admin, Author at Henderson County Now

TVCC inducts students into Phi Theta Kappa

Douglas Johnson of Athens lights a candle during the recent Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony in Athens. More than 50 new students joined the honors fraternity during a ceremony held at Trinity Valley Community College’s Athens campus.

By Jennifer Hannigan/TVCC Public Information

More than 50 new faces were added to the ranks of Phi Theta Kappa this week during an induction ceremony at Trinity Valley Community College.

Iota Alpha, the TVCC branch of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society, is comprised of outstanding students at TVCC’s four campuses. Students are eligible to join Iota Alpha if they have earned at least 12 semester hours of transferrable credit at TVCC with an overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. The organization provides opportunities for leadership and service development.

The group also provides members with an intellectual climate for fellowship and discussions on pertinent topics.

The organization developed in Missouri in 1910. Today Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education, with chapters located in all 50 states as well as several other countries.

Iota Alpha was named one of the honors fraternity’s top 10 chapters last year.

Students who were recently inducted into Iota Alpha are (listed alphabetically by hometown):

ATHENS: Adam Charette, Tanner Choate, Paula Contois, Parker Fincher, Nancy Galvan, Lauren Green, Madeline Harrell, William Hopper, Channing Horton, Kacie Ingram, Douglas Johnson, Juan Lopez, Tiffany Sexton, Kaitlyn Sloan, Caroline Whitaker
BEN WHEELER: Joe Elerson
BROWNSBORO: Brittanie Scheen
BURLESON: Nicole Wofford
CANTON: Anthony Gomez, Katherine Thomas, Natalie Watts
CRANDALL: Matthew Long
FRANKSTON: Cheyenne Gideon, Caleb Whitehurst
GRAND PRAIRIE: Bria Molock
GUN BARREL CITY: Dawn Gray, Amber Gregg, Cliffton Rudman
HEARTLAND: Shaimariah Jackson, Lauren Stevens,
KAUFMAN: Melanie Reeves, Melissa Warner
KEMP: Brittany Albright, Dawn Barber, Margaret Floyd, Mary Franklin, Juan Montoya
KEMPNER: Macie Moses
MABANK: Justin Collier, Jessica Schaefer
MESQUITE: Allyson Braggs
MURCHISON: Kassandrea Buckalew, Tiffany Parker, David Thrasher
PALESTINE: Anna Clark, Mary Masters, Christopher Winfield
POINT: John Feistner
ROYCE CITY: Emerald Griseta,
SAN ANTONIO: Ada Hollifield,
SCURRY: Luis Garcia
TOOL: Barbara Baxter, Jordan Quintanil, Jordan Vanover
WACO: Lasecret Plump

Annual Women’s Conference April 6 at First Baptist Cross Roads

Local singer/songwriter Leanna Gowan will perform at the 12th annual Women’s Conference at First Baptist Church of Cross Roads. (COURTESY PHOTO)

By Brenda Garrard, Special to HCN

Stephanie Gurley of Mabank, author of “Refreshed in His Spirit,” will be the keynote speaker at the Women’s Conference at First Baptist Church of Cross Roads. (COURTESY PHOTO)

What better way to rejoice and praise God in this Easter season than to attend the 12th annual Women’s Conference at First Baptist Church of Cross Roads on Saturday, April 6? This year’s theme, “God Loves You: He Always Has — He Always Will,” centers around Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life…neither anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” There will be praise and worship music, testimonies, a keynote speaker, drama, fun, food and prizes!

A grand day of fellowship and praising God is planned. Breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall from 7:15-8:15. The conference will begin promptly at 8:30 kicking off with music by in-house talent and the Lampiers, the praise and worship team for the conference.

Local singer/songwriter Leanna Gowan will also perform, and Stephanie Gurley of Mabank, author of “Refreshed in His Spirit,” will be the keynote speaker. These two talented ladies will be working together for the first time to bring glory to the Lord in word and song. Tameka Chancellor of Tyler, Virginia Speed of Kerens and Jean Terrell of Eustace will be giving their testimonies of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jenae Oliver of Cross Roads will be performing a short drama.

Each lady who attends will receive a gift bag. Door prizes will be given out all day. You must be present to win. Ladies, you will even get a chance to shop, as there will be four rooms full of a variety of wonderful merchandise. As always, a delicious hot lunch will be prepared by Pastor Frank Upchurch and served by the men and youth of the church. It’s one meal you do not want to miss. The conference ends around 3 p.m. with a big surprise give-away and praising the Lord in words and songs.

The cost of the conference is $15. Registration begins at the door at 7 a.m. You may register and pay ahead by mailing your $15 check made out to “FBC Ladies’ Fund” with your name, address and phone number to Linda Upchurch, 11843 CR 1200, Malakoff, Texas 75148. For more information, call one of these ladies: June Farmer, 903-489-1633; Anita Sifford, 903-677-1819; or Margaret Pryor, 903-681-1755.

First Baptist Church of Cross Roads is located approximately 12 miles south of Athens on state highway 59 near the Cross Roads Schools. All ladies are encouraged to join in worship and praise and a wonderful day of Christian fellowship.

George P. Bush to play in area golf tournament for veterans

The Cedar Creek Veterans Foundation has announced that George P. Bush will be playing in this year’s Golf Classic on May 6.

“Mr. Bush, as a decorated Navy veteran with a tour of duty in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, is acutely aware of the needs of veterans, the serving military, and their families,” event organizers said in a press release.

In addition, CCVF will be honoring East Texas World War II veterans, Corporal Terry Massey, USMC who spent 36 days on Iwo Jima, Master Chief Petty Officer Garrett O. Smith, USN, and Lt. James D. Ragsdale, USN.

CCVF raises money to benefit The Navy and Marine Corp Relief Society, the Dallas Fisher House, and Hope for the Warriors, by sponsoring the golf tournament and the annual 4th of July air show, “Thunder Over Cedar Creek Lake.”

The golf tournament is a four-person scramble with full handicap to be held at the Pinnacle Golf Club. Cost is $300 for a team of four, or $75 for an individual player and a team will be found for you.

Hole sponsorships are $500 and include golf team, sponsorship sign at a golf hole and a sign at “Thunder Over Cedar Creek Lake.”
Non-player tickets, which will include lunch, are $25.

“It’s your chance to honor the men and women who serve our country and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our freedom. We, as Americans, made a contract with those who volunteer to defend us, and it is our responsibility to see they don’t sacrifice even more once they return home,” said organizer Gayle Robinson.

For more information, please contact: Gayle Robinson at 903-451-5045, Elaine Bownes at 903-451-3820, or Patty Evans at 903-451-1020.

TVCC Sports Notes from the Road: Home again

The National Champion Lady Cardinals arrived home Sunday night and were greeted by more than 100 fans. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)

By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information

How sweet it is!

Shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday, the 2013 NJCAA champion Lady Cardinals pulled intot he parking lot in front of Cardinal Gym. They were greeted by over a 100 cheering fans. Wearing broad smiles, they departed the bus with the championship trophy hoisted high above their heads. The hugging and photo taking began.

That pretty much summed up and put a wrap on a week in which the Lady Cardinals won their seventh national title and second straight.

For the record, the Lady Cardinals scored an 83-71 win against Central Arizona in the NJCAA title game Saturday night at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, KS. It was the third straight year they had appeared in the final game of the tournament and the third time they had faced Central Arizona for the title.

In addition to keeping the Lady Cardinals atop the world of NJCAA women’s basketball, the win gave them an official 36-1 record for the season. On the court (not counting the forfeit to Weatherford in December for a lack of healthy eligible players), they were 36-0 for a second consecutive year.

Against Central Arizona, the Lady Cardinals built a 46-33 halftime lead. Shlonte’ Allen led four players in double figures with 22 points. Krystle Henderson and Shannon Smith had 14 each and Adut Bulgak 10. Savannah Carter tossed in nine.

Victoria Wells finished with seven points and led the Lady Cardinals with seven rebounds. She also had one block and one steal.

Roddricka Patton led the defensive effort, which forced 18 Central Arizona turnovers. Patton had a game-high five steals.

Central Arizona, which has four national titles (second to the Lady Cardinals’ seven) and has lost in the title game four times, closed the year 32-2 (both losses to the Lady Cardinals).

Smith, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She was the top Lady Cardinal scorer in three of their four games and averaged 22.0 points per game. She shot 52.8 percent from the floor.

Allen and Henderson were both named to the all-tournament team.

The title game appearance was the 10th for the Lady Cardinals, who are 10-0 in national semifinal games. They are now 7-3 in title games, having won the title in ’94, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’04, ’12 and ’13.

With their 4-0 record in the 24-team, single-elimination tournament, the Lady Cardinals are now 53-16 in national tournament games.

The Lady Cardinals have won 72 of their last 73 games (72 straight on the court). They have also won 106 of their last 110.

In leading the Lady Cardinals to national title No. 7, Elena Lovato ran her career coaching record to 77-7. She is 45-3 at TVCC.

The 4-0 record at the national tournament also moved the college’s overall record to 989-225. Since the 1993-94 season (the first national title season), the Lady Cardinals are 612-55.

Lovato is now the fourth Lady Cardinal head coach to win a national title, joining Kurt Budke, Michael Landers and Kenya Landers.

If you didn’t get a chance to watch the title game, or you want to watch it again, here is the link for a replay: http://www.ihigh.com/njcaatv/broadcast_282876.html?silverlight=1

Plans for a college/community celebration of the Lady Cardinals’ national title will be finalized later this week. Watch for an announcement and then make plans to attend #CELEBRATING7.

The Lady Cardinals would like to thank all the fans making the trip to Salina for the tournament. They are also thankful of all the fans watching online back and and proudly wearing red. Your support and positive vibes were definitely appreciated and helped bring #CHASING7 to a successful conclusion.

I leave you with this final thought: 7-time NJCAA champion Lady Cardinals.

TVCC Lady Cardinals win National Championship

TVCC's Shannon Smith (5), shown here in action against Weatherford earlier in the tournament, was named the 2013 NJCAA National Championship Tournament MVP. (BENNY ROGERS/TVCC PHOTO) — TVCC’s Shannon Smith (5), shown here in action against Weatherford earlier in the tournament, was named the 2013 NJCAA National Championship Tournament MVP. (BENNY ROGERS/TVCC PHOTO)

(Updated Sunday 8:09 a.m. with quotes from Coach Lovato and edits for clarity … Updated 10:56 with All-Tournament Team … Updated 10:10 with MVP announced …. Updated 9:49 with scoring stats)

By mvhannigan

The Trinity Valley Lady Cardinals were on a mission all season summed up in the hashtag: #chasing7.

Well … they finally caught it.

The Lady Cards earned the school’s seventh national title — and second in a row — by beating the Central Arizona Vaqueras, 83-71, in Salina, Kansas Saturday night.

TVCC was in front for most of the game and opened up double-digit leads on multiple occasions, but Central Arizona just kept coming back.

“They weren’t going to go down without a fight,” said TVCC Head Coach Elena Lovato.

The win showed the depth of TVCC as the Lady Cardinals’ bench outscored Central Arizona 29-7. The Lady Cards also outshot the Vaqueras behind the three-point line, 24-3.

“We used our depth to wear them out,” Lovato said. “I thought Dominique Brooks came on and saved the day.”

In the second half, when TVCC post Adult Bulgak went to the bench after picking up her fourth foul, the Vaqueras started pounding the ball inside and beating the Lady Cardinals on the offensive boards.

“I needed a ‘big’ to step up and help stop their run,” Lovato said. “Domo got her shot and proved to be a huge factor.”

“We needed all 10 of the girls to keep the pressure on them,” she said. “They didn’t have the depth at the guard position to handle it. I really feel like our depth was what did it for us.”

While the title is the second straight for the program, this year’s team is completely different than last year’s. Not a single player or coach remains from the 2012 squad.

Head Coach Elena Lovato was hired after co-head coaches Michael and Kenya Landers left for the University of Mississippi after last year’s championship win. Lovato had to totally rebuild both her staff and team from scratch.

“I knew I had a bunch of great pieces to a puzzle, but the for everything to flow so smoothly and for the pieces to fit just right is what baffles me,” she said. “That’s why I know this is God’s plan.”

“This is a special group of young ladies who became a family and adore the community,” Lovato said. “I’m sure this group considers Athens a home away from home just like I did after my first time here.”

The Lady Cardinals finish the season 36-1 with their only loss an early season forfeit. TVCC has not lost a game on the court in more than two years.

TVCC’s Shannon Smith was named the tournament Most Valuable Player. Shlonte’ Allen and Krystle Henderson were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Lady Cardinals.

The Lady Cardinals were led by Allen’s 22 points, while Smith and Henderson both added 14. Bulgak had 10, Savannah Carter 9, Victorial Wells 7, Roddricka Patton 3, and Kyhonta Doughty and Brooks both added 2.

Patton had 5 steals for the game, while Wells had 7 rebounds. Bulgak added 6 rebounds and Carter had 5 boards.

Central Arizona finished the year with a 32-2 record.

Joymesia Howard led Central with 24 points.

TVCC’s lead was 46-33 at the half.