Sweet connections: Livingstone students bring joy to Trinity Oaks
Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 21, 2024
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Elijah Marshall draws a bingo card at Trinity Oaks. - Submitted
Livingstone College hospitality students serve resident at Trinity Oaks. - Submitted
Trinity Oaks residents play bingo during an event that featured a collaboration with Livingstone College hospitality students. - Submitted
Livingstone College student Nicholas Lewis, standing, hands out bingo cards at Trinity Oaks. - Submitted
Livingstone College News Service
SALISBURY — As the Trinity Oak Senior Living Community residents settled in for their weekly bingo game on Nov. 14, Campus Director of Life Enrichment Deana Burris announced that Livingstone College’s Hospitality Management/Culinary Arts students were sponsoring the day’s bingo game and had a special treat for residents at the end.
Anne Johnson, who usually calls the bingo game for the residents on Thursdays, was replaced by hospitality management student Elijah Marshall.
“I usually don’t get to walk around and see the residents’ cards,” Johnson said, enjoying the chance to connect more with the residents during the game.
Sophomore Nasir Coles spoke on behalf of his classmates, thanking the Trinity Oaks residents for having them there.
“We hope you enjoy the games, and we look forward to sharing ice cream with you later,” he said.
After introductions, Marshall began calling out the numbers. Resident Georgina won the first game. The group played six more rounds of bingo, with resident Carolyn winning the title of “biggest loser” in a light-hearted twist, finishing with the last card still face up.
After the last game was won, the students handed out prizes to the winners. Interim Dean of the George E. Battle School of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dr. Nisha Singh expressed her thanks for the chance to connect with the residents.
“We really appreciate this opportunity. We hope to create more experiences like this to strengthen our connection with the community,” she said.
Gracie Rogers, a hospitality management instructor who helped organize the event with professor Alphonsus Osiezagha, invited the residents to an ice cream social birthday party later. Another hospitality student, Nicholas Lewis, passed out birthday cards signed by students and staff during the birthday social.
Along with Lewis and Marshall, five additional students — Antonio Joffrion, Darius Ricks, Chris Barker, and Anandie Bruner — helped make the day special for the residents.
Resident Anita Gandy shared her appreciation for the young people.
“We are truly grateful for the time they spent with us today, and we hope they come back again,” Gandy said.
This joyful event not only brought the students and residents together but also highlighted the importance of community connections and friendships across generations. Everyone left looking forward to more fun experiences together in the future.