They are the best and the brightest of the Class of 2014, the valedictorians and salutatorians of the region's graduating public high school classes.

Throughout the last four years, they studied hard, did their homework and regularly pushed themselves beyond their comfort zones.

They took honors and Advanced Placement courses and earned impressive SAT scores.

It shows in their grades, the very highest in each of their classes. They have GPAs that are, in many cases, the highest that can be earned. By taking advanced-learning classes with a top grade point of 5.0, many of these bright young men and women have exceeded the standard, cumulative 4.0 grade point average.

These students' communities, schools and churches have benefited from hundreds of volunteer hours they have logged.

They're all headed for college.

POST FALLS HIGH

Justin McCabe,

co-valedictorian

GPA: 4.0 unweighted and 4.244 weighted

AP classes: 1

Volunteer hours: 70-plus

College planning to attend: University of Idaho

Sports: freshman JV boys soccer, sophomore JV tennis, sophomore/junior/senior boys JV cross country

Clubs: Post Falls High pep band

SAT score: 1990

Plans after high school: Attend University of Idaho as an English major with an emphasis in literature. Focus on writing, editing and publishing with the intent to work for or start a publishing company as a career while writing on the side.

Hobbies: reading, writing, alto saxophone, video recording, ultimate frisbee, tennis

Most inspiring teacher: Matthew Barkley, music director at Post Falls High

Brooke Sausser,

co-valedictorian

GPA: 4.0 unweighted and 4.267 weighted

AP classes: 1

Volunteer hours: 35 each year

College planning to attend: University of Idaho

Sports: club volleyball, high school volleyball

Clubs: rock climbing, Key Club, National Honor Society

SAT score: 2030

Plans after high school: I will become a park ranger while becoming involved in conservation movements and search and rescue. After a couple years, I wish to affect the global conservation movement through journalism or politics.

Hobbies: Writing, for which I have won numerous awards, reading, rock climbing, volleyball, scrapbooking, working part-time at the White House grill.

Most inspiring teacher: Brian Trefry, teacher of AP U.S. History, because of his own passion for the subject. It was also the most difficult course I have ever taken.

Megan Sausser,

co-valedictorian

GPA: 4.0 unweighted and 4.271 weighted

AP classes: 1

Volunteer hours: 40 hours per school year

College planning to attend: University of Idaho

Sports: tennis, served as captain

Clubs: National Honor Society, Key Club

SAT score: 2090

Plans after high school: pursue a bachelor's degree at minimum. However, I am interested in the medical and law fields, which require more schooling.

Hobbies: reading historical novels, drawing with charcoal, working part time at Papa Murphy's.

Most inspiring teacher: Ann Cunningham, director of the gifted and talented program at River City Middle School. She has mentored me since I was her student in sixth grade and always pushed me to do my best.

Megan Spencer,

salutatorian

GPA: 4.0 unweighted and 4.267 weighted

AP classes: 1

Volunteer hours: 20 each year

College planning to attend: University of Idaho

Sports: cross country as a sophomore

Clubs: National Art Honors Society, Art Club, National Honor Society and Ski and Snowboard Club

SAT score: 1970

ACT score: 27

Plans after high school: I am going to work while going to college to become a veterinarian.

Hobbies: painting, snowboarding, swimming, hiking, running, figuring out puzzles

Most inspiring teacher: Dave Hoskins. He was my junior English teacher and was an enormous inspiration to me.

KOOTENAI HIGH

Shannon Riley,

valedictorian

GPA: Unweighted 4.0

Volunteer hours: 50 per year

College planning to attend: Oregon State University

Sports: cross country, track

Clubs: Business Professionals of America, Volunteer Club, National Honor Society

SAT score: 2240

ACT score: 35

Hobbies: reading, ballet dance

Most inspiring teacher: Kathryne McBride, math, Spanish

Sydney Donohoe,

co-salutatorian

GPA: Unweighted 3.9

Volunteer hours: 450 total

College planning to attend: Boise Bible College

Sports: cross country, basketball, track

Clubs: Volunteer Club, Art Club, school annual, National Honor Society, 4-H

SAT score: 1600

Plans after high school: Attend Boise Bible College to double major in the Bible and helping professions. I would like to further my education to receive a master's degree in family and youth counseling. I also plan to travel internationally as a missionary as well as becoming involved with youth ministries.

Hobbies: art, singing, reading, writing, church activities, running

Most inspiring teacher: Andrew Whipple, history, government

Savanna Dutton,

co-salutatorian

GPA: Unweighted 3.9

Volunteer hours: 20 per year

College planning to attend: University of Idaho

Sports: volleyball, basketball

Clubs: 4-H, Spanish Club

SAT score: 1040

ACT score: 27

Plans after high school: attend University of Idaho and study pre-medicine with a biology major and eventually become a surgeon.

Hobbies: reading, swimming

Most inspiring teacher: Doug Napierala, PE, body mechanics, health

ST. MARIES HIGH

Ryan McNulty,

co-valedictorian

GPA: 4.0 unweighted and 4.1 weighted

AP classes: 4

College planning to attend: University of Idaho

Sports: soccer, golf

Clubs: Business Professionals of America, United Soccer Club

SAT score: 2140

ACT score: 35

Hobbies: sports and skiing

Most inspiring teacher: Kippy Silflow, math

Nathaniel Benham,

co-valedictorian

GPA: 4.0 unweighted and 4.1 weighted

AP classes: 5

Volunteer hours: 230 total

College planning to attend: Brigham Young University, Provo

Clubs: pep band, choir, drama

SAT score: 2060

ACT score: 31

Plans after high school: serve a two-year church mission, go to college.

Hobbies: sketching, reading, writing, acting, fencing, gaming

Most inspiring teacher: Scott Gentillon, computer technology

Andrew Spooner,

co-salutatorian

GPA: 3.92 unweighted and 3.97 weighted

AP classes: 1

Volunteer hours: 80-plus

College planning to attend: Idaho State University

Sports: soccer, golf, track

Clubs: Idaho Drug Free Youth

SAT score: 1250

ACT score: 31

Plans after high school: major in computer science and math and minor in computer information science.

Hobbies: soccer, golf, computers

Most inspiring teacher: Ashley Tate, physics

Katelyn Quinn-Hollis, co-salutatorian

GPA: 3.92 unweighted and 3.99 weighted

AP classes: 4

Volunteer hours: 122

College planning to attend: Washington State University

Clubs: Key Club

SAT score: 1140

ACT score: 29

Plans after high school: attend college, become a pharmacist.

Hobbies: hiking, reading, being with friends

Most inspiring teacher: Kathy Kahn, English

Editor's note

Today through Sunday, we'll introduce you to the top high school graduates from throughout the region.

In this first of three stories, meet the valedictorians and salutatorians from Post Falls, Kootenai and St. Maries high schools.

We'll present the highest ranked graduates from Timberlake, Lakeside and Lakeland high schools on Saturday.

On Sunday, we'll introduce you to the top graduates from Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy, Lake City and Coeur d'Alene high schools.