Gloria and Victoria Guerrier, twin sisters from West Hempstead Secondary School in New York, achieved a milestone few can claim: graduating as valedictorian and salutatorian with record-breaking GPAs — 105.3 and 104.9, respectively — while maintaining flawless transcripts in rigorous STEM courses.
Their hard-earned success led them to Yale University, where they are now studying artificial intelligence.
Their journey, marked by resilience, academic brilliance, and innovation, has captured national attention. In 2023, the fraternal twins were celebrated for never scoring below a perfect 100 in courses like physics and computer science — all while balancing demanding schedules as multi-sport athletes in track, cross country, and volleyball.
Beyond the classroom and the track, the Guerrier sisters made headlines for their research on biodegradable masks — a project that earned recognition from the FDA and secured a $15,000 grant for their school’s science program.
Their competitive spirit and mutual drive were key to their success.
“We really use each other to improve upon ourselves,” Gloria told Good Morning America. Victoria added, “Whenever I would get a certain grade, and it wouldn’t look like hers, we would always compete. It really helped us push each other and improve.”
Their principal, Joseph Pumo, wasn’t surprised by their achievements, calling their drive and persistence “evident from the very beginning.”
Raised in a household where they also helped care for their ailing father, the sisters credit their upbringing for instilling discipline and compassion.
Now at Yale, Gloria is focusing on building consumer technology devices, while Victoria is leaning into neural technology to help physically limited patients overcome disabilities through AI.
Despite their many similarities, the twins decided that they wouldn’t be roommates in college. “We shared the same room forever, so I think it’s best to venture out,” Gloria said with a laugh.
Victoria had a message for other young girls:
“We all have self-doubt, but if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it. Anything is possible.”
Their story is a shining example of Black excellence in education, innovation, and determination, and a reminder that with the right mindset and support, success is not just a dream, but a destination.
