San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo alumnus Gilbert Stork is well regarded for his 50-year history of dedicated service at Cuesta College, where he currently serves as superintendent and president. Dr. Stork, a recognized student athlete, played center for the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo football team and is known as one of 26 survivors of the 1960 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo football team plane crash in Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Stork was later inducted into Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
Dr. Stork graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1964 and master’s degree in mathematics in 1966. He earned a doctorate in education from Brigham Young University in 1981.
Dr. Stork first served at Cuesta College as a physical education instructor and assistant football coach in 1967, and as a mathematics instructor in 1970. He served as the division chair for the mathematics and physical science departments; a Cuesta College Faculty Association president; an associate dean of instruction; the dean of Sciences, Mathemat¬ics, and Physical Education/Athletics; an assistant superintendent/vice president of Student Services; an interim dean of Humanities; an interim dean of Workforce and Economic Devel¬opment; and an interim superintendent/president. Prior to Cuesta College, Dr. Stork taught mathematics and coached football/baseball at San Luis Obispo High School.
Dr. Stork has been an active Rotarian for more than 30 years and currently serves on the board of directors for several community and state organizations, including the Economic Vitality Corporation, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, Cuesta College Foundation, and the California Community College Athletic Association. His accolades include the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce 2000 Citizen of the Year, 2004 Cuesta College President’s Award for Excellence in Leadership, 2002 San Luis Obispo County School Boards Association Service Award, 2011 Cal Poly School of Education Friend of Education Award, and 2016 Louis Tedone, MD Humanitarian Award.
His work as an educator and community member has been recognized locally. In 2000, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce named him its Citizen of the Year. In 2004, he received the Cuesta College President’s Award for Excellence in Leadership. He has also received the San Luis Obispo County School Boards Association’s Service Award for his dedication to education. Cal Poly’s School of Education recognized Dr. Stork as a recipient of its Friend of Education Award and, in 2015, Dr. Stork was awarded the Sandra Gardebring Ogren Leadership Award by the Cal Poly Alumni Association.
In recognition of his dedicated work as a local educator, community leader and Cal Poly alumnus, the California State University and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo are proud to confer upon Gilbert Stork the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.