Packaging Student Honored During Visit to Capitol During Annual Cal Poly Showcase
Industrial technology and packaging student Maya Lojo said she was pleased to represent her discipline during a recent trip to Sacramento, where she met local lawmakers.
“Packaging plays a critical role in consumer experience and sustainability, yet it often doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves,” Lojo said.
Lojo was one of 26 Cal Poly students who have earned a variety of awards, accolades and other accomplishments that were honored by state lawmakers recently on the floors of the Assembly and Senate.
The consortium included student leaders, researchers whose work is leading to industry innovations, floral artists and race car builders. The honored students also included the president of a student group that received the Sweepstakes Award, the top award of the 2026 Rose Parade.
“This annual showcase introduces to the state’s top-elected representatives just some of the accomplishments of our promising young women and men,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong, who again accompanied the group.
“Our students take the lessons from their classrooms, labs and studies and put that Learn by Doing ethos into practice away from white boards and test booklets. And when these high achievers graduate, they and their Cal Poly counterparts, across multiple colleges and campuses, will bring that same youthful enterprise and leadership into their careers and help shape the communities where they’ll reside.”
The group was introduced to the upper house by Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, and to the lower house by Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay, who represents the coastal 30th Assembly District (includes large portions of San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties and the southeastern area of Santa Cruz County). Laird represents the 17th Senate District, which encompasses Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties, as well as the majority of San Luis Obispo County.
They also met with Assembly Member Gail Pellerin, a Cal Poly alumna (Journalism, ’84). Pellerin is a two-term representative of the 28th Assembly District, made up of portions of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
Lojo, a fourth-year business student, has a keen interest in consumer packaged goods, and how CPGs can be improved through sustainable, innovative solutions that benefit consumers and the planet.
“I aspire to become a packaging engineer specializing in CPGs because they have a strong and direct impact on consumers’ everyday lives, influencing both functionality and brand experience,” she said. “My goal is to design innovative, sustainable packaging solutions that enhance usability, protect product integrity and create meaningful connections between brands and their customers.”
As president of the Cal Poly Packaging Club, she helps underclassmen navigate their academic journey and connect with industry opportunities.
“Through hands-on labs and team-based projects, I’ve been able to apply concepts in real-world scenarios that closely mirror professional environments,” she said. “This practical approach, combined with collaboration, has strengthened both my technical skills and my ability to work effectively in a team — key elements for success in my future career.”
In 2025, she was part of an interdisciplinary team that participated in the Paperboard Packaging Alliance 2025 Student Design Challenge, an annual competition during which university students create innovative, recyclable paper-based packaging solutions to meet real-world customer needs. The six-member Cal Poly team placed third for their entry, Teef Story.
“My role was as the structural designer, using ArtiosCAD to create the packaging’s physical structure and ensure it was both functional and visually aligned with our concept,” Lojo said. “Our design was inspired by childhood storybooks, featuring interactive flaps to engage dog owners in learning about their pet’s oral care through a DNA kit.”
Top photo: Maya Lojo poses for a photo at the state capitol with President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. (Photo: Caroline Rossi.)
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