Brittany Ellenberg is the valedictorian of the Class of 2009 at La Porte High School, and Mayuri Bhakta is this year's salutatorian.

  Brittany is the daughter of Jeff and Tanya Ellenberg, and Mayuri is the daughter of Ishvar and Ramila Bhakta.

  Brittany plans to attend Harvard University or Princeton University, where she will major in political science and minor in philosophy.  After completing college, she is considering a career in law or politics.

  While at LPHS, Brittany has been a member of the Earth Care organization all four years, serving as both secretary and president.  She also has been a member of Interact and Thespians for four years, holding the offices of vice president and president of both groups.

  Brittany was a lead character and assistant director in the LPHS musicals and has also been active in the one-act play.  Throughout high school, she has been involved in the competitive speaking team (speech and debate) and has held the offices of vice president and president in this organization as well.

  In addition, Brittany has served as a junior class and senior class officer and has been involved in Student Council all four years, serving as parliamentarian.  Other activities include National  Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta math honor society, HOPE (High School Outreach to People Everywhere), TRUTH (Teens Reaching Upward Toward Health), Citizens Advisory Council to La Porte Industry and Progressive Thinkers Club.  She also served as vice president of the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Executive Board and was a Global Studies Program ambassador to China in March 2008.

  Mayuri will enroll in the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.  She plans to major in either business or biology and is considering careers in accounting or medicine.

  At LPHS, Mayuri participated in UIL spelling during her sophomore year and was a member of the teams participating in Academic Worldquest academic competition as well as the Academic Decathlon.

  Mayuri was named Best Algebra II Student and Spanish III Student her sophomore year and Outstanding Female Science Student her junior year.  In addition, she was involved in HOPE (High School Outreach to People Everywhere) and was an alternate for the Global Studies Program's trip to China.

  She served as secretary of the Teen Leadership Club her sophomore and junior years and has been active in the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta math honor society, in which she serves as secretary.

"It has been a blessing for me that I have had the opportunity to get to know these two students over the years," said Joanne Kolius, LPHS principal.  "We can all be very proud of them, their accomplishments at LPHS, and their future accomplishments."