Three siblings crossed the stage together in New Jersey, and two of them finished tied at the very top of the class.
Eighteen-year-old triplets Laurel, Daylan and Sophia Daly, from Plainfield, graduated from College Achieve Central Charter School, with Laurel and Sophia named co-valedictorians after each earned a 4.59 GPA.
All three graduated as members of the National Honor Society before preparing to head to different colleges.
Daylan said he did not expect the tie. “I honestly thought that Sophia would beat Laurel out because she’s always in her books and stuff,” he told People. “But the fact that they tied, it was just a poetic ending. It’s just crazy.”
Sophia said she and Laurel did not treat their academic success as a serious rivalry. “It wasn’t initially a competition,” Sophia said. “Throughout high school, we were both just working hard to get good grades.”
The sisters followed different interests while earning the same academic result. Sophia enjoyed writing and storytelling, while Laurel focused more on STEM subjects.
The triplets said their work ethic came from lessons they learned growing up, especially from their grandmother, Alice Bogle, who encouraged them to read and made learning part of everyday life.
Their late father, Damian Daly, also remained a source of inspiration. He died in 2022 at age 50, and his advice about making the most of life influenced Laurel and Sophia’s graduation speech.
The siblings said their close relationship has long been one of the strongest parts of their lives. Laurel said growing up together created a connection she believes is different from most siblings.
“You joke about having telepathic connections with your siblings, but I really feel like sometimes we do have telepathic connections,” Laurel said.
Daylan said that often shows up when they think of the same songs or make similar comments at the same time.
After graduation, the triplets planned to spend time with family before starting college. Laurel will attend Princeton University, Sophia will study at the University of Pennsylvania, and Daylan will attend Rutgers University while commuting from home.
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