Four daughters from a Florida family stun the world with their academic achievements, all being named valedictorian.

Two Central Florida sisters earn the title of valedictorian at the same high school in different years.

Four daughters from a Florida family stun the world with their academic achievements, all being named valedictorian.
Four daughters from a Florida family stun the world with their academic achievements, all being named valedictorian.

If all of your kids become high school valedictorians, what would you feel as a parent?

A family in central Florida may have made history when all four daughters were named valedictorian in their respective high school classes, a feat that's said to be a 1 in 11 billion chance.

The four girls, Ryleigh, Taylor, Alisa, and Makaley, all graduated from the same high school and received the prestigious academic award in different years.

Tracey Rendina, the math department chair at Astronaut High School in Titusville, where her daughters were students, attributes the school's impressive accomplishment to the "great work ethic" of her daughters.

Rendina family Ryleigh graduation
The Rendina family — left to right: Alisa, Makaley, Tracey, Ryleigh, Mike and Taylor — is apparently full of geniuses now that all four daughters have been crowned valedictorian of their respective high school classes from Astronaut High School in Titusville, Florida. (Tracey Rendina)

Rendina stated that she and her husband, Mike Rendina, never pressured their daughters to attain this objective.

We never imposed the requirement that they had to make As. There was no obligation to inform them, 'You must do this or else.' Instead, we always encouraged them to do their best, as Rendina stated.

"Whatever you do as long as you're doing your best is what we expect," she stated.

Two years after Makaley Rendina was named valedictorian as a senior, her sister Alisa also earned the title.

After two years, Taylor was named class valedictorian, leaving only one daughter remaining.

Rendina family Makaley UF graduation
Makaley Rendina, the eldest Rendina daughter (pictured in cap and gown, third from left), was the first to be named valedictorian of her high school class. (Tracey Rendina)

"By the time we reached No. 4, and she knew that all of her sisters had been valedictorian, she felt internally some pressure to do that as well," Rendina said.

The mom stated that she and her husband were committed to ensuring their children knew they could always count on them, whether they faced successes or setbacks.

Rendina family together
Tracey Rendina credits her daughters' success to their great work ethic and ability to stick with tasks and never give up.  (Tracey Rendina)

"She expressed her greatest pride in them during those challenging times when they were all there to support each other, including their sisters who encouraged them with the words, "It's going to be okay, and whatever went wrong, you can come back from that.""

Rendina aimed to instill resilience and a fighting spirit in her children as they encountered academic difficulties in school and extracurricular activities.

Rendina family photo
Ryleigh Rendina (far right) was officially named valedictorian of the graduating class of 2024 — making all the Rendina sisters valedictorian titleholders. (Tracey Rendina)

As Ryleigh, 18, approached the end of her high school career, Rendina felt a great sense of "relief" when Ryleigh was officially named valedictorian of her 2024 graduating class.

The mom indicated that even the older sisters felt a sense of relief, as they were aware of how challenging it is to achieve that title.

Rendina added that she felt a sense of relief after realizing that everyone had done the same thing and that they were all in it together, having made it right.

"A victory for one is a victory for all."

Rendina family together on couch
Even though the Rendina parents will soon be "empty nesters," the mother and father of four are eager to see how their youngest grows in college. (Tracey Rendina)

Rendina discovered that cultivating independence and a robust work ethic contributed to her girls' achievement of equilibrium and accomplishment in school.

Rendina stated, "At some point, you must take responsibility for your own actions."

Soon, Tracey and Mike Rendina will become "empty nesters," but they are thrilled to witness their daughters succeed in their academic pursuits and beyond.

As their final daughter grows into the young woman they raised her to be, the parents of four can watch with pride.

Rendina, as a mom, finds the most exciting time of her life to be seeing her daughter grow and become who she will be.

Rendina family Alisa UF graduation
The Rendinas now have one daughter in the workforce, one who just graduated from University of Florida, an upcoming junior in college — and a soon-to-be college first-year student. (Tracey Rendina)

At the same time, one of the daughters is preparing for college while another has graduated and is beginning her career, resulting in all of the girls being in new and exciting stages of life.

Her message to her daughters was, "The world is yours to explore now."

She encouraged me to go out and make the most of every opportunity.

"Enjoy what is out there for you and be you."

Rendina family of valedictorians
The Rendina family of Florida may have just made history after all four daughters were named valedictorian of their respective high school classes. (Tracey Rendina)

In the fall, Ryleigh Rendina will study biomedical engineering at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

She was involved in both the Florida High School Athletic Association and church activities while accumulating 800 hours of community service during her high school years.

by Sydney Borchers

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