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This year has been an extraordinary one for Cal Poly Humboldt. It has been a year defined by remarkable discoveries, standout achievements, and meaningful growth across our campus community. From groundbreaking research to national recognition, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni have continued to raise the bar and showcase what Humboldt can accomplish.
As we look back, we’ve gathered some of the year’s most memorable highlights—stories you may have missed, or ones worth revisiting to celebrate once again. Here’s to the Lumberjack wins that made 2025 unforgettable.
- Cal Poly Humboldt Launches Gap-Closing Financial Support for Students in Need—The new Green & Gold Guarantee covers tuition and fees for eligible California students, closing financial aid gaps and expanding access to a polytechnic education. Read the full story here.
- Native American Studies Professors Earned National Recognition—Cal Poly Humboldt professors Cutcha Risling Baldy and Kaitlin Reed received the 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and a $350,000 grant for their work advancing Indigenous food sovereignty and Indigenizing the campus through the Food Sovereignty Lab. Read about Baldy and Reed’s accomplishments here.
- Ancient City Unearthed—Cal Poly Humboldt archaeologists and students helped uncover an ancient city in North Macedonia, revealing millennia-old artifacts that deepen our understanding of early civilizations and spark global curiosity. Read about the incredible discovery in Humboldt Magazine.
- StartUp Humboldt to Drive Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship in Humboldt—The University helped launch StartUp Humboldt, a new downtown Arcata innovation hub uniting partners to fuel entrepreneurship, create jobs, support local businesses, and expand opportunities for students and the community. Read about StartUp Humboldt here.
- R/V North Wind is Here!—Cal Poly Humboldt welcomed its new $8.5 million research vessel, the R/V North Wind, to Humboldt Bay, which has since boosted marine science research and given students many more hands-on ocean exploration opportunities. Read more about the R/V North Wind in Humboldt Magazine here.
- Cal Poly Humboldt Hosted CSU-Wide Student Research Competition for the First Time—The CSU-wide research competition brought student innovators together to showcase cutting-edge research from across the system. Read more about the Humboldt winners and the research competition here.
- Pelican Bay Scholars Excel in First-of-its-Kind BA Program—Cal Poly Humboldt’s Pelican Bay Scholars BA program at Pelican Bay State Prison is making history—offering in-person college classes, Pell grant eligibility, and real opportunities for academic success and futures beyond incarceration. Read more about the program here.
- Largest Student Housing Project in University History Opens—Hinarr Hu Moulik opened its doors. The largest student housing project in university history. These modern, sustainable apartments near campus significantly expand housing and strengthen the community for nearly 1,000 students. Watch the ribbon-cutting ceremony video here.
- New Mammal Species Discovered in Peruvian Andes—Cal Poly Humboldt researchers discovered a new species of mouse opossum, Marmosa chachapoya, in Peru’s Andes, highlighting the power of scientific exploration and biodiversity research. See pictures here.
- Cal Poly Humboldt Surpassed $1 Billion in Research Funding, Driving Innovation and Discovery—This year, the University surpassed $1 billion in external research funding since 2011, accelerating discoveries in science, energy, health, the arts, and giving students transformative, hands-on research opportunities. Read more about the incredible milestone here.
- 50 Years of Empowering Native Students—This year commemorated 50 years of empowering Native students through Indigenous-centered support, mentorship, and community initiatives that sustain culture, leadership, and academic success through the American Indian College Motivation Day. Watch the 50th AICMD day video here.
- Lumberjack Athletics Celebrated Big Wins—The women’s soccer team secured its spot in the NCAA West Regional as the No. 7 seed, setting the stage for an unforgettable postseason run. At the Regional Championships, Humboldt’s triathlon team delivered a historic podium finish, one of the strongest in program history. Adding to the momentum, Humboldt Rowing captured the V4 National Championship and earned national runner-up honors, cementing the team as one of the top rowing programs in the country. Read more on Lumberjack Athletics here.
- Jenkins Hall Reopens After Renovation—Jenkins Hall reopened after a $12 million renovation, transforming it into modern studios and makerspaces for ceramics, sculpture, metalwork, and more, honoring creative legacy and inspiring student artistry. See a gallery of photos of the renovated space here.
- Researchers Turn Internet Lines into an Earthquake Monitoring System—Cal Poly Humboldt researchers and students are turning buried fiber-optic internet lines into a cutting-edge earthquake monitoring system, potentially giving communities faster seismic insights and early warnings. Watch a video of the (pun intended) groundbreaking project here.
Read more Cal Poly Humboldt stories and accomplishments at now.humboldt.edu.