Rayce Rybin

Gig Harbor High School senior a self-starting entrepreneur and swim star, plans bioengineering career

Rayce Rybin has owned a small business. He said he loves boats and the water, so he put that passion to work by offering detailing services to boat owners.

Rybin has a growing customer base through word of mouth, and he hires friends to help during peak times.

Rybin’s entrepreneurial spirit goes beyond his 2-year-old boat-detailing company. He has searched out other opportunities, such as helping neighbors with landscaping and other work during the summer months.

Rybin said he started his business venture because boats are his forte and so is working with people, so it was a good way to combine the two.

“I knew I wouldn’t fit into a grocery type or indoor environment,” he said. “I like the outdoors, and I’m very independent.”

Rybin said he wants to have a career as a business owner. In the meantime, he plans to study bioengineering. He took four years of science classes in high school, and said he fell in love with advanced-placement biology during his freshman year.

“You gotta have a career you enjoy,” he said. “I’d like to help out, maybe do research on certain issues ... science has been a passion of mine, and I’ve done well in it.”

Rybin also hopes to swim on a collegiate team. He was a varsity swimmer for all four years of high school, and he received several awards, including second place in the Class 4A state 200-meter freestyle relay. He has been swimming since he was a young boy, and said the water is where he spends his spare time during the summer — either boating or swimming.

Rybin is an inspiration to others on the swim team. He has been described as a leader in and out of the classroom, and he’s not afraid of a challenge.

“He is intelligent, sincere, curious, passionate, driven and has contagious enthusiasm and optimism that brings life to any classroom,” said Kevin Roberts, who was Rybin’s math teacher at GHHS. “He has a kind heart and the unique ability to accept without judgment all those he encounters. He is always focused on the larger picture and the greater good, and (he) has unexpected yet comforting wisdom and maturity for a high school student.”

This year, Rybin said he found out how satisfying community service is, after he selected the food bank as his senior project. He also decided to get involved with Habitat for Humanity.

“What has impressed me the most about Rayce beyond his enthusiasm and charismatic personality has been his genuine empathy and ability to step outside himself to analyze a situation, and take appropriate action to between himself and those around him,” Roberts said.

Rayce Rybin

Education: Senior, Gig Harbor High School

GPA: 3.0

Parents: Mark and Theresa Rybin

Activities/achievements: AP classes; owns a small boat-detailing business; volunteer for Fish food bank, including food drive organizing; varsity swimming (four years), state competitor.

Favorite teachers: Mr. Mahaffie, Mr. Roberts, Mr. T’sas, Mrs. Bourland, Mr. Brown, Mr. Everett.

Best thing about high school: Activities availability, plus the staff and coaches. “The students are great because our staff is great,” Rybin said.