On Friday, May 15, Trinity Valley Community College President Dr. Jason Morrison announced the recipients of the President’s Awards during the Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony at Athens High School.

Recipients are nominated by TVCC faculty and staff. To be eligible for a President’s Award, students must graduate in Spring 2026, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate outstanding representation of TVCC values both academically and civically.

This year’s recipients were Bree Daniel, Deana Hibbard, Ellie Sowers, and Kaitlyn Thibodeaux.

Bree Daniel (Reggie)
Bree was a member of the Student Government Association, where she served as secretary, and the Red Bird Student Leaders, where she served as an ambassador. She also portrayed Reggie, the TVCC mascot, for two years, fully embracing the anonymity, enthusiasm, and spirit that came with the role.

Bree loved being on campus and bringing smiles to fellow students, faculty, staff, and community members. Her dedication to ensuring Reggie was present at countless events—even packing the mascot suit with ice packs and fans to endure the Texas heat—demonstrated a true champion’s spirit. The next Reggie had big claws to fill.

Deana Hibbard
As a Cardinal, Deana was actively involved on campus as a member of the First-Generation College Students organization and Phi Theta Kappa. She exemplified excellence both academically and personally, consistently maintaining near-perfect scores throughout her coursework while demonstrating exceptional dedication, discipline, and commitment to her education.

Her determination to return to school later in life while raising a family highlighted her perseverance and commitment to achieving her goals. Deana served as a role model for her classmates and was a testament to what could be accomplished through hard work and determination.

Ellie Sowers
Ellie was involved in Red Bird Student Leaders, the Student Government Association, Theatre, and Art. Her generous spirit, unwavering dependability, and genuine eagerness to learn made her an excellent recipient of the President’s Award.

Beyond her strong work ethic, Ellie radiated kindness and understanding, creating a welcoming and supportive environment for those around her. Her compassion, integrity, and dedication left a lasting positive impact on the TVCC community, making her truly deserving of this honor.

Kaitlyn Thibodeaux
Kaitlyn was a Cardette from 2024 to 2026. During her freshman year, she served as Freshman Representative after being elected by her peers and helped lead the team to two National Championships as a Cardette Showgirl.

In her sophomore year, she was again selected by her peers to serve as Team Captain. Kaitlyn exemplified the qualities of both an effective leader and a dedicated team member. Academically and athletically, she was an outstanding representative of TVCC and embodied the spirit of the Home of Champions.