POMONA, Calif. — In the new Cal Poly Pomona Rose Float Lab, student volunteer Sam Linkchorst has a bird's-eye view of it all, which he'll soon trade for a street-level view because he's one of the drivers on parade day.

"This is such a crazy thing compared to anything else you drive," Linkchorst said. "Biggest thing I've driven before is a pickup truck."

What You Need To Know

  • Cal Poly Pomona has a new Rose Float Lab

  • Students from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo have built an entry for every Rose Parade since 1949

  • Their 2022 Rose Float is titled "Stargrazers," and it's the same concept that would have debuted if COVID-19 hadn't canceled last year's parade

  • Amid a winter surge of the virus, fewer volunteers are allowed in the workspace

Linkchorst will be upfront with a steering wheel and a joystick navigating through a tiny slit. The cramped seat is an honor he waited four years for, working alongside classmates and students like Carolyn Flitsch from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Flitsch focuses on the design inspired by the "Hey Diddle Diddle" nursery rhyme. Their 2022 Rose Float is titled "Stargrazers." The same concept would have debuted in 2021 if COVID-19 hadn't canceled last year's parade.

"I love how it kind of respects the design from the last year's leadership team, but also kind of puts a twist and makes it our own for this year," Flitsch said.

Students from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo have built an entry for every Rose Parade since 1949.

The extra time with this concept did come in handy for troubleshooting. It has also made for one heck of a buildup.

"There's more riding on it just because this has been in the works for so long. While there will only be one generation of teams sitting on the sidelines there this year, we will also have the energy of also last year's team along with us," Linkchorst said.

It takes hours to slowly, painstakingly transport the float to Pasadena from Pomona. Once there, they glue the small, organic decorations such as nuts, beans and cotton.

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Amid a winter surge of the virus, fewer volunteers are allowed in the workspace. So for Linkchorst and the others, the final few hours are the longest.

"So much of my time in college has been devoted to this," Linkchorst said. "I can't really imagine doing my last semester without it."

The Rose Parade will be Linkchorst's last undergraduate undertaking. He'll drive down Colorado Boulevard and then head off into the world.