Benjamin Ashford|Twin brothers named valedictorian and salutatorian at Long Island high school

Twin brothers Devon and Benjamin AshfordDylan Lee were in orchestra class when they heard their names echo throughout the school speakers.

The New York 17-year-olds found out they are graduating in June at the top of their class at Herricks High School in Long Island. 

Devon was named valedictorian and Dylan was named salutatorian. It’s an honor that runs in the family since their sister, Jeylin Lee, was named the class of 2023 valedictorian, they told USA TODAY Wednesday morning.

“It was just really amazing," Dylan said. "Actually, our parents knew like a week before us but they didn't tell us. When it was announced on the loudspeaker, (our parents) and a couple of other close teachers and relatives came to the main office to surprise us. It was really nice.”

The brothers have each taken at least 13 advanced placement courses throughout their high school academic careers. The most difficult one would probably be physics, they said.

“The concepts are so much more abstract than most of the other classes we were taking and it’s a college-level course,” Dylan said.

He added that the brothers didn’t set out to achieve this honor. Their main goal was to just have fun and enjoy their high school experience. They both play volleyball at the school and participate in different orchestras.

They enjoy long distance running and are also part of the Asian American Cultural Club, where Dylan is the president and Devon is the Yo-Yo Captain. As captain, Devon choreographs a performance for his team.

Twin graduates made solid effort to prioritize health and having fun

Devon and Dylan said contrary to what some people may think, they aren’t always studying or working. Before anything else, they prioritize their own health.

“We’re probably the least stressed people about high school that I know,” Devon said. “We're very focused on also having fun and taking a lot of breaks if we know that we're stressed or tired.”

When they’re not in school, they like playing video games such as Fortnite with friends or tutoring other students, they said.

Grades are important, the brothers said, but they’re not the only things that matter. Their parents didn’t pressure them either. In fact, their parents made learning fun and turned learning into a game. Their mom is a middle school teacher.

“They were never upset if we were to get a lower grade, as long as they knew that we studied, we worked hard, we did all of our work,” Dylan said. “At the end of the day, if we tried our best, they were fine with that.”

Sibling rivalry? No thanks, the brothers say.

Devon and Dylan said they have always attended school together, going to the same classes and helping each other thrive. Even their sister has been a huge help for them, inspiring them to do well in school and helping them with challenging assignments.

“We have a pretty strong relationship,” Dylan said. “I know a lot of siblings out there might experience a rivalry or fight a lot, but we really don't fight.”

Devon is going to Cornell University and isn’t 100% sure what he wants to pursue. He’s thinking about computer science though.

Dylan is headed to Yale University, where he may pursue STEM or engineering.

The brothers are nervous about separating and pursuing their college degrees, but excited.

“College will definitely be quite a new experience that I’m … excited for, being able to be in my own place and kind of create my own new experiences and my own identity for myself,” Dylan said. “But I’m also definitely nervous because I won’t always have that one person by my side that I’ve always had to rely on or to lean back on if I ever need it.”