ASU West Campus gives out Tastes & Treasures II to incoming Freshman

Over 1,000 ASU West freshmen received Tastes & Treasures II book in fall 2024 as part of the Common Read program.

From ASU: The Common Read is a book selected by committee that the entire first year students at ASU West Valley campus read. The intent is to engage and stir the minds of our students. With all the students reading the same book it fosters student growth. The books may require students to question their belief system, relate to others and build community.

Not only is Tastes & Treasures II a wonderful public relations tool, a documentation of historic Arizona, a method of raising funds but it was a chance for students to share personal stories about their family, culture and community through food. Food is such a common thread in our lives.

Thank you to all Historical League members for working on this worthwhile project!

Here's a follow up letter from Carolyn Starr, ASU West Events Team:

We were thrilled to share Tastes & Treasures II: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona with all of our first-year students as part of our Common Read program last fall. While we, unfortunately, don’t have any photos from the events or class activities to share, the impact of the book was still deeply felt across campus.

Our students were incredibly engaged in their ASU 101 classes. One of the key assignments asked them to select a meaningful recipe from their childhood and write a story about its significance. It was powerful to see them reflect on the role food plays in connecting us to our families, cultures, and communities.

All first-year students received the book during the first week of school in August 2024. Faculty incorporated it in a variety of ways—some invited students to bring in cultural snacks and share their stories, while others led discussions about the loss of family traditions in the digital age and the declining use of handwritten recipes.

Throughout the semester, our Verde Dining Hall featured a recipe from the cookbook each week. Aramark prepared the dish for all students—from freshmen to seniors—and highlighted it with signage above the serving station, including the story excerpt and origin from the book.

The culminating event was a community dinner where five recipes from the cookbook and five student-submitted recipes were selected and served. More than 500 students attended. The student recipes were kept a surprise until the event—it was such a joy to witness their reactions as they saw their family dishes prepared and shared with the campus.

Thanks again for checking in—it was a meaningful experience for our students, and we’re so grateful to have had the chance to highlight Arizona’s rich culinary and storytelling traditions.

Sincerely, Carolyn Starr     Events Team   

New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

Arizona State University