Alumna Shereese Cutler Finishing Book for Black History at Cal Poly
2/4/2021 8:00:00 AM | General, Track and Field
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ATLANTA — Shereese Cutler, a 2014 Cal Poly grad and Mustang track & field alumna, is in the process of completing a massive research endeavor culminating with the publication of her upcoming book, "Black Lives of Cal Poly Alumni."
Supported by Ricoh USA, Inc. and soon to be published in association with Cal Poly University Graphic Systems, the 8-by-10 hardcover edition is set to span between 250 and 300 pages.
Cutler graduated in Graphic Communication (concentrating in Art & Design) while minoring in Photography. The book, expected to be released in February 2022, will begin with histories of all of the Black Clubs on campus, prior to between 80 to 100 alumni biographies spanning all departments across campus, arranged by decade, sharing their journeys at Cal Poly and then around the world.
Each decade will have a short preface to describe the perspective of each era to help the reader better understand each moment in time. Certain pages will also include clickable paper, with readers able to interact with sections taking them to further information online or accompanying videos to add context and further depth.
In addition to sharing research of Black history at Cal Poly, another goal for Cutler is to have the book used in helping to recruit Black high school students, in order to more closely reflect demographics of California and the country as a whole within the student body. Not only in regard to the experience she had at Cal Poly, but in reference to fellow alumni who have gone on to achieve success in an array of fields, Cutler said she wants President Armstrong and college recruiters to "be able to have something tangible in their hands to show the possibilities (to high schoolers) and say, 'Hey, look at the great education you can pursue.' "
"I personally believe anyone who goes to Cal Poly and graduates is capable of doing amazing things," Cutler said. "Cal Poly alumni can do great things in the world. (Kids and high school students) just need to see that inspiration and see all of the people who've done it before them. Having somebody to look up to can affect you."
Alumni whose stories of the past century are told in the book range from Sam Guyton, who played baseball and football in addition to playing snare drum in band and singing in orchestra from 1919-21, to Victor Glover, Jr. of NASA (General Engineering, Class of 1999), who in November 2020 became the first Black astronaut to spend an extended stay aboard the International Space Station.
Cal Poly's Black Student Union provided input on subjects needed for the book, whose research team also includes Kennedy Library Special Collections and Archives coordinator Laura Sorvetti and exhibits and campus art curator Catherine Trujillo.
Additionally, Cutler also asks that Cal Poly Black Alumni with senior projects and other publications relevant for inclusion in the appendix of the book reach out to her at: BlackLivesCPSLO@gmail.com.
"I'm really excited about it," Cutler added of the book coming to fruition. "It has so many different components."
Cutler joined the U.S. Army National Guard after Cal Poly, and she currently serves in Honor Guard detail for military funeral services.
Now living in Atlanta, she's coached in the long jump by Dwight Phillips, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, after she was accepted into DC International's Track and Field Olympic Development Program in 2017.
Cutler's longest jump is 6.2m, or 20 feet, 4.25 inches. Last February, prior to sports going on hiatus due to COVID-19, she advanced to the USATF Indoor National Championships, where she landed a mark just a quarter-inch shy of 19 feet.
She has aspirations of competing for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, which were moved to July and August 2021. The upcoming Olympic Trials are scheduled for June 18-27 in Eugene, Ore., where the Top 3 earn spots on the team.
"I cannot wait to compete," she said regarding the stoppage and resumption of meets. "You win in practice first — that's what I'm celebrating in lieu of competition now."
Half of the proceeds from sales of the book will go toward the Cal Poly Black Student Union to delegate for scholarships.
The remaining half of the proceeds will go toward her track & field training expenses.
For more information on donating to obtain a copy of the book, click here.
Donate for a Copy of the Book
ATLANTA — Shereese Cutler, a 2014 Cal Poly grad and Mustang track & field alumna, is in the process of completing a massive research endeavor culminating with the publication of her upcoming book, "Black Lives of Cal Poly Alumni."
Supported by Ricoh USA, Inc. and soon to be published in association with Cal Poly University Graphic Systems, the 8-by-10 hardcover edition is set to span between 250 and 300 pages.
Cutler graduated in Graphic Communication (concentrating in Art & Design) while minoring in Photography. The book, expected to be released in February 2022, will begin with histories of all of the Black Clubs on campus, prior to between 80 to 100 alumni biographies spanning all departments across campus, arranged by decade, sharing their journeys at Cal Poly and then around the world.
Each decade will have a short preface to describe the perspective of each era to help the reader better understand each moment in time. Certain pages will also include clickable paper, with readers able to interact with sections taking them to further information online or accompanying videos to add context and further depth.
In addition to sharing research of Black history at Cal Poly, another goal for Cutler is to have the book used in helping to recruit Black high school students, in order to more closely reflect demographics of California and the country as a whole within the student body. Not only in regard to the experience she had at Cal Poly, but in reference to fellow alumni who have gone on to achieve success in an array of fields, Cutler said she wants President Armstrong and college recruiters to "be able to have something tangible in their hands to show the possibilities (to high schoolers) and say, 'Hey, look at the great education you can pursue.' "
"I personally believe anyone who goes to Cal Poly and graduates is capable of doing amazing things," Cutler said. "Cal Poly alumni can do great things in the world. (Kids and high school students) just need to see that inspiration and see all of the people who've done it before them. Having somebody to look up to can affect you."
Alumni whose stories of the past century are told in the book range from Sam Guyton, who played baseball and football in addition to playing snare drum in band and singing in orchestra from 1919-21, to Victor Glover, Jr. of NASA (General Engineering, Class of 1999), who in November 2020 became the first Black astronaut to spend an extended stay aboard the International Space Station.
Cal Poly's Black Student Union provided input on subjects needed for the book, whose research team also includes Kennedy Library Special Collections and Archives coordinator Laura Sorvetti and exhibits and campus art curator Catherine Trujillo.
Additionally, Cutler also asks that Cal Poly Black Alumni with senior projects and other publications relevant for inclusion in the appendix of the book reach out to her at: BlackLivesCPSLO@gmail.com.
"I'm really excited about it," Cutler added of the book coming to fruition. "It has so many different components."
Cutler joined the U.S. Army National Guard after Cal Poly, and she currently serves in Honor Guard detail for military funeral services.
Now living in Atlanta, she's coached in the long jump by Dwight Phillips, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, after she was accepted into DC International's Track and Field Olympic Development Program in 2017.
Cutler's longest jump is 6.2m, or 20 feet, 4.25 inches. Last February, prior to sports going on hiatus due to COVID-19, she advanced to the USATF Indoor National Championships, where she landed a mark just a quarter-inch shy of 19 feet.
She has aspirations of competing for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, which were moved to July and August 2021. The upcoming Olympic Trials are scheduled for June 18-27 in Eugene, Ore., where the Top 3 earn spots on the team.
"I cannot wait to compete," she said regarding the stoppage and resumption of meets. "You win in practice first — that's what I'm celebrating in lieu of competition now."
Half of the proceeds from sales of the book will go toward the Cal Poly Black Student Union to delegate for scholarships.
The remaining half of the proceeds will go toward her track & field training expenses.
For more information on donating to obtain a copy of the book, click here.
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