DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis alumni Beth and John Foraker have been part of the UC Davis Athletics family for decades, supporting the program through milestones such as the jump to Division I in 2004. When Beth helped launch the Redwood SEEDS inclusive college program in 2021, her connection to the athletic department deepened in unexpected and meaningful ways.

As program director of Redwood SEEDS, one of Beth's primary responsibilities is finding ways to help her students engage in campus life. Having supported Aggie volleyball for many years—including serving as a lead donor for the creation of the UC Davis Beach Volleyball Courts—she found Redwood SEEDS' gateway to athletics through that program.

"When we started Redwood SEEDS, (UC Davis volleyball head coach) Dan Conners offered his team to be one of the first nine places on campus to offer paid employment," she said. "So he's using his budget to pay a scholar or two and give them employment, which is a huge indicator of paid employment after graduation."

"SEEDS students have filled several manager positions for us over the past five years," Conners said. "It has been such a gift to have these students be a part of Aggie Volleyball, as it exposes all of us to a part of our society that has been in many ways isolated from the general population."

With a connection firmly established, Foraker continued to build momentum with programs such as gymnastics, baseball, and lacrosse. Students in these roles have taken on a number of responsibilities, including taking statistics, assisting coaching staffs, taking video at practices, and bringing a positive presence to each team.

Additionally, Foraker has seen her students contribute in roles within the Athletics Department, working in ticketing and guest services at Aggie home events. "These jobs, even though they're only part-time, are great anchors for our scholars."

The impact goes both ways. "Working with these incredible students—and the joy, kindness, work ethic, resilience, and positive attitudes that they have brought to our gym—has inspired our program to grow in so many ways, and we are so very grateful for our partnership," says Conners.

As the relationship between Redwood SEEDS and UC Davis Athletics continues to flourish, Foraker hopes to see opportunities expand even further. "I'd love to see someone working with every sport someday. Football and the basketball programs are a no-brainer, but I'd also like to see opportunities within our soccer programs."

"Our scholars know all of the players, they know the game, and they're always in the stands cheering, so I think that would be a great next step for all of these programs."

Anyone interested in learning more about Redwood SEEDS or looking for ways to support the program can visit their website or follow them on social media at @redwoodseedscholars.

 

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.