Get to Know: Tomball Star Academy’s 2026 Valedictorian & Salutatorian

TOMBALL –  Tomball Star Academy’s Valedictorian Tyler Ashton Tran and Salutatorian Austin Fontenot will lead the way during TSA’s graduation ceremony. Let's get to know the two seniors.

Tomball Star Academy will graduate its senior class on Thursday, May 21 at 7 PM inside The MET Church. For more information, one can visit the 2026 TISD Graduation webpage.

TYLER ASHTON TRAN
Tomball Star Academy
Valedictorian

What has been the best part about attending Tomball Star Academy?
“Getting to meet new people freshman year and eventually familiarizing myself with my entire graduating class throughout the four years has been the best part about attending Tomball Star Academy since it's such a small body. The unique aspect of everyone basically knowing or at least being familiar with each other was great.”

What are your plans after you graduate from Tomball Star Academy?
“I plan to attend Texas A&M at College Station, majoring in Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) and eventually go to medical school in state. Ideally, I will become an anesthesiologist or another physician specialist.”

What will you miss the most about Tomball Star Academy?
“I will miss most the memories and bonds I had formed with my classmates throughout my four years at Tomball Star Academy. I wish I could stay in contact with everyone I had met that made a positive impact on me, but realistically, I have to go my separate ways and focus on myself for the coming years.”

What have you learned from your high school experience that you will take with you?
“The biggest thing I learned from going to Tomball Star Academy is that there’s little time to mess around especially when also taking college classes. Time is a valuable resource and once it is spent, it can’t be taken back. The best thing to do is to learn from past mistakes and build on what I learned.”

Who would you like to thank?
“I would like to thank my mom the most as she convinced me of the gravity of the opportunity to attend Tomball Star Academy. When I was in junior high, I thought Tomball Star Academy was just another one of those advertisement events coming to my junior high school to get people to enroll.”

AUSTIN FONTENOT
Tomball Star Academy
Salutatorian

What has been the best part about attending Tomball Star Academy?
“For me, the best part of attending TSA has been the extra support and care from all of the staff members. Since we are such a small school, we have formed a unique, close-knit community that helps students succeed and allows everyone to be seen.” 

What are your plans after you graduate from Tomball Star Academy?
“I plan to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio after graduating from TSA. As the recipient of a Top Scholar Scholarship (a full-ride scholarship with additional money for studying abroad and research), I will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the goal of eventually becoming a Nurse Anesthetist or a Nurse Practitioner.”

What will you miss the most about Tomball Star Academy?
“The thing I will miss most about TSA is the relationship I have formed with my cohort. Since day one, we have all been taking the same classes and going through the same high school experiences. Truly, it has been a period of bonding and trust that has greatly shaped my time at Tomball Star.”

What have you learned from your high school experience that you will take with you?
“From Tomball Star Academy, I have gathered a variety of skills that have helped me both academically and socially. However, the professional development I have achieved through communication with professors, interviews, and volunteering has had the greatest impact. It gave me the opportunity to compete and earn a scholarship, get jobs in the workforce, and enhance my community outreach. Without those skills, I have no idea where I would be.”

Who would you like to thank?
“I would like to thank both my parents, Dr. Jennifer Herold Fontenot and Mr. Damon Fontenot, as well as the rest of my family. Additionally, I want to thank the faculty of TSA for the time, effort, and dedication they have put into my education (especially Marissa Logrono and Lauren Henson). I want to thank all three principals, Dr. Kelly Marchiando, Jennifer Collier, and Dr. Victoria Brinkman (who I want to thank twice as much), for leading our cohort to great destinations. A special thank you to my counselor, Michaela Dotson, who provided me with endless guidance, recommendations, and motivation to pursue greatness. Finally, a massive thank you to my cohort at TSA for supporting me and keeping me engaged throughout my high school career.”

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 23,000 students across 25 campuses.