Cal Poly's student-built float earned special honors at the Rose Parade Thursday morning in Pasadena.
The float called 'soaring stories' won the Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy for the most beautiful non-commercial float.
85 percent of the flowers on the Cal Poly float came from within the state. Just before the final judging Wednesday, it was certified as California Grown by the California Fresh Cut Flower Commission.
This was the first time a Cal Poly float used solar panels to animate aspects of its design and to include a wall of living flowers. Other features included a waterfall, animated griffin's wings and a flickering candle flame.
This is the 53rd time since 1949 that the float built by San Luis Obispo and Pomona students earned special honors.