the Calculus and Physics courses are. Dr. Cude's 4A,4B & 4C courses are pretty tough, but very well taught.

• Joseph Hennawi
  • email: jhennawi@princeton.edu
  • B.S. and M.S. in Physics from Stanford University. Winner of the 1999 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. I am currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Astrophysics at Princeton University. Come visit our department webpage at www.astro.princeton.edu. I owe all of my success in physics and astrophysics to Dr. Cude, since without him I would not even have contemplated studying science. I completed all of my lower level physics and math requirements at Hartnell. The quality of my education at Hartnell was far superior to my experiences at Stanford or Princeton. For those of you just beginning the physics curriculum at Hartnell a few words of advice. 1) Appreciate Dr. Cude, as he is probably the best teacher you will ever have. 2) Don't be discouraged if you are struggling. I recall completely blowing one of Dr. Cude's exams. As Dr. Cude once told me when I was wavering about going into physics "There are very few brilliant people out there. Most physicists just work extremely hard." 3) Finally, keep SPS alive. Get out and do some presentations at local schools. It is loads of fun. Please email me if you have any questions about physics, Stanford, or Princeton. All the best.

1995

• Dan Williams
  • email: Adarkwing@aol.com
  • I am currently a year away from my B.S. in physics at Calpoly. I consider some of my best prep work to be done at Hartnell in the math and physics depts'. The work was an excellent precursor to the demands of the University level work found at Poly. I could not recommend more, the physics program in particular, for your future success in education.

• Martin Beals
  • email: mbeals@calpoly.edu
  • I am currently one quarter away from receiving my B.S. in Mathematics at Cal Poly. After graduating in Fall '97, I will enroll in the credential program at Cal Poly.

• Naomi Theodorou-Travers
  • email: FAFLOYD@AOL.COM
  • Hello fellow alumns and Dr. Cude. It's been a while since I've been to the Hartnell Campus, but I have fond memories of the physics classes I took as well as the well-run anatomy class. In fact, just today I was just extolling Hartnell's virtues to my study group in the Master's Entry Level Program in Nursing at University of California, San Francisco. I began the three-year program in June and so far it's exciting, intellectually invigorating but an enormous amount of work. The goal of the program is to take people with bachelor's degrees in a major other than nursing, put them through nursing boot camp to prepare for the Registered Nursing licensing exam after one year, and then have them continue on for master's study. We started our clinical rotation in the hospital the second week and I've already seen a wide variety of illnesses and nursing procedures. My specialty is gerontology and I am planning to be either a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner i! n gerontology. My anatomny and p hysics are constantly coming in handy - they are both at the root of most of the physiological concepts I am now studying and it's a thrill to put my academic work to practical use in the hospital setting. Like many people at Hartnell, I wasn't there full time and just came on campus to take my classes, but I still have great memories of the school and the chance it provided me to learn about the sciences as an adult student. I think students there are doing the right thing by getting some of their basic classes done at the community college level before moving on to larger university, if that is what they want to do. What advice do I have for students? I know I sound like a parent, but all I can say is study hard! It's competitive out there and if you don't do the work, there are plenty of people out there who are willing to do it and the best opportunities go to them. I also highly recommend doing volunteer work in the field you think you want to pursue - there is NOTHING li! ke getting hands on experience. How else can you really tell if you like that field? Anyone interested in the UCSF or nursing is welcome to contact me at my e-mail address. I'd be happy to chat.

1993

• Enrique M. Saavedra
  • email: saavedra@uclink4.berkeley.edu
  • To me Hartnell was an excellent experience, especially Dr. Cude's physics classes. I feel that Dr. Cude really prepared me for the upcoming engineering classes that I was to take. In 1993 I transfered to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I graduated from Cal Poly in June 1996 with a BS in Civil Engineering. I then got accepted to UC Berkey and I am currently working on my MS degree in civil engineering. I hope to graduate from Berkeley in December '97.

• Antonius Jimmy Susanto
  • email: cc_amdg@yahoo.com
  • M.S.E.E Ohio State University, December 1997. Currently working as Hardware Engineer at Teradyne, Inc. in Boston.

• Edu Anwar
  • email: eanwar@yahoo.com
  • I just found out this web site. Anyway, my sincere appreciation for the motivation and guidance while I was studying Physics at Hartnell from 1991 to 1993. Your lecture was never dry as you put everything into real life perspectives. I received BSEE from UCLA in 1995 and MSEE from USC in 1997 concentrating on communication/DSP (Digital Signal Processing). Currently, I am working as Radio Frequency Engineer for Nextel Communication in LA. My advice to students: Learn your Physics and Math and learn them well. You have excellent and caring Physics instructor! Take advantage of it and you will be well prepared for your upper division courses.

1991

• Eduardo Villa
  • email: evilla@mty1.net.mx
  • majored in mechanical and electrical engineering at ITESM campus Monterrey. Physics at Hartnell College was a very good experience; Dr Cude is one of the best (if not the best) teachers I've had.

1990

• Cal J. Eustaquio
  • email: n6kyr@value.net
  • Hello to all. There are probably two things that I prize most of all in my life: my education via amateur radio and Dr. Cude's Physics Courses at Hartnell College. I graduated in May 1997 from Cal Poly State U, SLO with a double major in EE and English. I was hired by Lockheed Martin Astronautics at Vandenberg AFB, CA to be a test engineer with the Atlas IIAS and Titan IVB launch programs. Yet, despite the mundane procedure writings, interaction with the union techs, and occassional happenings beeped on the e-mail, I always remember Dr. Cude's teaching methodologies and try to apply them wherever practical. In fact, it's best to teach at the students level in order to communicate what knowledge you want to impart to them. Incidentally, Dr. Cude, even after all these years, I still won't forget that particular methodology you taught us regarding using differential equations to figure out error analysis under 10%. I still use it today.

• Paul Bender
  • email: belfreebender@sprintmail
  • After receiving my AS in Physics from Hartnell, I tranferred to Biola University to major in Physical Science with an emphasis in Education. After graduating three years later, in May 1993, I anxiously awaited my student teaching assignment for the Fall. After several last minute changes, I wound up at Whitney High School, a six year (grades 7-12) public college prep high school. I was immediately hired as a part-time subtitute the second day of student teaching for two classes on my own! I have been teaching at the same place full time for almost four years now. I started a first year Honors Chemistry course that has for three years earned the reputation of being the most challenging course at the school. Successful students have even scored 3, 4, and 5 on the AP Chemistry exam after one year of intense high school Chemistry. This year I am developing an actual AP Chemistry curriculum to offer as a second year course starting next school year! One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is getting to know and working with interested students after hours. I offer many after school Chemistry labs and other experiences. This year is the first year I am hearing from College Freshmen taking Chemistry who survived my first year of Honors Chemistry and I enjoy hearing from them as they drop by or e-mail me. We have a close science department that works long hours together to give our students the best experience we can on a very limited budget. Personally, I lived like a college student my first four years of teaching but just recently purchased and moved into my own place. My only complaint about my job is the long hours that are required. Trying to meet the needs of 150-175 different students is a challenge that one can only continually reach for. I am also currently enrolled in a Master's Program at Biola University, in part to be able to renew my credential. I enjoy the graduate courses but they compete for my limited time.! Honestly, I do not know how good high school science teachers can have time for a family. Indeed, only one in our department is married with kids. I keep thinking that this will be the year things slow down and require less effort on my part. I've also considered going back to get a Master's in Chemistry so I can teach at a junior college someday. Though most of our students have dreams to go straight to a pretigious four-year ivy league school, I always try to put out a good word for the junior colleges. My experience at Hartnell was ideal because I was able to interact with the staff much more than students do as under- classmen at the big schools. I am a better teacher today because of my two years at Hartnell.

1988

• Todd Beecher
  • email: tbeecher@carollo.com
  • First of all, hello to Dr. Cude, Dr. Bates and Bob Spier. After leaving Hartnell, I attended Cal Poly SLO and received a BS in electrical engineering (1992). After graduating, I began work for an environmental consulting firm in Walnut Creek, CA (Carollo Engineers- there's a web page) as an electrical design engineer. I am still with Carollo and am currently going to school for an MBA-Management at Cal State Hayward (at night, of course). Some advice? Here are some one-liners: If you can do well in Dr. Cude's Physics 4B class, you can do well in any course at any school (no kidding, the subject matter is tough). For engineering students, if you learn to do four things well (math, physics, manage time and communicate) your career will be very lucrative and fulfilling. Grades aren't everything (just make sure to get at least a 3.0). Take Bob Spier's Counseling courses (if he's still teaching them). Despite what Dr. Bates may say, tatoos will not advance your engineering career! Please feel free to e-mail if you have any questions about Cal Poly, the real world of engineering, etc.

• Gail McComas (Bartholomew)
  • email: gmccoma@scimail.risc.rockwell.com
  • After I left Hartnell, I attended U.C.Irvine and graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. I started work at Rockwell Science Center a week later and have been there since. The Science Center does research in a wide range of technical areas. I work in a semiconductor lab where I test infrared photoconductors.

1987

• Mary Jussel Wilkinson
  • email: jusscm@uswest.net
  • 1990 B.A. in art studio from UC Davis. 1993 Graduate cert. in orthotics from Nothwestern University. 1995 National Board cert. in orthotics. If you are interested in biophysics or the physics of human ambulation, the orthotics and prosthetics field is one career avenue you might consider.

• Sean M. Johnson
  • email: smjohnson@equilon.com
  • B.S. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Cal Poly 1990 I've been employed since graduation with Shell Oil Company in Martinez, Ca as a Corrosion Engineer.

1983

• Joan Sciacca (was Goetz)
  • email: sciacjm@aztec.asu.edu
  • After receiving an AA degree from Hartnell, I spent 3 years at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo where I earned a BS in Aeronautical Engineering. Part of my studies included a 6 months work study program with the FAA. Following graduation, I accepted a position with AlliedSignal Engines in Phoenix AZ where I spent 9 years in Engineering and the last year as a Program Manger. I've always enjoyed my work. Always keep in mind ... your work is what YOU make of it.

1981

• David Jensen
  • email: david.jensen@varian.com
  • Greetings to Dr. Cude and fellow Alums! I got my BSME @ Cal Poly SLO in 1984. Went to work for Varian (now Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA)after graduation and have been here ever since (today=10/4/99). Varian makes a linear accelerator based radiation therapy system for cancer patients. It's the perfect mix of physics (my first love) and engineering (good ol' Bremsstrahlung). Without Physics, where would we engineers start? Gotta have some things that just can't change! Along the way, I got my MSME @ Santa Clara University in 1994 and my PE license in 1997. I married my SLO sweetheart in 1986 and have three great kids (girl 9, boy 7, and girl 6). I tried my hand at teaching, teaching a 3D CAD class @ De Anza College for several quarters in '96/'97. Loved it, but wasn't willing to sacrifice my family and health to squeeze it all in. Maybe some day...Hope to hear from some more physics alums from the class of '81! Keep up the good work Dr. Cude! You prepared me well for my career in engineering. I think I'll build one of those monkey guns in the garage for the kids!

1978

• Tim Priddy
  • email: tpriddy@ix.netcom.com
  • Hi Dr. Cude! Remember that experiment to measure the acceleration due to gravity? The one with the red ribbon. Well you asked for volunteers to take FORTRAN so we could write a linear least squares curve fit program. I really loved your physics classes, but it turns out computers were my thing. After I left Hartnell I became a computer consultant for Digital Equipment Corporation. I worked at NASA Ames Research Center for a couple years, then I worked at Lockheed on the Space Telescope. Come December, I'll have been at Intel for 10 years. I'm a Systems Programmer, but I'm still crazy about Physics. You can look at my web page at: http://www.netcom.com/~tpriddy

1977

• Charles Barker
  • email: barker1@llnl.gov
  • B.S. in engineering physics from U.C. Berkeley. M.S. and Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University. Since late 1988 I have worked as a physicist in the Laser Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Prior to transferring to Cal in 1977, I completed all of the lower division requirements in math, physics, and engineering at Hartnell. The quality of the education I received at Hartnell was every bit as good as at Cal and Stanford.

• John Macglashan
  • email: jdmacglashan@shellus.com
  • B.S. and M.S. in chemical engineering from UC Berkeley Working as an engineer for Shell Oil in Houston , TX for the past 14 years.

1971

• Cecil Harrell
  • e-mail: charrell@peralta.cc.ca.us
  • 1971 AA Hartnell 1983. BS Univ of San Francisco. 68-85 Data Processing Manager Monterey County. 85-present Director Information Systems Peralta Community College District Oakland, Ca. Hartnell is a great value. It is a great place to contine your education while making a living.