Identical Twin sisters graduate as co-valedictorians with matching 4.0 GPAs
Identical twin sisters, Tyra and Tia Smith, shared the honor of being the valedictorians at Lindblom Math and Science Academy in the City of Chicago. They both received the highest grade of 4.0 GPA respectively in their class. Both students earned a perfect GPA even in their combined 12 Advanced Placement courses.
During a live chat with Good Morning America, Tyra said “I was excited it was both of us. We really worked hard together in order to be where we were. It was the last thing we could do together in school as sisters before we have to leave each other.”
While in high school, Tia enjoyed U.S. history and human geography. On the other hand, Tyra’s favorite courses were biotechnology and problem-based learning math. Aside from their academic accomplishments, they were also the ones who began their school’s first-ever black history art gallery titled – More Than 28.
The identical twins also share a passion for theater. Recently, they partnered with health care company Baxter International disease wherein they helped create a community awareness campaign on kidney disease. Also, they did the screenwriting for a special episode of the show “Black-ish”.
“Theater 1 has been the most influential and the most rewarding in shaping the person I am today,” Tia said.
Moreover, Tyra and Tia will both study theater in college but now in different colleges. Tia will attend Duke University to study theater and statistics, while the other will attend Northwestern University to study theater and economics. Most noteworthy, both have received full-ride scholarships.
The Identical Twin ‘s mother, Lemi-Ola Erinkitola, said it was indeed a proud moment for her and her daughters. She said, “I was glad because they’re going to different colleges. And it put a nice, finishing touch on their years together academically. It was very emotional and goes beyond just the title. It was the fact they can share that platform together as sisters and a memory they will cherish throughout their journeys in life.”
