La Porte High School's "Hats Off to Excellence" banquet on May 20 honored seniors who are graduating in the top 15 percent of their class. Parents and teachers looked on as the students received the honor cords they will wear at graduation ceremonies on June 3.

Dr. Joanne Kolius, LPHS principal, welcomed guests and led the presentation of certificates to the students. Kathy Green, president of the La Porte ISD Board of Trustees, gave the invocation, and Lloyd W. Graham, superintendent of schools, gave the keynote address.

Honored as summa cum laude graduates were Kristy Tatom, valedictorian, and Karma McPhee, salutatorian.

Magna cum laude graduates include Elizabeth Adams, Grant Alexander, Lacey Austin, Sarah Billington, Rafael Deaquino, Khadijah Erskine, Tyla Gibbs, Emily Gonzales, James Grigsby, Jillian Humphrey, Elizabeth Huynh, Hannah Hyde, Christopher Kimball, Tara McClennan, Taylor McElroy, Nichole Rhea, Anna Richburg, Bethany Salinas, Kayla Simmons, Misty Tatom, Danielle Underwood, Morgan Williams and Dakota Wilson.

Cum laude graduates recognized were Joshua Allsep, Alexander Bello, Paola Castillo, Hannah Chambers, Jordan Coe, Ashley DeCorte, Jill Dozier, Kolten Dunkerson, Allen Ellison, Giovanni Fuentes, Brelan Garcia, Solomon Garcia, Melanie Gomez, Yazmin Gonzalez, Kelsey Kincaid, Jaclyn Lowery, Karynn Marchal, Joseph Marks, Cody Martin, Jordan McAnally, Elizabeth McCarther, Jeremy McNeal, Kevin Medina, Cooper Miller, James Miller, Alan Nava, Ryan Nguyen, Christian Ochoa, Marian Palacios, Aracely Perez, Ashleigh Perez, Marlene Raymundo, Emma Richburg, Chelsea Robinson, Chanel Russell, Samantha Salas, Destanye Salinas, Justin Saltsman, Jonathan Scherer, Elizabeth Shapiro, Erin Shaw, Mariah Smith, Taylor Sprayberry, Angela Tobeck, Carlos Vargas, Aleena Velasco, Hannah Vergara, Rachel Ward and Melanie Witherwax.