Valrico Edition
May 2023
NEW MEMORY CARE STATIONS TO ASSIST RESIDENTS OF TESSERA BRANDON
By Madeline Gardner
Journeying to the past and purses, the vanity staand taking a stroll down tion features a vanity and is memory lane is no longer meant to imitate the pracjust a possibility for resitice of getting ready. dents of Tessera Brandon, Complete with stuffed but rather a reality made and electronic animals, feasible by the facility’s the pet life station intends newest amenities: memory to evoke past memories care stations. of time spent with furMemory care stations ry friends. Items such as are designed to elicit longbrushes encourage resterm memories by recreidents to interact with ating familiar situations these props. The handyman from the past. Tailored to station is a workbench that After purchasing the vanity for residents suffering from includes high-grade tool this life station, Tessera Brandon Alzheimer’s and demenreplicas. tia, Jill Andrew, director reached out to the community for Lastly, the tactile/sensory of marketing at Tessera the donation of various accessories. station features materials Brandon, stated that implementing these like a plaque covered in feathers and comnew technologies was an inevitable step in mon household items like marbles. revolutionizing the care offered by the senior Alongside purchasing new items and assisted living and memory care community. making use of current materials, Tessera “It was just time,” said Andrew, “and the Brandon regularly accepts donations from residents themselves wanted to do some- members of the surrounding community. thing meaningful for memory care.” By working with networking groups of the Located within the niches and insets of Greater Riverview and Valrico FishHawk the facility’s hallways, these spaces are or- chambers of commerce, for example, Tesganized in a manner that makes them eas- sera Brandon has been able to incorporate ily accessible to residents, whether they items such as purses, brushes and jewelry to are visiting the life stations independently fill these spaces. or participating in activities alongside their “Our community around here is just phepeers. Because the purpose of these stations nomenal,” said Andrew. “People want to do is to encourage these individuals to recall el- good, people want to give back, and so it’s an ements of their past more readily, the cur- opportunity for them to do so.” rent stations are decorated to resemble five Andrew states that the next station will aspects of everyday life. likely feature either an office or a nursery The music station was the first one fin- design. ished, featuring an antique piano and a For more information on memory care backdrop decorated with piano keys that stations and additional opportunities availadorn the wall. Additional instruments avail- able at Tessera Brandon, please visit www. able for use in this space include ukeleles, tesserabrandon.com or call 813-607-6880. xylophones, maracas and tambourines. In- Tessera Brandon is located at 1320 Oakfield corporating scarves, hats, costume jewelry Dr. in Brandon.
CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATE WITH YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY! Purchase a Graduation Advertisement in The Osprey Observer Community Newspaper CONGRATULATIONS Jayden Latocki Alafia Elementary Graduating 5th Grade
Jayden, you’re such a strong young man. Even with obstacles, you push forward. You have a big and caring heart. We look forward to watching you continue to grow. Strive to be your best in all that you do. You are your only limit. ~Love, Mom, Dad and Autumn
We Are So Proud Of You,
Ödz_˭˭ Ɏů
For more information, call 813-657-2418. After purchase, send us a student photo, your graduate’s name, school name and a message to be included to:
graduation@ospreyobserver.com We will design and send a proof for approval.
Page 31
HCC’S SOUTHSHORE CAMPUS CELEBRATES 15TH ANNUAL STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS
By Lily Belcher
Hillsborough ComServant Leadership munity College’s SouthAward to recognize her Shore campus celebrated stewardship and comits 15th annual Student munity building and the Excellence Awards to impact she has had on recognize exceptional campus. students and staff. Finally, Student of Around 200 faculty, the Year was awarded students and commuto Allen Chen. Chen is Staff, students and families attended the nity members attended graduating with a 4.0 15th annual Student Excellence Awards. the program held at the GPA and plans to atMain Kings Point Clubtend the University of house. The awards recogSouth Florida in the fall. nized the dean’s list of stu“Mr. Chen is a stellar dents and faculty along student who has also with staff of the year. provided service and Campus President Dr. leadership excellence,” Jennifer Wells China insaid Sanchez. vited her Presidential AdHillsborough Comvisory Council to support munity College serves Dean Nadia Kotula presented the their outstanding students around 45,000 students Faculty of the Year Award to Dr. and staff. every year across all five Craig Hardesty. This year’s Faculty of the of its campuses. Each Year Award went to mathematics professor campus, including the SouthShore location, Dr. Craig Hardesty. has different clubs and organizations for all “The Faculty of the Year Award rep- students, including a Student Government resents a faculty member who fosters an Association and a Student Nurses Organiatmosphere of collegiality and collaboration zation. among students,” said executive staff assisThe SouthShore campus is home to the tant Brenda Sanchez. Lennard Collegiate Academy, which partJob placement assistant Fauna Keppen ners with Lennard High School to help stuwas given the Staff Person of the Year dents earn their associate degree in high Award at the SouthShore event as well. school. It also offers EMT, paramedic and “The Staff Person of the Year Award rep- nursing pathways and is a green campus. resents a staff member who demonstrates Hillsborough Community College’s Southa high degree of excellence and integrity in Shore campus is located at 551 24th St. NE their work, which promotes improvement in in Ruskin, right across the street from Lenthe overall student body of the SouthShore nard High School. campus,” explained Sanchez. Call 813-253-7000. To book a tour, www. Librarian Roxanna Palmer received the hccfl.edu/campus-life/southshore-campus.