Trinity Valley Community College honored five outstanding alumni during its 2026 Homecoming celebration, inducting them into the TVCC Hall of Distinguished Alumni on Friday, October 23, at the Athens Country Club.
The 2026 inductees recognized are Gary Reaves, Kaitlin Carroll, Tasha Franklin, Chris McCool and Stephen Magee. Each has taken a different path since their time at Henderson County Junior College (HCJC) and TVCC, building careers and serving their communities while sharing the lessons and relationships they gained from the college.
The Hall of Distinguished Alumni recognizes former students whose accomplishments, service and leadership reflect positively on TVCC and the communities they serve.
Gary Reaves
Gary Reaves, a 1975 graduate of HCJC, has spent nearly five decades building a career in horticulture while investing in the people and community around him.
Reaves attended TVCC on a band scholarship, performing in both the concert and stage bands while serving as freshman class president and participating in Student Senate. His time at TVCC included lifelong friendships and the influence of band director Tommy Downing, experiences he credits with helping shape his character and career.
At age 20, Reaves entered the nursery business and discovered a career that combined creativity with hard work. He eventually became owner of Malakoff Nursery, where he has spent decades helping customers create outdoor spaces while sharing his knowledge of plants, horticulture and landscape design.
"When I look back, it's not the plants or the landscape I think most about, it's the people," he shared. "So many customers that have come here for years. We shared stories, laughter, and pieces of our lives."
His commitment to service extends beyond his profession. Reaves has volunteered with Young Life and Methodist Youth Fellowship and has remained closely connected to TVCC through Friends of the Cardinals, mentoring and encouraging student-athletes and opening his home and heart to many of them.
Reflecting on his life during the induction ceremony, Reaves said the people he has encountered have been more important than any professional accomplishment.
"The older I get, the more I realize that a good life isn’t measured by what we accomplish or what we accumulate," Reeves shared. "It is measured by the people we love. It's special when we think about the people we love, the friendships we make, and the kindness we leave behind. I've been given so much more than I ever imagined."
Reaves also encouraged others to consider the impact they can have on students through scholarship support.
"I would not have been able to go to college if not for a scholarship," he explained. “I’ve been able to make a small difference in a student's life. I consider that a blessing because I know how much it meant and what others did the same for me."
Kaitlin Carroll
Kaitlin Carroll, who attended TVCC as Kaitlin Scroggins from 2006 to 2009, began her college education at age 16 as a Neches High School student through TVCC’s dual credit partnership with local high schools.
Carroll earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from TVCC before transferring to The University of Texas at Tyler, where she earned a degree in Mass Communications. She is now in her tenth year in the radio industry, serving as program director for E Tex Radio Group, a five-station cluster throughout East Texas. She also serves as morning show host for KYYK and KNET in Palestine.
Carroll has remained a strong advocate for dual credit, particularly because of the personal impact the opportunity had on her own education.
"I have a deep love for TVCC," Carroll expressed. "I went to Neches High School. A very rural and small high school where most of the families are not well off, and having institutions like TVCC that partner with smaller rural high schools to bring affordable education in the form of the dual credit program was truly a lifesaver."
She explained the experience gave her more than an academic head start. It helped her develop confidence, communication skills, responsibility, and leadership while still in high school.
“Without the kickstart from TVCC and the partnership that they’ve had with these smaller high schools, I would have never been able to achieve my dreams of higher education and beyond community college," Carroll said. " Ultimately, I wouldn't have landed in my dream job of radio."
Carroll is also a second-generation TVCC graduate. Her father earned his Licensed Vocation Nursing (LVN) credentials from TVCC in 1969. She continues to support the college both personally and professionally and considers herself a lifelong member of the Cardinal family.
“I consider myself part of the TVCC family,” Carroll said. “There is something special about a community college of this size in rural East Texas.”
Tasha Franklin
Tasha Franklin attended TVCC from 2000 to 2002 and served as Darla Mansfield’s first Cardette Dance Officer during the 2001-02 season. She later transferred to Texas Woman’s University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance.
Franklin began her professional career as assistant drill team director at Duncanville High School before serving as co-director at San Marcos High School and artistic director in San Diego, California. In 2017, she returned to Texas as head drill team director and dance teacher at Irving High School.
Since then, Franklin has earned numerous accolades, including being named Teacher of the Month six times and receiving the 2026-27 Campus Teacher of the Year award.
Her career has also taken her internationally. Through her 20-year tenure with American Dance/Drill Team Schools, Franklin has served as an adjudicator and Staff Captain. She traveled to Japan in 2014 to teach master dance workshops in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka and served as the 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 again served as an American judge.
Franklin continues to give back to the Cardettes as a master hip-hop instructor for Cardette Dance Your Heart Out camps, choreographer, adjudicator and mentor through Cardette Connections. She is also active in the Texas Dance Educators Association, where she serves as Co-Chair of the Impact Committee.
During the ceremony, Franklin credited her experience as a Cardette with setting the direction for her career.
"Being a Cardette is the sole reason why I’m a director today," she exclaimed to attendees. "I absolutely love what I do!"
Franklin said the friendships and mentorship she received through the program continue to influence her.
“I cherished every moment on the team and built lifelong friendships rooted into a true sisterhood,” she said.
Her career has taken her around the world, but Franklin said she remains connected to where it all began.
"Dance is truly my life." Franklin added. "It all began right here in The Valley. I am profoundly thankful that TVCC was a part of my journey."
Chris McCool
Chris McCool grew up in Athens and developed an early connection before he considered attending TVCC.
“It’s 1946, and there’s a young woman in Athens who has just graduated from high school,” he shared. “She didn’t think she had a chance to attend college. It was just after World War II, and she couldn’t leave town. Then, she heard about a new junior college coming to Athens called Henderson County Junior College. She was so excited that she was the first person to register for classes.”
That young woman? McCool’s own mother.
Following high school, McCool enrolled in summer courses at HCJC, taking foundational courses including algebra, biology and government. He earned a place on the Dean’s List and remembers professors including T.C. Brown and Dr. Spurlock for the dedication they showed their students.
The academic foundation he received at HCJC helped McCool graduate from Texas A&M University in three years with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.
McCool went on to build a 28-year career with PepsiCo, ultimately retiring as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. During his career, he received the Donald Kendall Award, PepsiCo’s highest honor, recognizing his results and leadership. He later spent seven years with Sysco Foods Company as Market President before retiring again.
His commitment to service has extended well beyond his professional career. McCool has served with numerous community and nonprofit organizations, including The Family Place, Triangle Family Services, the Children’s Resiliency Project, and the National Alzheimer’s Association. He and his wife, Martha, have been married for 46 years and have one son, Wade, a daughter-in-law, Michelene, and three grandchildren.
During his remarks, McCool reflected on the foundation TVCC provided for his future.
"The base that Trinity Valley gave me really, really helped me excel at Texas A&M, and I was able to graduate in three years. So, I’ll always appreciate that."
McCool also emphasized that TVCC’s impact reaches beyond athletics.
“To a certain extent, sports do help define Trinity Valley and what it is,” he said. “But I tell you, it’s not just about sports. It’s also about building characters with our young people when they’re here. It’s also about the academics.”
McCool remains connected to TVCC and continues to support the college and its students.
“I love this community and I love Trinity Valley," he expressed.
Stephen Magee
Stephen Magee began his journey at Trinity Valley Community College in 1996, earning an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts as the first step toward his goal of attending Texas A&M University.
During his time at TVCC, Magee immersed himself in campus life. He served as Freshman Executive in Student Government in 1996-97 and Vice President in 1997-98. He also served as a Cardette Escort and developed lifelong friendships through student activities, athletics, and campus organizations.
Magee received the TVCC President’s Award in spring 1998 and later transferred to Texas A&M, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Business.
His professional career has included positions with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, TVCC, Halliburton Drill Bits and Elder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Athens, where he has spent the past 15 years. He was named Elder Dodge Employee of the Year in 2017 and has been selected as “Best of Auto Salesman” for the past 15 years.
Magee has also dedicated himself to community service, including work with the American Cancer Society Board, Athens Chamber of Commerce Board and Henderson County Go Texan Committee. He currently serves as an ambassador for the Go Texan Committee and as a member of the TVCC Foundation Board.
During his induction remarks, Magee said TVCC gave him a foundation he continues to rely on three decades later.
"TVCC helped lay the foundation for me far before I ever knew what was to come in my years ahead," he shared. "As a local student, I got involved in the Student Government Association. I developed my leadership skills, my social skills, anything professionally, personally, that’s what helped me get to where I am today."
Magee said his decision to begin at TVCC before transferring to Texas A&M is one he would make again.
“Who would have thought that two years at a community college would have such an impact on someone?” He said. “I would not change that path for anything.”
He also credited the college with giving him lifelong friendships and mentors.
"One of the greatest gifts Trinity Valley has given me is the people," Magee said. "To this day, I have more friends from Trinity Valley than I do from my years at A&M."
Thirty years after first stepping onto the TVCC campus, Magee said his connection to the college remains strong.
"I do believe in maroon, but you have to have the base color of red to get there," Magee shared. “While Texas A&M will always be a part of my story, I will, I am, and always will be a Cardinal."
The five members of the 2026 Hall of Distinguished Alumni class represent careers and accomplishments spanning horticulture, broadcasting, dance education, corporate leadership, sales, and community service.
Yet their stories share a common foundation: the people, experiences and opportunities they encountered at Trinity Valley Community College. Together, the five inductees demonstrate the lasting impact of a TVCC education, and the many ways Cardinals continue to make a difference long after they leave campus.
"It is found in the relationships I’ve built, the lessons I’ve learned, and the opportunities I’ve been given, and the person I have become," Magee shared during the ceremony. "Remember, once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal.”