Identical Twins Named Valedictorian, Salutatorian At Staples HS

WESTPORT, CT — From Westport Public Schools: Traditionally, Staples High School’s salutatorian speaks at baccalaureate, the night before graduation. The next afternoon, the valedictorian delivers an address at the graduation ceremony itself.

This year, attendees might do a double take. It may look like the same young woman is speaking at both.

But graduates and their families won’t see double. Valedictorian Sirina Prasad and salutatorian Anisa Prasad are identical twins.

Remarkably, this is not a first for Staples. In 2011, twins Eric and Todd Lubin were number one and two in their class, respectively.

The Prasad sisters are well-rounded and passionate. They love learning, whether it’s tackling new concepts or digging in depth into familiar ones. They share many interests, and challenge each other as they study together.

Their route to the top two spots in Staples’ Class of 2019 began in first grade, at Greens Farms Elementary School. Their parents had moved to Westport from London, where their father, Gautam, worked in financial services. Their mother, Nita, is a professor at Quinnipiac University.

The teenagers praise their many teachers at GFS and Bedford Middle School. “They’re all really good,” Anisa says. “They prepared us very well for Staples.”

Entering Staples, the girls did not plan to take many classes together. But because so many interests overlap, they were in four of the same classes each of their first two years. Last year they had no courses together. But this year, both are in the same eight classes.

They enjoy it. “We learn from each other,” Sirina says. “We talk about ideas all the time. We don’t see everything the same, so we have great discussions.”

Many of those classes involve science and math. They even audited Authentic Science Research without being enrolled. Instructor Karen Thompson worked with them on their own, and allowed them to sit in on lectures when time permitted.

But Sirina and Anisa ventured far beyond STEM courses. Inspired by their junior year Economics course, they entered the Fed Challenge contest this winter. What a challenge it was: They had to provide the Federal Reserve with monetary policy for a year.

“It was a little bit outside our comfort zone,” Anisa admits. “We had to answer questions right there, on the spot.”

“We don’t usually do things like that,” Sirina adds. “We really challenged ourselves.”

The challenge paid off. This spring the team competes in the contest semifinals, at the Federal Reserve in New York City.

They also took courses like Advanced Placement English. “I didn’t think I was good at writing. But Ms. McGoldrick helped me so much,” Anisa says.

The sisters’ many good teachers at Staples, Bedford and Greens Farms share similar traits. “They really care. They are passionate about their subject, and their students.”

Despite their heavy course load, the twins find time for extracurricular activities. After enjoying Science Olympiad at BMS, they started a Staples Olympiad team with friends. They also compete on the math team.

When Sirina and Anisa heard a lecture about solar cells, they were inspired to spend last summer doing research at Stony Brook University. They learned about materials science, and made their own solar cells. This year they presented their findings at conferences and science fairs. After finishing first in Connecticut, they head to Arizona in May for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Environmental work is also important. Last year they interned at a water quality lab, checking sites throughout Westport.

“We have to act now,” Sirina says, referring to the urgency of addressing climate change. “Something’s going on. We have to do something,” Anisa adds. “Why aren’t we doing
more?”

When the girls get out of the classroom, the lab and their other activities, they enjoy knitting and baking. “We play video games too,” Sirina says.

They did not set out to earn the top two grade point averages in the class. Sirina explains, “We just tried to learn everything we could.”

Did they? “Well, we learned a lot,” she notes.

“And school got easier as we learned how to do it,” adds Anisa.

They insist they’re not “the smartest or the best.” There are “a lot of insanely smart people at Staples,” Anisa says. “They deserve being valedictorian or salutatorian as much as we do. It’s just a number.”

But it’s a number that counts. Their honor comes with the responsibility of giving speeches. Neither girl has yet thought about her speech.

That’s still a couple of months away. Before that, they’ll do their senior internships in a chemistry lab at Yale University. In the fall they head off – again together – to Harvard.

They’re not sure about majors. But, Sirina says, “they have to be STEM-related.”

Though they have not yet begun their valedictorian and salutatorian speeches – which traditionally mixes a bit of humor with sage advice – the Prasad girls have thought about
what they might say to their younger brother Ishan, as he finishes freshman year at Staples.

“Learn as much as you can,” they say. “Work hard. Do what you like. And be happy doing it.”