Photo provided Paige and Peyton Walden were named valedictorian and salutatorian of the Crusader’s Class of 2024.
Two graduating seniors who were side by side since the beginning of their lives concluded their high school careers in the same fashion.
Columbus Christian School graduates and twins Paige and Peyton Walden were named valedictorian and salutatorian of the Crusader’s 2024 class.
Paige finished with a 4.11 GPA with her brother close behind at a 3.99 GPA.
As two straight-A students with nine in their graduating class, the two knew it might be a possibility they’d end up with the distinction. They had heard some rumblings there may be someone ahead of them “until this past month, they sat them down and said ‘You’re one and you’re two,’” their father Jonathan Walden said.
Learning there may be some competition for the first and second spots didn’t phase the twins— they just remained focused on their studies, Walden said.
“It was pretty much the same as usual, my daughter Paige always worked pretty hard at her studies, and Peyton always made pretty good grades, I don’t think they tried to kick it up a notch,” Walden said.
It’s not the first time the Walden twins made Crusader history— last year they learned they were the only twins in school history to both be homecoming candidates.
During graduation on May 17 at East Columbus Christian Church, Peyton and Paige each spoke, describing their journeys up to this point and the possibilities of the future.
“They both referenced each other in their speeches, which made it a little emotionally difficult for my daughter to get right up after hearing her brother give her kudos,” Walden said. “They talked about their family and friends and all the people that were involved in helping them get to this point in life. They talked about what the class needs to aspire to for the future, new beginnings and horizons and so forth.”
Paige will be attending God’s Bible School and College and Indiana Wesleyan where she’ll be working on a dual degree in business management.
Peyton, who led the Crusader’s basketball team in scoring and rebounding the previous two years, is waiting confirmation about potential opportunities to continue playing the sport at the next level. Depending on that, he plans to attend IU Columbus.
