Putnam Valley High School is proud to announce the names of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the graduating class of 2009. The valedictorian is Kristin Macher and the salutatorian is Janelle Herelle.

Valedictorian Kristen Macher will be attending Boston University in the fall, and hopes to major in Pre-Law. Kristen is the Vice President of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and the Tri-M Honor Society. She has volunteered as a Guidance Office Intern and a Library Media Aide; she is the Book Club chairperson; and she participates in the Foreign Language Club, the Swim Team, Volleyball, and is a PTSA Student Representative.

Kristen is an active member of Model Congress and was a member of the PVHS News 12 Challenge team in 2007-08. Outside of school, Kristen is a Girl Scout, a Vacation Bible School Volunteer, and a Church Thrift Store Organizer, and has worked as a lifeguard, cashier, and tutor. She is the daughter of Joyce and Greg Macher, of Cortlandt Manor.

Salutatorian Janelle Herelle will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall, with plans to major in chemical engineering. Janelle is a member of the National Honor Society, the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, and the French Honor Society. She has been a member of the PVHS Dance Team and is currently co-captain of the group. She is a peer tutor and has ushered at performances in the Putnam Valley High School Performing Arts Center.

Outside of school, Janelle has been an assistant catechist at her church, a People-to-People Student Ambassador, and last summer she attended the Curie Academy at Cornell University. Janelle was also the 2008 PVHS recipient of the RPI Medal, and most recently, the Ciba Science Award. She is the daughter of Cecilia and Michael Herelle, of Putnam Valley.