'Exceptionally hard working' triplets are co-valedictorians of Glendale's Class of 2023

Hannah, Johnathan and Travis Peak are triplets but their parents did not give them rhyming names or dress them in matching clothes.

The Glendale High School seniors were encouraged to find and pursue their own interests. They have distinguished themselves in different ways but their similarities are still striking.

Each earned a 5.0 weighted GPA. They were in many of the same sports and activities and will graduate together Saturday as co-valedictorians of Glendale's Class of 2023.

All three have taken advanced courses and competed at the state level in one or more events. They go to church each week and devote part of each summer to working with children at camp.

This fall, they will all attend Evangel University to pursue careers where they will be in a position to help others learn and find success.

"I knew all the kids when they were little and have watched them grow up," said Glendale Principal Josh Groves, who worked with their parents in other school buildings. "It doesn't surprise me that all three are valedictorians. They are exceptionally hard working. They are very smart and they are great kids."

Groves said their parents set high expectations for the 18-year-olds to work hard and be nice to others but the three are also driven to do their best.

"Their expectations for themselves are probably higher than what we could put on them," he said.

'People who always have your back'

At the kitchen table in their home near Fellows Lake, the siblings said they enjoyed growing up with parents who worked for Springfield Public Schools.

"It probably made us prioritize education more," Hannah admitted. Travis said their parents wanted to them to "do our best" and work hard.

Before Glendale, the trio attended two K-8 schools. They went to Pleasant View, where their mom Rachelle was a librarian, and then Pershing, where their dad Shane was a teacher and coach.

The fraternal triplets said moving from one building to the next was easier with a built-in support system.

"It's been great. When you walk into a new environment, you have two people who always have your back," said Travis. "You are more comfortable because you always have a friend."

They are extremely competitive, especially when it came to academics. They constantly compared grades on math quizzes or research papers.

"We were always 'Who is going to be the first to get a B or an A-?" Travis said.

Johnathan said he was self-motivated but not wanting to lag behind his siblings made him push harder. "None of us got bad grades or anything so I was like 'If they're not getting bad grades, I shouldn't be.'"

"The push for perfection was more coming from us," Hannah recalled. "The longer I had all As, the more I was like 'I am not getting a B.'"

That competitiveness did not wane during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trio created a study group and gathered with two friends to complete assignments.

The three, who have no other siblings, said there are challenges to being triplets.

"We had to come to terms that we are not all going to be the same. We are all going to be different for each other and that is good, that is fine," Johnathan said. "A lot of times triplets and twins are looked at as the same person in the public eye."

More: Springfield's top seniors from each high school honored, discuss future plans

'All very involved in similar things'

In high school, all three were in student council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and National Honor Society. They also found at least one area where they could shine and set themselves apart.

"We are all very involved in similar things," Johnathan said.

Hannah and Johnathan both participated in the Springfield Youth Symphony and have been involved in district band. She plays the oboe, he plays the trombone.

They both plan to go into education, like their parents. Hannah wants to be an English professor. Johnathan wants to teach elementary students.

"I have seen my parents go be educators and that has made me want it. It is very life-giving work. You get to see a kid change from one track to another," Johnathan said.

Hannah briefly considered teaching elementary but decided she wanted to work with upper-level classes, which will allow her to take more English and creative writing courses in college.

"She is the smartest of the bunch, if you can't tell," Travis said, teasing his sister.

Travis, who has repeatedly competed at the state level in golf, enjoys hunting and fishing. Hannah also competed in state golf this year and won.

"I like being outdoors, anything outside," Travis said. "We were looking back at pictures of us as little kids and every picture I'm holding a fish or with a deer or outside running around, kayaking."

He plans to major in intercultural studies and business with the goal of doing missions work.

"I will be training to be a missionary to go to another country someday to help them plant a church or be part of organizations that will help people come to a relationship with Jesus and also, maybe, help them humanitarianly," Travis said.

He said a trip to Nicaragua in middle school was eye-opening. "It changed me. To see people in such poverty and hopelessness leaves a mark on you."

Scholarship offers from Evangel University

The siblings all work. Johnathan and Travis work at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club in Ozark and Hannah works at Nothing Bundt Cakes in Springfield.

For the past 10 years, the entire family has packed up and spent a month working the James River Kids Camp, which is connected to the church they attend.

They are camp counselors, lifeguards and help with games.

It wasn't a foregone conclusion that all three of the Peak siblings would end up at Evangel. Hannah initially had her heart set on studying in Florida. Travis applied to universities in Oklahoma and Texas.

They said generous scholarship offers — Hannah was given a full ride — and positive experiences during the campus visits helped make the decision easy.

At Evangel, Hannah and Johnathan will play musical instruments. Travis will be part of the golf team. They plan to live on campus.

"We have always been in public school. It will be nice to be at a private, Christian university," Hannah said. "It will be a change. We have never had Bible classes or chapels at school."

This summer, after working at the kids camp with the rest of their family, Travis and Johnathan will go on a trip with other Evangel students to Indonesia, where they will visit an orphanage, help a church and teach lessons to children in a school.

Even though they will be living in the same city, the three worry about what the sudden exodus will be like for their parents.

Travis said: "Our mom has been a little nervous because she is losing all three at once. That day is going to hit hard for her." Johnathan added: "We just try not to talk about it."

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 'Hard working' triplets are co-valedictorians at Glendale High School