Twin Sisters Secure Top Academic Positions at Historic Commencement
A Pennsylvania family achieved a historic double milestone as twin sisters graduated at the absolute top of their college class, claiming the institution’s highest academic distinctions.
Tia and Jasmin Criss earned the titles of class valedictorian and salutatorian during the commencement ceremony at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the oldest historically Black college and university (HBCU) in the United States.
The formal celebration took place on May 9, 2026, where both sisters delivered speeches to their graduating peers, faculty, and family members.
University leadership celebrated the achievement, noting that the sisters established themselves as prominent role models whose personal motivation and academic talents served as an inspiration to the entire campus community.
Honoring a Parental Foundation and Lasting Legacy
The academic triumph carried a deeply emotional significance for the family following the loss of the sisters’ father, Lynn Criss III, who passed away in March 2026.
The twins remained strictly dedicated to honoring their late father’s memory and advice, relying on the core discipline instilled by their parents from a very young age to guide their academic habits.
The sisters expressed that while navigating their grief, their academic drive remained firmly rooted in making their father proud of what they could accomplish together.
Born just three minutes apart, with Tia being the older twin, the duo managed their intense studies through a dynamic they described as friendly and compassionate competition.
Academic Data and Path to Excellence
- Valedictorian: Tia Criss, who maintained a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Salutatorian: Jasmin Criss, who earned a 3.9 Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Academic Major: Both sisters completed degrees in Business Administration
- Prior Education: Both are graduates of the Philadelphia High School for Girls
The twins admitted that they did not enter their higher education journey with the explicit goal of capturing the top class rankings, making the final announcement a complete shock to both of them.
They credited their consistent academic routines, mutual study habits, and balanced lifestyles—which included a shared love for playing tennis and badminton—for keeping them grounded.
Associate Dean of Students Dr. Lakiyah Chambers lauded the historic outcome, emphasizing that the Criss twins perfectly represent the ultimate product of hard work and unwavering academic dedication.
Future Corporate Paths and Advanced Degrees
Despite their overlapping academic profiles, the twins are preparing to carve out completely separate professional niches based on their individual strengths and creative interests.
Tia Criss plans to enter the risk management and insurance industry, aiming to follow directly in her mother’s professional footsteps due to her personal fondness for analytical data and risk assessment.
Jasmin Criss intends to focus her business career toward the marketing and fashion sectors, describing her own approach to business as leaning much more toward the creative side.
To learn more about the evolving landscape of undergraduate business programs and curriculum structures, you can view the official resources provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Their collective academic partnership will continue into graduate school, as both sisters have been formally accepted into the upcoming fall term to pursue advanced corporate training.
The sisters will relocate just down the road from their previous campus to officially begin the Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate program at West Chester University.
Cheyney University leadership commended their years of dedicated community engagement and campus service, stating that their legacy would remain an enduring piece of the school’s near two-century history.
For additional coverage on collegiate achievements and major educational milestones across Pennsylvania, readers can check the updates on Associated Press Education News.
The historic achievement adds a unique chapter to Cheyney University’s ongoing mission of developing scholarly leadership, dating all the way back to the institution’s initial founding in 1837.
