By Katie Vasquez
For the first time in nearly 100 years, twin brothers have earned the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian at Chaminade High School on Long Island.
As the Class of 2026 prepares for graduation, the brothers say their success came not from competition — but from supporting each other every step of the way.
John Gomes was named valedictorian and his twin brother Joseph salutatorian out of 402 graduates.
“It’s an honor. I’m very grateful for it. And the fact that we’re in this together is an additional happy thing,” he told Currents News.
“I thought that John was getting valedictorian because he’s just had pretty much the highest grades every year,” Joseph explained, “but I only really started to kind of be on par with him my junior and senior year. So it was surprising to me.”
It was a close finish, with their GPAs separated by just 0.13 points.
The brothers say their achievement was built through years of studying and rooting for each other.
“I know that there have been times where I’ve been stuck on something where I’m trying to study something, and Joseph helps me, and that really is a help,” John said.
“We still have each other to support each other. And I think that’s very important,” Joseph added.
The news of their achievement left their parents overwhelmed with pride.
“We were so excited. We were over the moon. We knew that they were both very strong students, but to hear it official — it was incredible,” parents Barbara and John Gomes told Currents News.
The parents credited Chaminade for its support, community, faith, and religious backing, calling it “completely critical to the upbringing of these children.”
Chaminade Principal Robert Paul said the honor is one the school will remember for years to come: “For John and Joseph to be the first twin brothers to have this kind of achievement — as we’re coming up on our hundredth anniversary as a school — it really stands out.”
Both brothers will head to Brown University in the fall. John plans to study international public affairs, while Joseph will enter the environmental engineering program.
“We’ll probably be in different classes doing different things, but we still always have each other to go to,” Joseph said.
The Gomes brothers are excited to walk the stage together at graduation on June 7, inspiring their fellow Class of 2026 graduates.