Raeley Portch is Co-Salutatorian

At the end of her high school education, Raeley Portch looks back on a community of people she says have influenced what she would become.

"Everyone's been here for me," said the class co-salutatorian, "... everyone's shaped me into the person I've become."

Portch, with a 3.98 GPA, reflected on "all the support our community has," whether it comes from teachers helping to make sure an event goes smoothly, or businesses, organizations, or individuals chipping in to help.

"There's always someone to help make sure everything runs smoothly," noted the scholar and athlete who had plenty of activities keeping her busy throughout school. She also played in sports, served as her class vice president and as president of the Associated Student Body.

"I'm just a kid watching everything play out," she admitted. "I don't know the behind the scenes" of exactly how it all happens. But she knows "community" makes those good things happen.

That could be something to keep in mind if she pursues a career in marketing, her intended major as she attends Washington State University's Honors College.

The daughter of the owners of Loepp Furniture and Appliance, she credits her exposure to the family business for influencing that direction but isn't sure where her degree might take her.

"I'm just going to let my life go the way it is," she said. "I don't really know what I want."

Despite her academic abilities, Portch cites LR's sports programs as the best aspect of attending LR for her.

"That's like one of the biggest, like, opportunities ... our school has that brings everyone together and creates friendships," she said. "I think if I wouldn't have done them, ... I wouldn't have met the people and created the relationships I did."

Advice for incoming freshmen: Stay on top of your work.