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b Wednesday, June 8, 2011 i a a = EMILY WEAVER Editor Going once. twice...Gone. Three sets of twins will cross the stage in Kings Mountain High School's John Gamble Stadium on Thursday to receive their diplomas. The Bruckers, the Boyds and the Chambers are all looking forward to it. The sadness of parting friends hasn't sunk in yet. Some are leaving with college credits. One set will be heading off to the same college together. And one Going will be shipping off to army. training, while his sister pon- ders her journey to the spot- light. But double the graduates means double the pride and double the memories for par- ents as they get ready to at- tend a truly momentous occasion. The Boyds For at least one of these graduates, being able to march in commencement ex- ercises might be seen as a. miracle. In 2007, Jacob Boyd was diagnosed with. Basilar Invagination - a seri- Elizabeth and Jonathan Brucker. At right, Jacob and Jared Boyd and Caroline and Catherine Chambers, |-r. ous condition that threatened: him with death or paralyza- tion. In laymen's terms, his skull was sinking into his spine. Jacob was actually born g with the condition, but it wasn't until November 2006 * when he started showing signs that something was wrong. He appeared "rigid", his mother, Lisa, told The Herald in September 2007. Jacob felt a mysterious tin- gling sensation in his fingers. The Boyds began to think it may be serious one night when his father, Greg, called Jacob's name and, instead of turning his neck to look at him, he turned his entire - body. After a series of visits to chiropractors and doctors, who eventually discovered the problem, Jacob went to Johns Hopkins medical cen- ter in Baltimore for a 10- hour plus surgical procedure to resection the vertebrae. Jacob celebrated his 14th birthday in the hospital. Now at age 17, just two minutes younger than his twin brother Jared Boyd, Jacob is doing well. Jacob will graduate high school with around 20 college cred- El Lo md aual ay! J 7 a a A dq Ved al / J’ my its. He plans to attend Cleve- land Community College and then Appalachian State University, where he aims to major in Biology in pursuit of a career in medicine. Jared will graduate with 40-50 college credits already under his cap. He plans to at- tend UNC-Charlotte where he will: focus his studies on Criminal . Justice and the Middle East. He is consider- ing joining the United States Air Force. He is hoping to one day get his master's and doctorate in law and find a career in the U.S. Marshals, ATE (Bureau of Alcohol, To- bacco, Firearms and explo- sives) or Secret Service. Jacob, a tennis player, and Jared, who has been ac- tive on the swim team and in golf, have both lettered in cross country at KMHS. Jared was ranked 50th in the nation for cross country in the Amateur Athletic Union. He says that one of the things he has learned in high school that he knows he'll have to apply in life is "time management". "The teachers here are great. We've learned a lot from them," Jacob said. "We're ready for college." Their-older brother Justin, who graduated from KMHS in 2009, attends ASU. Jacob and Jared have re- ceived a total of $4,200 in scholarships to help them with college (both - a $500 A. Mickey Church scholar- + ship for carrying a 4.0 GPA throughout high school; Jacob - a $2,000 Health Aux- iliary scholarship and a $200 ACE award; Jared - $1,000 Westmoreland scholarship). Jared and Jacob are both members of the National Honor Society and the BETA Club. Jacob is also a member of the National Technical Honor Society. They are both active in their church at First Baptist in Kings Mountain from where they joined others on a mission trip to Honduras. The Chambers Catherine and Cdroline Chambers entered the world two minutes apart. (Cather- ine's the oldest.) They are nine days older’ than the Boyds - a fact they playfully and harmoniously reminded Jacob and Jared of at school May 26. They both plan to attend Appalachian State Univer- sity, where Caroline will study Exercise Science in pursuit of a career as an oc- cupational or physical thera- pist, and where Catherine will study Psychology and Criminal Justice. She is con- sidering a career as a crimi- nal profiler. Both are graduating high school with college credits. Both can finish each other's sentences and know what the other is thinking without saying a word. Both are ac- tive in SPO (Student Politi- cal Offices) and the Spanish Club. Both have full rides to ASU through scholarships. But Catherine and Caroline are different. Caroline is more compet- itive on the field of sports. Catherine likes sports, but prefers books. Caroline has been active in softball, which she now plays year-round, baseball and volleyball. In 10th grade she torerher ACL, but the in- jury has not kept her away from the mound. She plans to try out for the softball team at ASU. Catherine plays soccer and, golf. "It's more of a hobby for me," she said. She plans to participate in intramural sports at the col- lege. Catherine works at Food Lion with Caroline and at a nearby tanning bed. They have a seven-year- old sister named Cassie and a 20-year-old brother, Joe, who attends ASU's archrival school, Western Carolina University. They are the daughters of Joe and Julie Chambers of Kings Moun- tain. The Bruckers Elizabeth and Jonathan Brucker both look forward to graduation. When asked if any sadness of farewell has set in, Elizabeth, 20 minutes her brother's elder, said "I don't think it will hit me until he goes off to boot camp." It will be the longest time the two have been apart. She plans to stay at home and at- tend Cleveland Community College before transferring either to 4 culinary school or somewhere else to study the arts. Jonathan will jet off to Fort Sill, Okla., for basic military training on June 21st. With patriotic pride and courage, he's signed his life See TWINS page 7C
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