The Trinity Valley Community College Alumni Association is thrilled to announce the 2026 Hall of Distinguished Alumni (HODA) honorees. On Friday, Oct. 23, five exceptional Cardinal alumni will be celebrated for their significant contributions to TVCC and the surrounding communities at the Hall of Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner at the Athens Country Club. 

In Spring 2026, TVCC faculty, staff, alumni, and community members were invited to nominate outstanding alumni whose achievements have made a lasting impact, culminating in the selection of this year’s honorees. 

Tasha Franklin

Tasha Franklin attended Trinity Valley Community College from 2000 to 2002 and served as Darla Mansfield’s very first Cardette Officer during the 2001-2002 season. Following her time at The Valley, she went on to attend Texas Woman’s University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance.

After graduating, Franklin immediately put her degree to work, as she became the Assistant Drill Team Director for Duncanville High School. She later expanded her leadership experience as Artistic Director and Co-Director at San Marcos High School in San Diego, California.

In 2017, Franklin returned to Texas and became the Head Drill Team Director and Dance Teacher at Irving High School, where she continues to teach and coach today. Her dedication to her students has earned her numerous recognitions, including being named Irving High School’s Teacher of the Month six times and, most recently, the 2026-2027 Campus Teacher of the Year.

Franklin’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. For the past 20 years, she has served as both an adjudicator and Staff Captain with American Dance/Drill Team Schools, mentoring and evaluating countless dancers and dance teams along the way. Her work has also taken her internationally, including trips to Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, Japan, where she taught master dance workshops and served as an American judge for the Miss Dance/Drill Team Competition in Osaka. In 2019, she returned to Japan as Artistic Director for the ADTS All-Star Dance Team and once again served as an American judge.

In addition to her work with regional, national, and international dance teams, Franklin is a freelance choreographer and has remained closely connected to TVCC through numerous dance projects. She has served as a master hip-hop instructor for Cardette Dance Your Heart Out camps, choreographed competitive routines for Showgirls and spring show, adjudicated officer auditions, and participated in Cardette Connections as a mentor to current Cardettes.

Franklin is an active member of the Texas Dance Educators Association (TDEA), currently serving as Co-Chair of the Impact Committee. She has presented two workshops for dance educators, including Creating the Pipeline: How Middle School Dance Prepares Future High School Dancers and 3D: Directing Demographic Diversity.

When she's not educating, mentoring, or choreographing, Franklin enjoys spending time with her son, Jaylen. A proud mom who loves supporting his athletic pursuits in basketball and football. 

Stephen Magee

Stephen Magee attended TVCC from 1996 to 1998, earning an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts. He later attended Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.

During his time at TVCC, Magee was actively involved on campus. He served as Freshman Representative of the Student Government Association before becoming Vice President the following year. He also served as a Cardette Escort and received the TVCC President’s Award in the spring of 1998.

After graduating from Texas A&M, Magee returned to TVCC, this time as an employee. From 2000 to 2005, he served as Assistant Registrar and School Relations Officer before leaving to work for Halliburton Drill Bits, where he spent six years. He later began his career at Elder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, where he continues to work today. His accomplishments include being named Elder’s Employee of the Year in 2017 and Best Auto Salesman by the Athens Daily Review for the past 15 years.

Outside of his career, Magee takes pride in giving back to his community. He has previously served on the Athens American Cancer Society Board and Athens Chamber of Commerce Board. Today, he serves on the TVCC Foundation Board and as an ambassador for the Henderson County Go Texan Committee. Through his involvement with the committee’s annual fundraisers, he has helped raise approximately $50,000 each spring to support Henderson County youth as they continue their education. He is also a Cardinal Club member and participates in the annual Cardinal Classic golf tournament.

Looking back, Magee credits his time and involvement at TVCC with laying the foundation for many of his later successes. His continued connection to the college reflects the lasting impact his experience at The Valley has had on his life.

Kaitlin Carroll

Kaitlin Carroll attended the TVCC - Palestine Campus from 2006 to 2009, beginning her journey at The Valley as a dual credit student through Neches High School. She went on to earn an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from TVCC before earning a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Today, Carroll serves as program director for East Texas Radio Group, a five-station cluster serving communities throughout East Texas. She is also the morning host for KYYK and KNET radio stations in Palestine and has worked in the radio industry for 10 years.

Carroll takes great pride in her time at TVCC and credits the college with playing an important role in her development as a young adult. Because of her own experience at The Valley began through dual credit, she continues to advocate for the program and the opportunities it can provide current and prospective students.

Her connection to TVCC also runs in the family. Carroll’s father graduated from the college’s Licensed Vocational Nursing program in 1969, making her a second-generation TVCC graduate. From beginning her own college experience as a dual credit student to building a career serving East Texas communities, Carroll continues to carry a strong appreciation for the place where her journey began.

Gary Reaves

Gary Reaves graduated from TVCC in 1975. During his time at The Valley, he attended on a band scholarship and performed in both the concert and stage bands. He was also involved in Student Senate and served as Freshman Class President.

Reaves has worked in the horticulture industry since he was 20 years old, building a career that spans nearly five decades. Throughout that time, he has dedicated himself to growing and nurturing not only plants, but also the relationships he has built along the way. Today, he is the owner of Malakoff Nursery, where he continues to pursue his passion for both plants and people.

That same commitment to others is reflected in the many ways Reaves has given back to his community. Over the years, he has volunteered with Young Life Ministry and Methodist Youth Fellowship. He also remains closely connected to TVCC through Friends of the Cardinals, where he mentors and encourages student-athletes.

Reaves credits his time at TVCC with helping shape not only his career, but also his character. Decades after his time as a student, he continues to embody the values of service, kindness, and generosity while investing in the community and people around him.

Chris McCool

Chris McCool attended TVCC during the summers following high school, completing many of his core curriculum courses at The Valley. Those courses helped him accelerate his education and graduate from Texas A&M University in just three years with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.

McCool went on to build an accomplished career in business, spending 28 years with PepsiCo before retiring as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. During his tenure, he received the Donald Kendall Award, PepsiCo’s highest honor, in recognition of his excellence in results and leadership.

Following his career at PepsiCo, McCool joined Sysco Foods, where he spent another seven years before retiring. His work there earned him several additional awards recognizing his achievements in sales and leadership.

Beyond his professional career, McCool has dedicated significant time to serving others through his involvement with numerous community and nonprofit boards. His service has included organizations such as Family Place, Triangle Family Services, Children’s Resiliency Project, and the National Alzheimer’s Association.

McCool and his wife, Martha, have been married for 46 years. Together, they have one son, Wade, a daughter-in-law, Michelene, and three grandchildren.

Tickets for the HODA Awards Dinner are now on sale at https://tinyurl.com/HODADinner.