TVCC opens Christmas season with tree lighting

Colton Robertson, winner of the Cardinal Christmas coloring contest, lights the TVCC tree. (Courtesy photo)
Colton Robertson, winner of the Cardinal Christmas coloring contest, lights the TVCC tree. (Courtesy photo)

By Mark Meredith/TVCC Public Information

Trinity Valley Community College celebrated the beginning of the Christmas season with its annual tree lighting ceremony held Monday evening on the Athens campus. TVCC’s brass ensemble and Encore choral group provided musical selections and President Dr. Glendon Forgey welcomed the crowd. TVCC energy specialist Shawn Leis emceed and announced the winners of the Cardinal Christmas coloring contest, which was open to children of TVCC employees and families. The third place winner was Clary Smiley, 9-year-old daughter of Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Brad Smiley; second place went to Aleiah McKee, 6-year-old daughter of Admission Specialist Alexandria Herrington and first place winner Colton Robertson, 10-year-old son of Human Resources Director Jennifer Robertson, was given the honor of lighting the tree.

The drama department presented a reading of Leon A. Harris’ “The Night Before Christmas – Texas Style,” TVCC cheerleaders and Cardettes escorted Santa onto the Bob J. McDonald Plaza as piano instructor Kirk Overmoe played “Here Comes Santa Claus.”