It started out as just a little idea, but grew into an altar that stands nearly 10 feet tall, decorated with small skulls and red and white candles.

Candy was set on the altar as an offering to ancestors, and pictures of the dead are mounted on its backboard.

Education sophomore Blanca Gamino and social work sophomore Rocio Vera offered to create the altar in Baker Hall as part of an effort to promote cultural awareness about their Mexican heritage and a holiday they've celebrated since childhood - Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.

The effort is supported through the Student Organization of Latino Social Workers.

"It's to remember all our ancestors and those who passed away that we love," Gamino said. "We thought it would be something pretty to show people."

The altar, which will be on display during November, includes pictures of civil rights leaders Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King Jr.

"We included people of all races," Gamino said. "To pray for them, too."

The two students spent an afternoon putting the altar together - a project that was supposed to be small and grew as they were working on it.

"While we were doing it, we started to get more and more ideas," Gamino said. "We didn't plan to do something this big, but it just came out of our minds."

Vera added that the project was beneficial to everyone involved.

"It's fun because we get to do things that we like and also help people," she said.

The two women also spend some of their free time near the altar, explaining the symbolism and history.

"We are hearing a lot," Gamino said. "They want to see us by it and talk about how we did it and why we did it."

The two women also volunteered to be part of a presentation from 12-1 p.m. Friday in Baker Hall. The presentation will discuss the cultural and historical context of the holiday.

Margie Rodriguez, assistant professor in the School of Social Work and faculty liaison to the organization, said Gamino and Vera have been helpful in promoting awareness.

"The School of Social Work really prizes diversity and cultural practices," Rodriguez said.

She added that the organization also does community service throughout the year.

"Demonstrating a cultural practice, in this case Mexican, would be a good service," she said. "It is our belief that cultural traditions are embedded in our lives."