North Central student helps research, design exhibit for the holidays

North Central College sophomore Tiffany Tindell joined preparations for this season’s community Cup of Cheer Holiday House Walk and market—the Naperville Garden Club’s annual fundraiser.

Tindell helped research and design an exhibit—the Naper Settlement Cup of Cheer teacup and saucer collection—which is on display through January in the lobby of the Naperville Bank & Trust at 5 S. Washington St.

Tindell, a history and anthropology double major with a German minor, has been volunteering at Naper Settlement and working with its curatorial staff since the summer. Her desire to work as a museum curator after college motivated her to seek out an opportunity at Naperville’s 19th century living history museum.

“I started out serving as a history connector then asked to do behind-the-scenes work. I’ve had many opportunities to catalog and research different topics and then they gave me the chance to work on the Cup of Cheer exhibit,” she says.

Over the years, Tindell explains, the Naperville Garden Club has offered a unique teacup and saucer set to each ticket holder of the Cup of Cheer Holiday House Walk and market. The collection is housed at Naper Settlement, which partnered with the garden club this year to feature selections from the collection in a public display. “I selected the artifacts for the display case, choosing ones with unique patterns and some with floral and holiday patterns, and designed how the display was going to look so it was attractive,” says Tindell.

“Through this experience I discovered a new component associated with museums: exhibit design. I found great pleasure in designing an exhibit that would hopefully bring joy and happiness to others who could view it and understand a part of Naperville’s history.” Tindell also says she learned valuable skills and an important lesson while working on the exhibit. “Be flexible. If something doesn’t go as planned, all is not lost. A new solution can be found through hard work and determination.”

Proceeds from the December event benefit public projects and causes of the Naperville Garden Club, including memorial scholarships that help support a student attending North Central College.

The College offers a variety of different grants, scholarships and financial aid assistance to its students. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/financial-aid to learn more. History, anthropology and German are among more than 55 majors, minors and other areas of study offered at North Central College.