Meet the sweet and sassy, Jessica Ray ~ Class of 2017 senior from Washington Community High School.  She was voted “Life of the Party” by the professional team during our Shelby Senior Starved Rock Experience because of her smile and fun loving attitude.  She knows how to dance and belt the lyrics of any Beyonce song! Check out her senior spotlight below and some of our favorite photos of the sweet, gorgeous girl!

Jessica would describe her personality as outgoing, energetic, and enthusiastic.  She admits she is highly dedicated and self driven; a natural born leader but also doesn’t mind sitting back and letting someone else take control!

After she graduates, she plans on attending college at either Mizzou, U of I, or Ohio State.  She wants to become a Physical Therapist or a high school teacher. When she was a little girl, she was determined to be the first female president. People used to tell her there would probably be a female president before I was even old enough to run, but I was sure they they were not right and she would be one first!  Jessica for President!

In school, Jessica has been very involved!  She was on football cheerleading freshman through junior year and planned to switch to the basketball and competitive cheer-leading squad for her senior year.  She is a Pantherette.  She was the Sophmore Class President and she’s currently in the Pep Club, Fitness Club, and part of the Washington Community Service Club. She has been a cheerleader since she was three years old and stated all-star cheerleading when she was six.  Jessica also enjoys snow skiing and four wheeling with her dad when ever she gets the chance.

Jessica would describe her perfect day as relaxing by the pool with her best friends, drinking banana shakes with sprinkles and listening to music!

Some Fun Facts about Jessica:

1. Favorite type of foreign food: Mexian
2. If she could have any superpower, it would be the ability to teleport wherever she wanted to go. She would travel all over the world in a snap of her finger
3. The most daring thing she has ever done: When she was three, she went bungee swinging over a lake at Indiana beach!
4. If she could travel anywhere in the world, she would go to Australia. Her friend got to go there when she was younger and after seeing pictures and hearing about all of the adventurous activities she got to do, she has wanted to go ever since!
5. Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving because her mom always makes the BEST Thanksgiving dinner and all of the family from Chicago comes down and stays.
6. Favorite sport to watch: Football. She grew up going to all of her younger brother’s games and going to the high school games has always been fun. She also love to participate in cheerleading. Being out on stage in front of a whole bunch of people and getting to do what she loves is one of the best things ever!
7. Favorite Singer: Beyonce.
8. Her hero is her cheer coach, Jen. “She has taught me so much more than I even realize I’m sure. She has helped me to grow and become a better cheerleader and more importantly, a better person. She leads by example by being a genuinely honest and good person and I could never thank her enough for all she has done for me!”
9. Something that I’m most proud of: “One of the moments I am most proud of is getting a bid to The Cheerleading Worlds last December. My teammates and I had been striving to get a bid to this exclusive competition held at Disney World and after hitting two strong routines that weekend, we reached our goal and attended the world championship in April! This was an incredible accomplishment and I am so proud of my team and myself for pushing and reaching this goal!”
10. Favorite family trip: When she was ten years old, her family drove to Pennsylivania for a week and they went white water rafting, toured inside a cave, visited Hershey Park, and drove around New York City for a day. She was able to see the Statue of Liberty, go to the top of the Empire State Building,  and visit Ground Zero. It was an amazing experience!
11. Best childhood memory: The first time she went skiing. She was around 5 years old and all the way to the ski resort, her mom was telling her that it was okay if she wasn’t very good at it and she could stay with her on the easy slpes. She ended up taking off on the slopes like she had done it a hundred times!  She was going down all of the big hills with her dad and his best friend all day long and when she needed a break, she went inside with her mom. It was such a fun day that she will never forget!
12. Favorite holiday tradition: Every year around Christmas time, her family cuts down a Christmas tree. This has always been a family tradition that we have continued after her parents divorce and now she gets to pick and cut down a tree, twice a year!
13. “Some of my nicknames includes “Peanutier” (my mom) and dad used to call me Jessiepoo.  My friends stick to Jess, Jessie, or J-Ray
14. My favorite family recipe is my mom’s chicken and diced potatoes, it is SO good! “If I could have only one meal for the rest of my life, it would be that meal!
15. Best thing about my parents: “My mom is amazing, she is always there for me when I need someone to talk to or to not talk to at all. She gives the best hugs and continues to work as hard as possible to keep our family going and involved in everything we want to be in. My dad has always been my rock. He understand me better than anyone and is always there for me when I need him”
16. Something interesting about myself that most people don’t know – “I have a legitimate fear of grapes. I think they are totally weird and they freak me out!”

Jess – your almost halfway through your senior year and I know it’s going by fast!  I am so incredibly lucky to have such a fun, beautiful, sweet, amazing girl on my Shelby Senior Model Team. You bring a smile to my face and sunshine to my heart!  There are HUGE things ahead for you and I’m excited for the next step in your journey of life!