AggieAlly

FrontPage
Message
About
Profile
Sign Up

Inspiration

Inspired by a tradition from my church called "tea time", where people gather to share conversations and build community, this project brings that same warmth and connection to the entire UC Davis campus. In a large university where it’s easy to feel lost in the crowd, Aggie Tea Time creates a digital space for students to meet, talk, and grow together — one conversation at a time.

Through virtual “tea tables” based on shared interests, backgrounds, or even just a desire to chat, students can connect in small groups or one-on-one, forming friendships beyond the classroom. Whether you're a first-year trying to find your place, a commuter seeking community, or someone just looking for meaningful conversation, this platform makes it easy to reach out and feel included.

By blending technology with human connection, Aggie Tea Time offers a new way to make UC Davis feel smaller, warmer, and more united — turning strangers into friends and moments into lasting memories.

What it does

AggieAlly is a community-building platform that helps UC Davis students connect in meaningful ways outside of the classroom. Inspired by my church’s “tea time” tradition, AggieAlly allows students to join themed conversation rooms, get matched for weekly meetups, and discover events and hangouts posted by fellow Aggies. It fosters real, human connection in a digital space — helping students find belonging, encouragement, and friendship on a large campus.

How we built it

We built AggieAlly using Next.js with TypeScript to ensure type safety, maintainable code, and a better developer experience across the stack. The frontend delivers a fast, modern interface where students can easily browse, connect, and participate in community chats.

For our backend, we used Firebase to handle user authentication, real-time chat, and cloud database storage. Students sign in with their UC Davis email or Google account, select their interests, and are automatically matched with others or invited into themed “tea tables” — small group chats focused on shared topics.

We also integrated the Cerebras API to power an AI assistant that suggests conversation prompts, helps users navigate the platform, and recommends groups or events based on mood, activity level, and interests. This makes interactions feel natural, even for new or shy users.

Lastly, we built a public post board where users can share open invites to study sessions, meetups, or spontaneous hangouts — turning digital connections into real-life friendships.

Challenges we ran into

Designing a space that felt warm, safe, and inclusive — not just another social media feed.
Managing real-time conversations and user matching logic with Firebase.
Encouraging organic interaction without making the experience feel forced or awkward.
Staying focused on simplicity and genuine connection, rather than feature overload

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Translating a deeply personal and meaningful tradition into a digital format that others can benefit from.
Creating a working prototype that matches users by interest and sets up weekly meetups.
Designing a clean, inviting UI that reflects the spirit of community and inclusion.
Building something that could genuinely help students who feel disconnected find their people.

What we learned

How to work with Firebase for real-time updates and user state management
The importance of user experience in encouraging authentic engagement
That even a small project can carry deep emotional value when tied to a personal mission

What's next for AggieAlly

Adding a feedback system to continually improve conversation prompts and matching
Partnering with UC Davis clubs and resource centers to bring more communities onto the platform
Exploring mobile support and accessibility features to reach more students