Deontae and Deontrae Wright are not just identical twins, they are also the top two students of their graduating class at Scott High School in Toledo, Ohio. Deontae, who was born 20 minutes before his brother, earned a 4.5 GPA and became the class valedictorian. Deontrae, who followed closely with a 4.4 GPA, became the salutatorian.
The twins attribute their academic success to hard work, dedication and a healthy competition that motivated them to do better. “We both like to compete against each other,” Deontrae said. “We want to score higher than each other.”
The Wright twins have also been involved in various extracurricular activities, such as student government, community service and part-time jobs. They said they enjoyed giving back and bringing change to their community.
The twins have secured full scholarships to The Ohio State University, where they plan to study electrical engineering and minor in business. They hope to open their own firm after they graduate.
Deontae and Deontrae are an inspiration to many students, especially those from minority backgrounds. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 39% of Black students graduated with a regular high school diploma in 2018, compared to 89% of White students. The Wright twins have defied the odds and shown that with determination and support, anything is possible.
The twins will deliver speeches at their commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 29. Deontae said he will focus on the future and moving on, while Deontrae said he will emphasize that it’s not about where you start, but how you finish.
Meet Mykel and Markel Rainey, the twin brothers who graduated from Randolph-Clay High School in Cuthbert, Georgia, as the valedictorian and the salutatorian of their class. These brothers have also shown remarkable academic achievement and dedication throughout their high school years, earning them the top honors and making history in their school.
Mykel and Markel Rainey have always been driven by their goal of excelling in their education. They said they started their senior year with a determined mindset to achieve outstanding success. “Last year, we participated in graduation as honor students. And that’s when it really came to fruition that we could be this. So we started thinking of the possibilities like, what if?” Mykel told WALB.
Their mother, Tamika Rainey, said she was proud of her sons and their achievements. “You know, boys tend to stray away and be hard and difficult, but I didn’t get that from them. They were, you know, if I say do, they did if they had issues or doubts and I pushed them. They did so. Surprised but not surprised,” she said. Read more about Mykel and Markel here.