The leap from small town to big city can be a little daunting for a high school graduate preparing to leave the nest.

That’s especially true in Coupeville, where students are accustomed to seeing many of the same faces since early childhood.

Loren Nelson, one of 77 seniors who’ll be graduating from Coupeville High School Friday night, said he loved the small-school experience in a tight-knit community but is ready to venture out.

“I’m definitely ready to move on and get out to a bigger city and everything,” he said. “I feel like I’ve done everything I wanted to do here for now.”

Nelson is one of five classmates ranked among Coupeville’s top 10 academic seniors who is bracing for life in Seattle in the fall. Three of them — Samantha Martin, Sebastian Davis and Nelson — are headed to the University of Washington.

Some students such as Martin are starting out well ahead of their peers.

Martin participated in a Running Start program through Skagit Valley College’s Whidbey Island campus. At the age of 17, she will be graduating with her two-year associate of arts degree this month, which will make her a junior in college.

“It’s a little scary but really encouraging for my future to know I can excel,” Martin said.

Joining Martin in that pursuit were Destiny Cleary and Jack Hampton.

Here’s a closer look at Coupeville’s Top 10:

Destiny Cleary

Cleary earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is co-valedictorian with Sebastian Wurzrainer.

She’s lived in Coupeville her entire life and is bound for Seattle Pacific University, where she plans to pursue a double major in computer science and business then look for a career in technology.

“I’m looking forward to continuing on in a small place,” she said. “I love a small community and Seattle Pacific offers that while being in Seattle.”

Cleary earned an associate of arts degree at Skagit Valley College while mostly taking classes online so she could remain on Coupeville’s campus, where she also was the track team’s manager for two years.

“You feel the connections,” she said of growing up in Coupeville. “It provides a lot of opportunities because you’re connected everywhere.”

Sebastian Wurzrainer

Wurzrainer is focusing on a future in film.

He’s dabbled with making videos since he was in the sixth grade, then got more serious in high school, where he wrote and directed a short film that he submitted for adjudication at the Washington State Thespians Festival and earned an “Excellent” rating. He also directed a short play that received the same rating.

Wurzrainer, a 4.0 student, will be studying film and literature at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. He would like to be a film director and screenwriter.

“I’ve been interested in film for most of my life,” he said. “I hadn’t really realized it as an ambition to study or field to go into until maybe high school.”

Wurzrainer spent four years both acting and behind the scenes with Coupeville High School’s Drama Troupe.

He also was manager of the boys soccer team for four years, announced the home games and was a student school board representative.

Loren Nelson

Nelson, who earned a 3.987 GPA, took a challenging course load of advanced calculus and statistics at Coupeville to better prepare him for the mathematical challenges ahead.

He is planning to enter the mechanical engineering program at the University of Washington.

“I love looking at how mechanisms work and thinking about how they could be modified to either work more efficiently or perform different tasks,” he said.

Nelson participated in the Science Olympiad for three years and played four years of soccer and tennis at Coupeville.

He also was a volunteer mentor at the elementary school through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Makana Stone

Stone will go down as one of Coupeville’s all-time great female athletes and was an equally impressive student, earning a 3.97 grade-point average.

She’s bound for Whitman College, where she’ll play basketball after earning the league’s most valuable player honors her senior year of high school. She also was a track and field standout who finished in the top four in the 400 meters at the state meet three times.

Coupeville’s ASB vice president, Stone wants to study biology and environmental sciences at Whitman then later hopes to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine.

Sebastian Davis

Davis blossomed in the classroom, in athletics and onstage in high school.

He earned a 3.94 GPA and excelled in the Science Olympiad, earning first place in a state competition and ranking in the top three nationally.

He also was the school’s top singles player in tennis, twice advancing to the district tournament.

To top it off, Davis shined with Coupeville’s Drama Troupe. He’s been involved in drama productions for about eight years and loves to act.

“Drama productions give students outlets to express themselves for who they really are without any judgment and is a very welcoming place to escape from outside drama,” he said.

Davis is headed to the University of Washington, where he plans to major in computer science and engineering.

In Coupeville, Davis also has been an active in the community, volunteering at several events.

Rebecca Robinson

Robinson excelled in high school with a 3.94 GPA, taking extra pride in the advanced math classes she pushed herself to take.

She credited her drive and “phenomenal teachers” in helping her “become more focused in my studies, more motivated to learn and more self confident of my own skills.”

Robinson is headed to Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, where she will work toward a degree in marketing.

She participated as a cheerleader for the first time her senior year and was awarded a spirit award for being constantly upbeat, positive and supportive of her teammates.

She also is president of the Coupeville assembly of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and is a member of a youth group at her church.

Allison Dickson

Dickson is all about being active whether it’s been in the classroom, on the cheerleading squad, in her community or at church.

She earned a 3.93 GPA at Coupeville with a course load that included many college-prep classes. She was a cheerleader for three years, earning co-captain honors her senior year.

Dickson also has taken on leadership roles with the Young Women organization at her church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Dickson will be attending Brigham Young University-Idaho where she is planning to pursue a degree in exercise physiology. She wants to be a personal trainer.

“I’ve been taking a physiology class with Mrs. Fox this year and I’ve really enjoyed it,” she said. “My dad is also a PE teacher and has made fitness fun.”

Jack Hampton

Hampton already has a taste of the real world.

Since the end of his sophomore year, he’s been working at Waldron Construction and is now a project manager.

Even though he’s earned a 3.89 GPA at Coupeville and will earn an associate degree from Skagit Valley College this month, he’s focusing on work next year before tackling more college. He likes engineering.

“We’re building about 50 houses a year right now,” Hampton said. “We have about 28 going at this moment.”

It took a while to get adjusted to the adult workforce, he said.

“It was pretty awkward because you are around all these people who are over 30,” he said.

Samantha Martin

Martin wants to study psychology and neuroscience at the University of Washington because she’s fascinated by the human brain.

She’s liked the environment she’s been able to learn in Coupeville and at Skagit Valley College, where she spent most of her time her junior and senior years.

“I’m big on success through knowing your resources and knowing what’s available,” she said. “Living in such a tight-knit community, you’re always aware of where you can get help and what resources you can use to further your education.”

Martin earned a 3.89 GPA at Coupeville while also being named to the Washington all-academic team for community colleges.

Madeline Neitzel

Neitzel, who earned a 3.77 GPA, came to Coupeville in third grade after moving from Surprise, Ariz.

She said one of her proudest moments was taking the University of Washington English 131 class at Coupeville, which strengthened her writing.

She also was involved with the cheer team for a year, was part of the yearbook staff and participated as ASB secretary.

Neitzel is planning to attend the Gene Juarez Beauty Academy in Seattle this fall.

Graduation ceremony

Coupeville’s graduation ceremony will start at 6 p.m. Friday, June 3, in the high school/middle school gym.

The valedictorians are Sebastian Wurzrainer and Destiny Cleary and the salutatorian is Loren Nelson.

The faculty speaker will be retiring English teacher Barbara Ballard, who’s spent 23 years in Coupeville.

The welcome speaker will be senior class president McKenzie Rice.