Twins make Chaminade history as valedictorian and salutatorian

Sometimes your biggest competition sleeps on the bottom bunk.

Chaminade High School has announced its top two students for the graduating Class of 2026 — and for the first time in school history, they’re twin brothers.

John Gomes was named valedictorian, while his twin brother Joseph Gomes earned salutatorian honors, the Mineola-based Catholic school announced Tuesday. The teens are from Hewlett.

“I have been part of the Chaminade community for 30 years. In all that time, I have never seen anything quite like this,” principal Robert Paul said in an announcement. “John and Joseph Gomes have finished first and second in their class — brothers, competitors and each other’s greatest supporters.”

The brothers said they shared much of their Chaminade experience together, both inside and outside the classroom.

“Of course, we are our own individuals, but for both of us to conclude our time on stage next to each other, as brothers, as twins, as Chaminade Men, will truly be a special moment in our lives,” John said.

The twins participated in several of the same extracurricular activities, including Sodality, Business Club, Social Studies Club and Culinary Club, while also taking some of the school’s most rigorous Advanced Placement courses.

Joseph described Chaminade’s community and traditions as a major part of their experience.

“We have supported each other over the last four years, and are excited to see how that support translates into the next chapter of our lives,” he said.

School officials said the brothers’ academic success reflected both a strong sense of competition and support between them.

“It is quite overwhelming to process the joy of this moment, seeing both of our sons applauded and recognized in this way by an institution like Chaminade,” their mother, Barbara Gomes, said in the announcement.

Brother Thomas Cleary, president of Chaminade, called the achievement “a proud moment for our entire school community.”

John and Joseph will both attend Brown University this fall. John plans to study international public affairs, while Joseph will enter the university’s environmental engineering program.

Chaminade’s 95th commencement exercises are scheduled for early June.

— Chaminade High School courtesy photo