This image provided by Tamatha Bibbo, principal of the Pollard Middle School in Needham, Mass. on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 shows twenty-three sets of twins who graduated from the Pollard Middle School. (Tamatha Bibbo via AP)
In Needham, Massachusetts, Pollard Middle School marked a remarkable event as twenty-three sets of twins graduated from the eighth-grade class, constituting approximately 10% of the cohort. Principal Tamatha Bibbo highlighted the unusual nature of this statistic, noting that the school typically sees between five to ten sets of twins. Given the school's student population of around 450 to 500 per grade, this year's number was notably high.
During the graduation ceremony, which took place on Wednesday, Bibbo made a special acknowledgment of the 23 sets of twins, recognizing their unique contribution to the school community. Twins, whether identical or fraternal, are a minority in the broader population, comprising about 3% of live births in the United States according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Apart from academic achievements, Bibbo emphasized the importance of community service among Pollard Middle School graduates. All students are required to complete up to 10 hours of service learning in their communities. Additionally, each year the Needham Exchange Club presents five community service awards. This year, Lukas and Sameer Patel, a set of twins, received one of these awards along with a donation to their charity, marking the first time twins have been recognized in this manner.
The graduation ceremony was a significant milestone not only for the twins but for the entire school community, showcasing both academic accomplishments and contributions to the wider community through service initiatives.
