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Articles by Devlin Smith
A catalyst for excellence
Stories of Impact Following a career in medicine as a clinician and educator, Dr. Esther Hays discovered a new passion after retiring with her pediatric surgeon husband Daniel to his hometown of Riverside, air pollution.
Creating a critical cultural exchange
Stories of Impact As a theatre, film, and digital production major at UC Riverside, Nakanlaya (Por) Tupsamphan ’25 jumped at the opportunity to attend screenings of the documentaries “Forever, Chinatown” and “Hollywood Chinese,” and hear from directors James Q. Chan and Arthur Dong just blocks from campus at UCR ARTS. “Many students don’t have access to transportation, and since most events like this happen in LA, they might miss out,” she said.
Uplifting future generations
Stories of Impact For students who receive scholarships, the benefits extend far beyond financial support, as undergraduates who’ve earned the Chicano Latino Alumni Endowed Award at UC Riverside can attest. “It provided a profound sense of validation and belonging,” said Jasmine Lucero Lopez ’23, who received the award while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Shaping the future of education
Stories of Impact Ofelia Valdez-Yeager didn’t speak English when she started elementary school. A native of Tayoltita, Durango, Mexico, she moved to the United States just before entering first grade and by the end of that school year was at the top of the class. Valdez-Yeager ’69, T.C. ’71 carried that experience into her work as an educator and community leader.
Exploring new possibilities
Stories of Impact Thy Bui’s time in Washington, D.C. was transformational. By participating in the UC Washington Center program (known as UCDC) in summer 2002, the Orange County, California, native had experiences that greatly influenced her life. “Getting to meet people from different parts of the country and being in a professional workplace for the first time was all really valuable [for me] in terms of learning soft skills and learning how to be on my own,” Bui ’04 said.
Leaving their mark
Fund Stories Estera Boca ‘24 was on the fast-track to earning her political science degree. Though she only spent two years as a student at UC Riverside, Boca felt a deep connection to the campus and wanted to give something back, so she made a donation to the Student Basic Needs Fund as part of the class gift campaign and received a blue-and-gold philanthropy cord to wear at commencement.
Taking a Worry off the Plates of UCR Students
Fund Stories Craig Riemer ’73 has witnessed the effects food insecurity can have on college students. “Years ago, I was giving a group of prelaw students a tour of Riverside County’s historic courthouse,” the judge of the Superior Court for Riverside County recalled. “During the tour, I noticed that one of the students was sitting down every chance he got.
Building a Safety Net
Stories of Impact Photo: Alumna Tranquil Calley established a fund at UCR to support LGBT students and allies in memory of her late son, Kalyn Smith-Tranquil'son, who graduated from UCR in 1981. Tranquil Calley M.A. ’89 worked closely with the LGBT Resource Center to create the Kalyn Smith-Tranquil’son Memorial Fund in memory of her son Kalyn ’81, a UCR alumnus who passed away in 1994.
Personal History in an MCM Arkansas Gem
A new generation adds its touch to this MCM Arkansas gem, while taking care to respect the past. The L-shaped, two-story, wood-nestled home boasting an array of enviable original features would be a must-see for any house hunter with a passion for mid century design. For current owners Elisa and Clayton Belknap, it was the Little Rock home’s story as much as its style that made it a must-buy for them. The home had been owned by just one other family: Elisa’s grandparents.
A Stylish Palmer & Krisel Home becomes a Palm Springs Getaway
Two friends find a second home and business opportunity in a turnkey Palm Springs getaway. The first post on the @theretropalmsprings Instagram account comprises a series of videos that friends Nathan Wilson and Matt Garbauskas took as they walked through their new home. It’s a single-story Palmer & Krisel design built by the Alexander Construction Company in 1959.
A Michigan Kitchen Gets Restored to its Mid Century Roots
After its original kitchen was lost to a 1990s makeover, this home is refreshed with the addition of a mid century-inspired kitchen.
Past Perfected in a 1965 Boise Home
This well-preserved 1965 Boise home gets an era-appropriate refresh combining restoration and thoughtful replacements. This Boise home was custom built in 1965. After purchasing the home from the family of its original owners, homeowners Marcia and Steve Welker freshened up the exterior with new paint, landscaping, lighting and a mailbox. The online listing for the 1965 custom-built home overlooking Boise, Idaho, hadn’t convinced Marcia Welker.
Jack Meiselman and Palm Springs’ Development as an MCM Mecca
October 1, 2021 Written by Devlin Smith and Photography courtesy of Modernism Week If someone were to mention Palm Springs to you, it’s likely images of perfectly geometric midcentury homes with banks of angled windows and vividly painted accents would come to mind.
Better by Design: A 1960 Open Kitchen Remodel
This 1960 raised ranch in Omaha, Nebraska, had vintage details and design potential. And it was just the thing that the clients of Andrea and Brian Kelly of AToM were looking to remodel. However, it didn’t have an open kitchen. In the original layout, the kitchen was separated from the living and dining spaces. Working with an expert, Andrea and Brian came up with a solution that would deliver exactly what their clients wanted.
The Perfect MCM Backyard
The MCM backyard was an original selling point for homeowners Philip Heckman and Rex Bonomelli, and now that the designer couple has patiently made the home their own, the backyard may just be its crowning glory.
Backyard Paradise: California Desert and Brazil Inspired Tropics
When blending such unique tastes in a shared home, compromise goes a long way. DJ and Page Sigband had nearly opposite preferences for their ideal desert oasis. The challenge was to combine Southern California desert and Brazil-inspired tropics. The home’s many sliding glass doors make it a short walk from the warm desert themes in the front to the swaying tropical palms in the back.
Modern Love: Tour a 1960s Eichler in Southern California - Home
Your home should be a reflection of your personality and style. Homeowner DJ Sigband grew up going to family parties at Trader Vic’s and Page Sigband sells Mid Century Modern furnishings. So, when they moved into a 1960s Eichler home in a highly sought-after tract in Southern California, for them, their home was more than ideal; it’s a bit of paradise. When it came time to update the outdoor spaces, the front yard was tackled first.
A Multi-Use Home Office for Work and Play
Want to make your mulit-use home office space as fun as it is flexible? This multi-use home office in a 1960 Eichler in Southern California brings in tropical decor and texture that’s ready for equal parts business and pleasure. Homeowners Ande and Paige Sigband found ways to maximize and personalize this room for several uses.
A Well-Preserved Wexler
This 1965 Donald Wexler-designed home is located in the Green Fairway Estates in Palm Springs and was built by the Alexander Construction Company. The 1965 Wexler home in Palm Springs boasted stunning original details, from the stacked stone and desert views to the in-tact floor plan and vintage appliances. Robert and Jaymi Gottfried knew the home was right for them and were prepared to put in the work to maintain it.
"Four Freedoms" to Be Thankful For
In Jan. 6 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt delivered his State of the Union address to a nation that, still bearing the scars of the Great Depression and first World War, was wary of entering another global conflict. Though the country had yet to be threatened, the violence and aggression being suffered by nations around the world required action by the United States, the president argued. Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms.
Inside a Mid Century Vacation Home in California
The home’s exterior provides a hint of what you’ll experience once inside—mid century perfection with a pop of color. “I feel with mid century design fun blasts of color are striking and memorable and really work,” says homeowner Blaine Siler. For most of the year, Blaine Siler and husband, Lincoln Bogard, spend their days in a 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bath Craftsman bungalow built in 1912.
This 1955 Eichler Home Is in Good Hands
From the floor-to-ceiling windows to the funky modern lighting, this Eichler home is filled with mid century whimsy. The roofline was what did it. Or maybe it was the banks of windows. Or perhaps the original kitchen, open floor plan and fireplace.
7 Tips for Network Marketing Success
Network Marketing A direct-selling expert shares what it takes to start out and make it in this industry. May 16, 2019 6 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. This story originally published on May 4, 2005.
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