Isla Vista, CA, September 1, 2015 – Tropicana Gardens Residence Hall is proud to announce its Residence Life team for the 2015-2016 academic year.  After an intensive 5-week interview and training process, the top candidates were chosen to provide leadership and build community at Tropicana Gardens Residence Hall for SBCC students.

“Tropicana Gardens’ Residential Life Program is designed to ensure a successful transition from home to independent living for SBCC students. Many of our residents form life-long friendships with the people they meet at Tropicana, and the Resident Assistants (RAs) are essential for nurturing an environment conducive to creating those friendships,” said Dave Wilcox, Executive Director. “Our team works hard to build community and to support our residents’ personal quest for independence and academic success.”

 “Resident Assistants (RAs) are students who help the students living in our communities to get know each other,” explained Anna Rodgers, Director of Residence Life.  “Each year we interview more than 100 candidates for our resident assistant team. Resident Assistants serve as educators, peer counselors, policy enforcers and resource persons. The candidates we choose are leaders who can inspire our residents and are crucial for creating a tight-knit community.” 

Tropicana’s renowned Residence Life programming follows a wellness model that encompasses physical, spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual and environmental aspects. Resident Assistants sponsor over 300 community events designed to nurture, entertain, encourage, and integrate new students into their college “home.” 

New Tropicana Resident Assistants for the 2015-16 school year include Pierre Barban  from Paris, France; Abby Bolter from Sonora, CA; Jeff Carlson from Anaheim Hills, CA; Chris Chang from Traverse City, MI; Derek Chen from Oakland, CA; Chris Cook from Hollister, CA; Donovan Floyd from Greenwich, CT; Julia Hernandez from Salou, Spain; Brian Ogle from Sonora, CA; Blair Rogers from Sacramento, CA. Reign Ross-Elliot of Carson, CA; Lauren Saussy of Manhattan Beach, CA; Danitza Valenzuela of El Centro, CA; Maria Velez of Madera, CA; and Samuel Watkins of Fresno, CA.  Returning Tropicana Resident Assistants include Clarissa Fernandez from Riverside, CA; and Presley Maron  from Pasadena, CA. 

Yoli Gavaldon, from Garden Grove, CA and Jon Sokol, from Thousand Oaks, CA, will be the two new Residence Directors at Tropicana Gardens Residence Hall for SBCC students for the 2015/2016 academic year. Allan Ramirez from Los Angeles, CA will be Residence Director of Tropicana Del Norte Residence Hall. Tracy Pfister of Naperville, Illinois, will be returning as Programming Coordinator. Roger Rodarte of Jurupa, CA will be working as the Courtesy Patrol Coordinator.  Community Coordinators of Tropicana Villas Upperclassmen Apartments will be Morgan Ryan of Salt Lake City, UT and Marisa Allan of Spring Valley, CA. 

About Tropicana Gardens Residence Hall for Santa Barbara City College Students

Tropicana Gardens, home to more than 500 SBCC students each year is a residence hall designed for SBCC students.  Tropicana offers a college dorm life experience – just like at a 4-year residential college campus- in a lush tropical setting. 

With a focus on academics, Tropicana Gardens provides a quiet study lounge with 24-hour access for residents and hosts a tutoring program in conjunction with Santa Barbara City College. SBCC students are encouraged to join the SBCC Transfer Academy and take advantage of cross-enrollment opportunities at UCSB. 

Located next to UCSB with a direct door–to-door bus service to SBCC, Tropicana Gardens’ furnished suites include two or three bedrooms, a living room and bathrooms. Residents have a choice of single, double, triple and quad occupancy bedrooms—and Tropicana helps students find roommates with a roommate matching service. Resort-style amenities include an onsite dining hall with an unlimited meal plan, heated pool and fitness center and 24-hour quiet study lounge in a lush tropical setting.

For more information about 2015/2016 Academic year housing for SBCC students please call 805-968-4319 or lease online 24/7 at  www.tropicanagardens.com

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SANTA BARBARA, CA – May 26, 2015 – Students from East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy high school created a beautiful chalk art drawing during the 2015 I Madonnari street painting festival at the Santa Barbara Mission this Memorial Day weekend. Brandon Teris is an Art Instructor at East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy, and he has been bringing his students to participate in I Madonnari for the past five years to help benefit the Children’s Creative Project. This year, 3 students from Phoenix Academy made up Tropicana’s student team. Brandon collaborated with local artist Christopher Romo, who worked with students on a piece sponsored by Lime Design. Brandon and Christopher worked on their own square, sponsored by Tropicana Student Living. 

(Left) East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy’s student artists, David A., Jazlin B., and Tandra M. 

(Right) The Tropicana Student Living sponsored square encouraging honey bee awareness.

“We are very proud to host Brandon and his team,” said Dave Wilcox, Executive Director of Tropicana Student Living. “We love supporting their work and always look forward to seeing their new designs each year.”

In 2015, Brandon returned to Tropicana on sabbatical from East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy to focus on building his art portfolio and live at Tropicana as their resident artist. Last year Brandon transformed the Tropicana Del Norte study lounge into an academic oasis with a calming ocean scene. To see more of Brandon’s work visit http://brandonteris.webs.com/

Brandon Teris, former Resident Assistant, with the mural he painted in the study lounge at Tropicana Del Norte.

About Tropicana Student Living

Tropicana Student Living operates private residence halls and apartments for students attending the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in Santa Barbara, California.  Tropicana Del Norte Residence Hall (www.tropicanadelnorte.com), conveniently located adjacent to UCSB's Main Campus is a small and friendly community with spacious suite-style units, an unlimited meal plan and resort-style living. Tropicana Villas (www.tropvillas.com) is an Isla Vista apartment community that caters to upperclassmen with furnished apartments and flexible leasing options. Tropicana Gardens (www.tropicanagardens.com), located an express bus ride away from Santa Barbara City College, is a private residence hall that provides an attractive alternative to apartments for SBCC students with its suite-style units and social and recreational activities organized by its large team of energetic RAs. For more information about housing options for UCSB and SBCC students, please call 805-968-4319.

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Santa Barbara, CA – August 1, 2014 – Tropicana Student living is proud to welcome Michael Jordan Flight School 2014 basketball camps for the 19th year.  Campers, who range in age from 7-18, will be staying at Tropicana Gardens and Tropicana Del Norte residence halls. Tropicana Gardens and Tropicana Del Norte are located adjacent to UCSB’s main campus and the Thunderdome. The close proximity, suite-style accommodations, and on-site café make the experience easy and fun for campers; many of which are having their first overnight camp experience

 “Every year, I am so excited to work with the Michael Jordan Flight School and their staff.  They are so professional, organized and they really work hard for all their participants to have such a great experience.” said David Wilcox, Executive Director. “I believe this is why they have so many participants that come back every year!”

Mark Raveling, Michael Jordan Flight School Camp Director, says, “We have been hosting the MJ camp at Tropicana and UCSB since 1995 and always look forward to coming back each year. We are excited for our 19th year.”

Michael Jordan Flight School is among the world’s finest youth basketball camps, where girls and boys can learn the fundamentals of shooting, dribbling, rebounding, passing, and defense from NBA great, Michael Jordan, and his first class coaching staff. For more information, see the Michael Jordan Flight School website.

About Tropicana Student Living

Tropicana Student Living operates private residence halls and apartments for students attending the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in Santa Barbara, California.  Tropicana Del Norte Residence Hall (www.tropicanadelnorte.com), conveniently located adjacent to UCSB's Main Campus is a small and friendly community with spacious suite-style units, an unlimited meal plan and resort-style living. Tropicana Villas (www.tropvillas.com) is an Isla Vista apartment community that caters to upperclassmen with furnished apartments and flexible leasing options. Tropicana Gardens (www.tropicanagardens.com), located an express bus ride away from Santa Barbara City College, is a private residence hall that provides an attractive alternative to apartments for SBCC students with its suite-style units and social and recreational activities organized by its large team of energetic RAs. For more information about housing options for UCSB and SBCC students, please call 805-968-4319.

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Santa Barbara, CA – July 10, 2014 – Tropicana Gardens is happy to welcome Kobe Basketball Academy for the 2014 summer session. Tropicana will be housing over 800 participants, aged 8-18. Tropicana Gardens is located adjacent to UCSB’s main campus and the Thunderdome. The close proximity, suite-style accommodations, and on-site café make the experience easy and fun for campers; many of which are having their first overnight camp experience.

 “Being a basketball fan myself, I am excited that Tropicana Gardens is again hosting Kobe Bryant’s amazing camp this summer,” said David Wilcox, Executive Director. “The kids love that they get to meet Kobe and get a signature from him while attending the camp.”

Damon Haley, Kobe Basketball Academy Camp Director, says, “We look forward to another great year at UCSB and Tropicana Gardens.Kobe Basketball Academy was founded in 2006. For more information, see the Kobe Basketball Academy website.”

Tropicana Gardens residence hall is just blocks from UCSB’s main campus. During the academic year, Tropicana Gardens provides Santa Barbara City College students a campus residence hall living experience with furnished suites, and an unlimited dining plan and a direct bus to SBCC. Tropicana Gardens is known for its exceptional student life programs, its lush resort-style setting and amenities such as a heated pool, fitness room, rec room and 24-hour study lounge.