Trinity Valley Community College continues to exemplify its identity as the Home of Champions – in just five-months TVCC showcased that 2026 will be another huge year.
“It’s hard to fully capture everything that happens at TVCC this academic semester, but if I had to sum it up in one sentence, it would be this: We are the Home of Champions,” TVCC President Dr. Jason Morrison shared. “Every single day, we are developing and nurturing students, staff, and faculty to exemplify a championship mindset. We’re showing the state — and the nation — why that title goes beyond athletics. Our academic excellence is recognized at the state, national, and even international levels, all because we truly are the Home of Champions.”
As of May 7, 2026, TVCC proudly boasts 43 national championships! Leading the way is the nationally - renowned TVCC Cheer program, with an astonishing 20 national titles.
Cheer
At the 2026 National Cheer Association National Championship, TVCC Cheer delivered standout performances that showcased why TVCC is the Home of Champions!
Both Advanced Large Coed Junior College Division and Advanced Small Coed Junior College Division placed first in their divisions.
Advanced Large Coed Junior College Division was awarded a final score of 94.0458. The winner's circle (top three teams) also included Navarro College with a score of 91.1791 and Iowa Central Community College with a score of 86.8708.
The Advanced Small Coed Junior College Division was awarded a final score of 92.7042. The winner's circle also included Mount San Antonio College with a score of 81.7709 and Connors State College with a score of 80.4667. Both teams were recognized and invited to compete in the NCA Grand Champion round.
Cardinal Cheer has now won national titles in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 — officially returning from the National Cheerleaders Association competition in Daytona Beach with 18 national titles. Plus, the team won back-to-back National Junior College Athletic Association Cheer Co-Ed National Championships in 2025 and 2026.
Cardette Showgirls
Adding to the winner’s circle, the Cardette Showgirls made headlines of their own. Competing at The College Classic on April 11 in Orlando, Florida, under the direction of Coach Emma Cox, the Showgirls claimed not just one but two national titles capturing the Jazz Division and Open Pom titles.
This marks the third time the Showgirls have doubled up on titles, a feat they also accomplished in 2021 and 2025.
The Cardette Showgirls’ growing legacy now includes national titles in 2017, 2019, 2021 (two titles), 2022, 2024, 2025 (two titles), and 2026 (two titles)
Esports
TVCC Esports celebrated the program’s first-ever national championship in May during its fifth year as a program, with Diego Varela winning the EA SPORTS FC 26 national title match against Trinidad State.
“This is our fifth year, and we have had a lot of success,” TVCC Esports Coach James Jones shared. “We have been knocking on the door numerous times but just haven’t been able to push through. We had an opportunity to kick the door down and take the program’s first national title. I feel once that momentum gets going, more titles will follow. TVCC is already known in the NJCAA Esports world, but this puts some bright lights on it. Personally, I would be lying if I didn’t say it was a huge milestone. A lot of love and sacrificed time has been poured into this program. The goal is to see the athletes’ hard work rewarded with the ultimate prize. At the end of the day, my accomplishments are based on how fulfilled each athlete feels at the end of their time at TVCC.”
TVCC followed that championship with a second national title, winning the NJCAA Esports Invitational National Championship in Overwatch.
Women’s Basketball
The Lady Cards had a strong showing this year and ended the season as Final Four Finishers in the NJCAA National Tournament and claimed their 25-time Region XIV title. Coach Precious Ivy was also named the Region XIV Coach of the Year. Plus, Lady Card Malaya Jones was named an NJCAA All-American and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association honoree. Texas Association of Basketball Coaches recognized Myyah West as a Junior College Assistant Coach of the Year.
Men’s Basketball
The Cardinals made their 13th appearance in Hutchinson, Kansas, finishing the season as a Final Four team at the NJCAA National Tournament. They also secured their eighth Region XIV title.
Beef Cattle Show Team
The team ended its year at the Houston Livestock Show with multiple top finishes, including a Reserve Junior Female Champion, a Reserve Senior Champion Bull, and sweep wins in all group classes. That momentum carried over from strong performances at the Fort Worth Stock Show, where the team earned the Herdsman Award and again claimed all group class titles.
Earlier in the season, TVCC made a statement at the Tulsa State Fair with a Junior Champion Female, Senior Champion Female, and several reserve champions. At the Four States Fair, the team secured a Grand Champion Bull and continued to show depth across classes.
Cardinal Softball
The fifth-ranked Cardinals closed the regular season in dominant fashion, sweeping Northeast Texas Community College at Drumgoole Field on May 6 with 2-1 and 12-0 victories. The wins capped a historic regular season as Trinity Valley finished 52-6 overall and 22-2 in Region XIV Conference play.
The 2025 Cardinals set multiple program records, including the most regular-season wins in school history, the most conference wins in a season, and a perfect 34-0 record at home. The season also marked the 200th and 201st career victories for Head Coach Maria Winn-Ratliff during her five-year tenure at TVCC. The Cardinals continued to make history in postseason play, earning the program's fourth appearance at the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series and securing the program's first-ever win at the national tournament.
TVCC finished the season with an overall record of 55-10, cementing its place as one of the most successful teams in program history.
Speaking of Cardinal Softball, the team played their first game on the new Rip Drumgoole Field on the TVCC – Athens Campus on April 22 with a grand opening ceremony of the new W.P. “Rip” Drumgoole Field.
“It is with great humility and pride that we were able to move Drumgoole Field from Cain Park to the Athens Campus of Trinity Valley,” Dr. Morrison shared. “I’m so happy that we were able to build them [TVCC Softball team] a facility they can create history on.”
TVCC Athletics celebrated and recognized Cardinal Athletes during the annual banquet on May 23 at the First United Methodist Church in Athens. Multiple awards were handed out including:
- Dynamic Duo to Dominique Vargas and Sydney Murphy
- Female Athlete of the Year to Bianca Salvador
- Female Cardinal Award to Madyson Knight
- Male Athlete of the Year to Lazavier Amos
- Male Cardinal Award to Braylon Wenger
- Leadership Award to M.J. Wardlow
- The Rock Award to Heaven Jordan
- Unsung Hero Award to Kaylie Jaime
The winning spirit isn’t just found in athletics, TVCC also saw it in student organizations, community support, fine arts programs, and more.
TVCC Student Government Association attended the annual TJCSGA Texas Junior College Student Government Association State Convention and earned multiple honors, including Advisor of the Year, Texas Legend, Gold Standard Chapter, and Second Place Chapter of the Year. Students also received Second Place awards in Essay, Video, Poetry, and Community Service, along with an officer recognition for serving as the TJCSGA Region III Secretary. In addition, TVCC was elected to serve as both the TJCSGA Region III President and State President.
At the Texas Phi Theta Kappa Regional Convention in Fort Worth, TX, the Iota Alpha chapter of PTK entered competitive applications and won several awards including:
Nancy Long Texas Continued Excellence for Chapters Award – The award was renamed after Nancy Long in 2024
- Texas Top Chapter Award
- College Project Award of Merit
- Distinguished Officer Team Award
- Continued Excellence Award for Advisors to Nancy Long
- Distinguished Officer Hall of Honor Award to Luis Guardado
The awards continued at the international level, with PTK winning the Distinguished College Project Award and the Continued Excellence for Advisors Award to Nancy Long.
TVCC proudly announced a continued rise in student enrollment. Proudly announcing a remarkable 8.40% increase in headcount and a 6.42 % rise in full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment compared to Spring 2025, Vice President of Student Services Tammy Denny shared on April 2, 2026.
“The enrollment report highlights the hard work and determination by our incredible enrollment team, advisors, marketing, and the entire institution,” TVCC President Dr. Jason Morrison. “Our teams are showing we are truly the Home of Champions in every aspect of our institution!”
TVCC celebrated a record-breaking 1,446 graduates at the Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony. The previous record was set last year with 1,142 graduates.
With a mission rooted in access and care, TVCC is answering the call to support students with foster care experience through a personalized support system that puts students first. The program, Onward at The Valley, is designed to remove barriers and help students succeed.
Through Onward at The Valley, students gain a supportive, connected environment where they can build relationships with peers, stay enrolled, and move forward in their education. The program also helps students develop essential life and career skills while connecting them to scholarships and financial assistance.
Many students who have experienced foster care want to attend college. National research shows that students with experience in foster care are enrolling in college and training programs, but completion gaps remain significant. A 2025 systematic review found that 29% to 64% enroll in postsecondary education, while only 8% to 12% earn a two- or four-year degree by their mid- to late 20s.
Onward at The Valley also aligns with a broader statewide effort to support foster care students. Under House Bill 3748, all public colleges and universities in Texas are required to designate a foster care liaison. This role connects students to critical resources like tuition waivers, housing support, and academic guidance, helping bridge the gap between access and completion.
But the goal goes beyond access. It is about removing stigma and helping students feel confident navigating higher education.
“We at TVCC care deeply about all our students,” Associate Vice President of Student Advocacy Dr. Melinda Berry shared. “You see that care in our advisors, faculty, and staff. But this group of students has unique needs. Our approach is trauma informed. This is not transactional. It is relational. We are building trust.”
What’s the old saying: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice. At Trinity Valley Community College, the answer is getting an update. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? By being a Cardinal.
On May 25, the TVCC Cardinal Singers performed on the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, one of the world’s most prestigious venues. The group presented Stabat Mater by Marc-André Bougie and premiere Te Deum, a new work by Terre Johnson.
“It was an incredible opportunity for our students and for our college,” said Dr. Kristin Huggins, Division Chair of Fine Arts and Kinesiology and Director of Choral Music. “For every performer, the dream is to perform on a stage like Carnegie Hall, and we were so blessed to be invited and to bring these pieces to life.”
TVCC brought together the community for a chance to experience the Home of Champions. On April 22, local law enforcement including the TVCC Police Department hosted a Torch Run for Special Olympics. The run supported Special Olympics athletes across Henderson County and East Texas by funding training, coaching, equipment, facilities, and transportation.
At the same time, TVCC hosted a Sustainability Fair that celebrated Earth Day, health sciences at TVCC, and the artistic abilities of TVCC’s Art Department.
Attendees had the opportunity to explore community booths from Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Texas Master Naturalists, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, USDA-NRCS, Keep Athens Beautiful, East Texas Arboretum, Atmos Energy, the TVCC Science Division, The Creature Teacher, Purtis Creek State Park, Hope Springs Water, Henderson County Master Gardener Association, Black Beauty Ranch, AIM Recycling, and Rooted.
The excitement continued with a grand opening ceremony of the new W.P. “Rip” Drumgoole Field, a major milestone for the program. This is just a glimpse of the excitement offered at the Home of Champions in 2026.