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Twinning: Trinity valedictorians include identical twins

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Courtesy of Julie Elling

“A lot of our friends are valedictorians as well, so I got to spend a lot of time with them in classes. Over the summer, we’re already planning activities we want to do together,” Rylee Elling said. “I’m really excited to just stay in touch with them.”

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Courtesy of Julie Elling

Rayne Elling, pictured, and her twin sister Rylee co-founded Trinity’s Girls Who Code Club and will attend Miami University in Ohio this fall.

Trinity High School honor graduates Honor graduate Selah Taggart, daughter of Heidi and Chad Taggart, was a member of the National Honor and National Art Honor societies and recipient of the Kirk C. Moninger NHS Award for dedication and academic qualities. She was on the tennis team, a member of the Spanish Club and volunteered with Kingdom Connections International. Taggart will attend a Spanish immersion school this summer, and then study medicine at the Universidad Francisco Marroquin. Salutatorian Ellen McIlvaine, daughter of Jill and Andrew McIlvaine, was a member of the National Honor Society, member of the Future Teachers of America Club and Student Council class president. She belonged to the Palmetto Dunes Turtle Trackers and played varsity soccer. McIlvaine will study computer science at Wake Forest University. Valedictorian Owen Baker, son of Cara and Brian Baker, was the student body president, founder-president of the Trinity Investment Club and three-year varsity soccer player who volunteered with Operation Christmas Child. Baker will study finance and business information systems at the University of Pittsburgh’s business program. Valedictorian Kristina Bozek, daughter of Lori and Jim Bozek, was a member of the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar and Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete, and a decorated athlete, including four-year varsity letterman and captain of the tennis team. Bozek will major in human biology and play softball at Central Connecticut State University. Valedictorian Aiden DeWalt, the son of Kandi and Thomas DeWalt, was a member of the National Honors Society, copresident of the German Club and formatting and design editor of the school’s Literary Journal who works as a service leader at Chipotle. He plans to major in marine biology on the pre-med track at the University of Pittsburgh. Valedictorian Hannah Eisiminger, daughter of Dyann and Robert Eisiminger, was a member of the National Honors Society, co-editor in chief of the Istoria Literary Journal and feature editor of The Hiller newspaper who won the Kirk Moninger Dedication Award for community service and involvement. Eisiminger will study neuroscience on the pre-med track at the University of Virginia. Valedictorian Rayne Elling, daughter of Julie and David Elling, will major in computer science at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Valedictorian Rylee Elling, daughter of Julie and David Elling, plans to study business analytics at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Valedictorian Paige Keener, daughter of Jacki and Ron Keener, was a National Honor Society member and Tri-M Music Honor Society member who served as soprano section leader of the chamber choir and was part of the Shirley Tempos A Capella Troupe. Keener will major in sociocultural anthropology at Boston University. Valedictorian Brett Phillips, son of Susan and Scott Phillips, was a member of the National Honor Society, varsity swim team captain, and recipient of the the National School Orchestra Award who won two Scholastic Art and Writing silver keys. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and will attend the University of Richmond, pre-med track, this fall. Valedictorian Emma Riddell, daughter of Karry and Pete Riddell, was secretary of the National Honor Society, section editor of the Literary Journal, editor-in-chief and sports editor of The Hiller and 2023 Miss Dance of Pennsylvania 3rd Runner-up. She was the competition team captain and studio assistant/student teacher at Moschetta’s Performing Arts Center. Riddell will study biomedical engineering at Drexel University. Valedictorian Eden Williamson, daughter of Brenda and Michael Williamson, was a National Honors Society and Academic League member, a two-time team captain of Trinity Girls Varsity basketball and co-founder of the Trout in the Classroom Club who was named Tri-County Athletic Directors Association Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. Williamson volunteers at St. James Parish and with Trinity Youth Basketball camp and will study pre-health and play basketball at New York University. {related_content_uuid}b95e0f44-98e5-47f1-8fac-a20185fafde2{/related_content_uuid}

You’re not seeing double: When Trinity High School’s 10 valedictorians take the stage to deliver speeches at Friday evening’s commencement, two of those students are identical twins Rayne and Rylee Elling.

The Elling sisters are, like the eight other valedictorians, graduating with a 5.0 GPA and a resume of sports, clubs, volunteerism and accolades. Like everything in life, graduating as valedictorians is something the twins are doing together.

“They are definitely best friends. They never fight. They just never have,” said their mother, Julie Elling. “The most time they’ve ever spent apart is probably when one goes to the gym and the other doesn’t go at that same time.”

The Ellings didn’t set out to be top of the class; for the enthusiastic life-long learners, striving was natural.

“It felt honestly less like a goal and more of something that was just going to happen,” said Rayne. “I always strive to just do my best.”

“It was just kind of an inevitable, because I always aimed for ‘A’s’, and I was always taking AP classes,” added Rylee.

Things weren’t always a breeze for the studious twins, though.

“Every single year, it just took more and more studying than I kind of anticipated,” said Rylee. “It just got harder and harder to keep up that level of studying.”

As an escape from their books (though note the girls are voracious readers), the Ellings joined Trinity’s volleyball and track and field teams. Together, they co-founded the school’s Girls Who Code Club and, along with classmates Owen Baker and Sarah Harmon, earned their high school a $10,000 grant through the Penguins Tech Academy.

They both belong to several clubs and organizations, including the National Honor Society, the National Art Honor Society, the Business Honor Society and the Dreamers Club in Washington.

“We both ended up going to WPIALs for javelin our junior year,” said Rayne, who did javelin and discus while her lookalike threw javelin and shot put. “Our senior year, I went for javelin and Rylee went for shot put.”

The twins, who started working at age 15, just celebrated two years of employment at Panera Bread. They enjoy running long distance and creating art, hobbies one twin started and the other picked up.

“I love to always have a creative project on hand to do because it helps to alleviate my stress,” Rayne said.

How do the high-achieving student-athletes balance responsibilities?

“Good time management,” smiled Rylee. “I really like to get things done in school, get the school done in school so I can come home and … work on art at home.”

Both Rayne and Rylee will attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in the fall. Rayne plans to study computer science while Rylee pursues a degree in business analytics.

They’re not rooming together, but the sisters won’t live too far apart; they’ve both been accepted into the Prodesse Scholars Program, and will live at the Honors College. They plan to play club volleyball, a continuation of one of the best things about high school.

“One of my favorite things was being on the volleyball team and all the great memories I made there. Especially with all the teammates, because it was just a great group of girls,” Rayne said.

Though excited for their next chapter, Rayne and Rylee will miss Trinity.

As they move on, they’ll remember all the good times, with graduation day the final feather in the cap.

“They always said, it’s not that they were striving to be valedictorians, they were doing it for themselves. We’re very proud of them,” their mom said.

Honor graduate Selah Taggart, daughter of Heidi and Chad Taggart, was a member of the National Honor and National Art Honor societies and recipient of the Kirk C. Moninger NHS Award for dedication and academic qualities. She was on the tennis team, a member of the Spanish Club and volunteered with Kingdom Connections International. Taggart will attend a Spanish immersion school this summer, and then study medicine at the Universidad Francisco Marroquin.  

Salutatorian Ellen McIlvaine, daughter of Jill and Andrew McIlvaine, was a member of the National Honor Society, member of the Future Teachers of America Club and Student Council class president. She belonged to the Palmetto Dunes Turtle Trackers and played varsity soccer. McIlvaine will study computer science at Wake Forest University.

Valedictorian Owen Baker, son of Cara and Brian Baker, was the student body president, founder-president of the Trinity Investment Club and three-year varsity soccer player who volunteered with Operation Christmas Child. Baker will study finance and business information systems at the University of Pittsburgh’s business program. 

Valedictorian Kristina Bozek, daughter of Lori and Jim Bozek, was a member of the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar and Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete, and a decorated athlete, including four-year varsity letterman and captain of the tennis team. Bozek will major in human biology and play softball at Central Connecticut State University.

Valedictorian Aiden DeWalt, the son of Kandi and Thomas DeWalt, was a member of the National Honors Society, copresident of the German Club and formatting and design editor of the school’s Literary Journal who works as a service leader at Chipotle. He plans to major in marine biology on the pre-med track at the University of Pittsburgh.

Valedictorian Hannah Eisiminger, daughter of Dyann and Robert Eisiminger, was a member of the National Honors Society, co-editor in chief of the Istoria Literary Journal and feature editor of The Hiller newspaper who won the Kirk Moninger Dedication Award for community service and involvement. Eisiminger will study neuroscience on the pre-med track at the University of Virginia.

Valedictorian Rayne Elling, daughter of Julie and David Elling, will major in computer science at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Valedictorian Rylee Elling, daughter of Julie and David Elling, plans to study business analytics at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Valedictorian Paige Keener, daughter of Jacki and Ron Keener, was a National Honor Society member and Tri-M Music Honor Society member who served as soprano section leader of the chamber choir and was part of the Shirley Tempos A Capella Troupe. Keener will major in sociocultural anthropology at Boston University. 

Valedictorian Brett Phillips, son of Susan and Scott Phillips, was a member of the National Honor Society, varsity swim team captain, and recipient of the the National School Orchestra Award who won two Scholastic Art and Writing silver keys. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and will attend the University of Richmond, pre-med track, this fall.

Valedictorian Emma Riddell, daughter of Karry and Pete Riddell, was secretary of the National Honor Society, section editor of the Literary Journal, editor-in-chief and sports editor of The Hiller and 2023 Miss Dance of Pennsylvania 3rd Runner-up. She was the competition team captain and studio assistant/student teacher at Moschetta’s Performing Arts Center. Riddell will study biomedical engineering at Drexel University.

Valedictorian Eden Williamson, daughter of Brenda and Michael Williamson, was a National Honors Society and Academic League member, a two-time team captain of Trinity Girls Varsity basketball and co-founder of the Trout in the Classroom Club who was named Tri-County Athletic Directors Association Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. Williamson volunteers at St. James Parish and with Trinity Youth Basketball camp and will study pre-health and play basketball at New York University.

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