Alumni gift bolsters undergraduate activities that help contribute to a unique Caltech community.

Ann Stimmler Johnson (BS ’99, MS ’00) and Robert "Bobby" Johnson (BS ’98) credit Caltech for playing an important role in many of their successes. They met at the Institute and married shortly after graduating. Ann went on to work for Intel and Bobby served as director of engineering at Facebook before they cofounded a data analytic software company, Interana.

But when the Johnsons look back at their undergraduate experience, it’s the co-curricular activities that stand out as crucial to their wellbeing, both as students and now as alumni.

"Caltech can be hard to get through, and I was able to do it because of the community," says Bobby, who is a former board member of the Caltech Alumni Association. "Having friends and having fun are really critical to the experience."

To support programs that foster student engagement on campus, the Johnsons recently committed $250,000 to establish the Campus Activities for Engagement (CAFE) Fund.

"The best and brightest students come to campus every year. They should graduate feeling happy and confident and if we can help them build community along the way, that’s our goal," says Ann, a former Young Alumni Trustee. "They need to do things that are not just problem sets."

From Cooking to Communication Skills

The CAFE Fund builds on work that Tom Mannion, senior director of campus activities and engagement, has been doing for more than three decades. He is best known for his collaboration in pranks as well as his cooking classes and food pairing experiences which often fill up quickly among undergraduates. "Connecting scientific knowledge to everyday life is a great thing to do through food since it’s something we all do every day," says Mannion.

"I know Ann and Bobby from their undergraduate days, when I was first developing my dining courses and events," he adds. "They were always the ones I would invite to represent undergraduates, so they saw the start of what the program became—chances to bring people together from all different houses and parts of Caltech to learn about something new, including social skills and networking."

The new fund will be used to enhance popular programs that help students build friendships, find balance, decompress, recharge, and cultivate essential life skills. It will also support unique Caltech traditions such as the annual Ditch Day, a century-old practice whereby Caltech seniors devise intricate campuswide scavenger hunts, mazes, and puzzle "stacks" to challenge younger students' ingenuity and teamwork. Other Caltech undergraduate events include Pi Day, a pie-themed celebration on March 14, a Halloween Pumpkin Drop from the rooftop of Caltech Hall, and themed-house dinners and parties.

"I did a lot of things with the houses—interhouse athletics, parties, a house ski trip—and it was so important to have a base of support and community for kids that are doing something really hard," says Bobby, who lived in Page House.

The Johnsons also fondly remember social events before finals such as campus barbeques, building and solving complex puzzles as part of Ditch Day, and participating in Mannion’s tasty dinners.

"Caltech is the most intense academic environment that I can ever imagine, and I want to make sure we help students develop their full education as a person here," says Mannion, noting that one of his favorite events was an annual dinner prepared by students for famed physicist and cosmologist Steven Hawking who visited for many years before he passed away in 2018. "We're able to give them opportunities to take breaks and to do things that are enjoyable and educational outside of the classroom, which can really make a healthier student both physically and mentally."

Student takes part in a Ditch Day challenge

Helping Students Thrive

Bobby and Ann say they are excited to see what lies in store for the future of CAFE-supported programs.

"Tom is one of the best things that ever happened to Caltech," Ann says. "We’d love to see even more of the Caltech community embrace what he’s doing because it is an important part of who we are as an Institute."

Mannion already partners with campus colleagues, including staff in career services and health and wellness, and envisions more opportunities for departments to work together. "Using our resources and knowledge to host campuswide festivals that bring students, staff, faculty, and alums together would be great," Mannion says. To support the CAFE Fund, Mannion and the Johnsons hope other alumni and donors will be inspired to give and provide unique opportunities for students outside of academics.

"I would love to get lots of people giving to this fund," Bobby says. "Students go very hard on the academics, but they also do a lot of crazy, creative, fun things that have always been part of the Caltech experience. We want to support and celebrate the importance of having an outlet, taking a rest, and nurturing these kids doing amazing things."