UC Davis students from the first-year seminar Make an Exhibition: First-Generation College Students were asked to share experiences, insights, and values through personal items of their choice by instructor Edward Whelan, a graduate student in design. The result is an installation in the new Cruess Hall Arbor that is on display through April 29.  

Through in-class discussions, exercises, and assignments, these objects and their stories were arranged into four themes: family, tradition, tools, and support from teachers. These personal treasures and their powerful narratives reflect care, strength, creativity and diversity in our student body.

The contributing students were Kenyan Branscomb, Jacqueline Cruz Mendoza, Yadira Davalos, Briana Dominguez, Alysia Godsey, Cristina Gomez, Xiomara Gutierrez, Jennifer Lopez Estrada, Kai Maurer-Mabanglo, Aeemun Shafique, Leslie Tadeo, Lizzy Tan, Mai Tran, Crystal Valdes-Garcia, Hector Valdivia, Christy Vong and Io Yaguchi.

This project is supported by First Year Seminar Program and the Department of Design.