GIVING IN MEMORY

Fanning the flames of education

Frank O. Rheinisch Scholarships recognize fire protection engineers

From design to installation to maintenance, the late Diana Rheinisch, a lifelong teacher and educator who was an Frank O. Rheinisch was self-taught in everything to do instructor in the Cal Poly School of Education for 17 years, said her with fire protection. Now, through a generous yearly gift husband learned Cal Poly was starting a Fire Protection Engineering from his family, Rheinisch will help Cal Poly students get formal Program (FPE) shortly before his death in 2010. training in the subject. Two Frank O. Rheinisch Outstanding Cal Poly M.S. Candidate for fire protection,” Diana Rheinisch said. “He knew the great value of Fire Protection Engineering Scholarships were awarded in 2019, the degree and longed to have a fire protection engineer on our staff. a lasting legacy to a man known for his work ethic in creating and And he always enjoyed having undergraduate Cal Poly Engineering nurturing multiple businesses. student interns working in the office.”

The son of parents who escaped from East Germany in 1954 with no money and an uncertain future, Rheinisch first became interested in fire protection when he began working for a San Francisco sprinkler company after serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. After learning every facet of the business at sprinkler companies in the Bay Area and San Luis Obispo, he founded the one-man Alpha Fire Sprinkler Corp. in a spare bedroom in 1990. Eventually, that company, plus two newer companies, Alpha Fire Residential and Alpha Fire and Security Alarm, grew to more than 30 employees. “Frank was pleased to know Cal Poly would be training engineers in Fire Protection Engineering Program Director Fred Mower said he draws inspiration from Frank Rheinisch’s life story.

“His dedication to his family and hard work in building successful businesses are great lessons for everyone,” Mower said. “It’s very thoughtful of Diana and the Rheinisch family to recognize the FPE program in this way. It’s a wonderful testimonial to his memory.”n

For more information on the Cal Poly Fire Protection Program, see fpe.calpoly.edu.

Diana Rheinisch, left, and Erik Rheinisch, right, present the Frank O. Rheinisch Outstanding M.S. Candidate Scholarships to graduate students David Morrisset and Anna Santoro.

STUDENT MAKES COVID-19 MASKS KTUU, Cal Poly Engineering student makes masks for Alaska medical workers, May 3.

HPV SPEED RECORD KCOY, Cal Poly breaks collegiate speed record with student-made bicycle, Sept. 16.

A RECORD RIDE Davis Enterprise, Davis High grad sets collegiate speed record on custom-built bicycle, Sept. 27.

LEADING THE ROSE FLOAT TEAM Rancho Bernardo News Journal, Rancho Bernardo resident led team that created Rose Parade float, Dec. 31.

A BETTER JOGGER Fresno Bee, Cal Poly students create jogger for Fresno teen, Jan. 1.

FIRE-FIGHTING ROBOT SLO Tribune, Cal Poly students design robot to help fight wildfires — by protecting people’s homes, Nov. 22.

SOLAR-POWERED SPACE TRAVEL Sacramento Bee, A spacecraft just made history with solar-powered travel — and Cal Poly students helped, July 23.

MOTORIZED ADVENT CALENDAR KSBY, Cal Poly students create motorized advent calendar for Cambria Christmas Market, Nov. 17.

ON THE RUN WITH NIKE Oregonian, West Linn grad returns to the Portland area for job at Nike, Aug. 17.

ROSE FLOAT WINS DESIGN AWARD SLO Tribune, Cal Poly Float Wins Rose Parade trophy for most outstanding artistic design, Jan. 1.

DRILLING FOR WATER ON MARS KSBY, Cal Poly students selected to help NASA find ways to drill for water on Mars, the moon, Jan. 10. n