‘Virtual Turlock’ Showcases Community While Preparing Next Generation of Tech Professionals

The City of Turlock and California State University, Stanislaus are partnering on an innovative project to showcase the community through technology and create hands-on learning opportunities for Stanislaus State students.

The project, called "Virtual Turlock," is a collaborative effort between the City and Stanislaus State's Department of Computer Science. The platform is designed to give residents, visitors, businesses and prospective students a new way to experience Turlock through immersive virtual tours and interactive digital experiences.

Using advanced 360-degree imaging and web-based technology, Virtual Turlock allows users to virtually explore local destinations, community spaces, businesses and points of interest throughout the city. The project is intended to promote tourism, community engagement, economic development and civic pride while highlighting what makes Turlock's community unique. Through the project, students have expanded their skills in media capture, problem-solving and innovative platform development.

"Stan State played a major role in my own story and in my connection to this community," said Mayor Amy Bublak, a Stanislaus State alumna. "It was here that I saw firsthand the opportunities this community creates for people to grow, build careers, raise families and put down roots. That's why I approached City staff with this collaborative idea. Seeing students now help lead innovative projects like Virtual Turlock is something I'm incredibly proud of."

"This is a great collaboration between the City of Turlock and Stan State to enrich community wellness and business growth," said Daehee (Danny) Kim, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Stan State who is leading students in the project. "I truly appreciate the City of Turlock for initiating this project and the Office of Service Learning and ASPIRE STEM-CRU program for enabling and empowering our computer science students to be able to improve their skills and apply their learning to better our community. My students and I are excited to continue developing the immersive virtual tour application for the City of Turlock."

By working alongside faculty mentors and City leaders, students gain practical experience that extends beyond the classroom, helping them build professional portfolios, strengthen technical and communication skills, and prepare for careers in software development, digital media, geographic information systems, user experience design and related technology fields.

"Working on the Virtual Turlock project has been an extraordinary opportunity," said Ashnil Singh, a computer science major at Stanislaus State. "I learned that creative vision and team collaboration are very important when applying our knowledge to real-world applications. A project is not simply a set of tasks - it becomes a platform to explore, learn and be inspired through the development process. Looking back at what we've learned and the milestones we've achieved, I am much more confident about becoming a future technology professional. I'm very grateful for this opportunity and appreciate everyone involved in making this project possible."

"Virtual Turlock represents the type of innovative collaboration that creates long-term value for both our community and our students," said Anthony Sims, Economic Development Director for the City of Turlock. "As a graduate of Stanislaus State, it is especially rewarding to see students applying their talents to a project that benefits the community while gaining meaningful real-world experience. This partnership highlights the power of collaboration between higher education and local government while showcasing Turlock through modern technology and interactive storytelling. We look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship
between the City, Stanislaus State and the next generation of workforce talent."

The student team is expected to present the Virtual Turlock project at the Turlock City Council meeting scheduled for June 23, 2026, providing an opportunity to showcase the platform's progress and future vision.