Bhakta, Morales, Brints named top students at VHS
Vernon High School has announced its top three students from the 2019 graduating class including Rahul Bharat Bhakta, valedictorian; Christian Jeffrey Morales, salutatorian; and Cailtlin Taylor Brints, third-ranking student.
Commencement exercises for the 120-member graduating class will be at 8 p.m. Friday, May 24 at Lion Stadium.
Bhakta was named valedictorian on a 4.855 grade-point-average. He is the son of Bharat and Divya Bhakta. He participated in tennis during his four years at VHS winning four district championships, two team regional finalist teams, two boys’ doubles district runner-up honors and two boys’ doubles regional qualifiers.
He was also a member of Key Club, Student Council treasurer, secretary and vice-president; National Honor Society and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination).
Bhakta plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to major in business.
Morales, the salutatorian, is the son of Jose and Ana Morales. His GPA is 4.853. He played on the tennis team during his junior and senior years and was named a regional finalist in 2018.
He also participated in PALS (Peer Assistance and Leadership Service), National Honor Society, AVID and Key Club. He also earned more than 75 hours in community services through various groups.
Morales plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering for Electrical/Electronics Engineering and graduate with at least a bachelor’s degree.
Brints, the third-ranking student, is the daughter of Chad and Adrian Brints. Her GPA is 4.827., She participated in various athletic teams including volleyball for three years, softball for four years and named qualifier for the State 4A tournament in 2017, played for the State Runner-Up team in 2018 and Area Championship team in 2019; powerlifting, where she was a regional qualifier in 2019; along with PALS, NHS and VHS Crime Stoppers.
Brints plans to attend Dallas Baptist University and major in biology in hopes to undergo the pre-physical therapist program and graduate with at least a master’s degree.