Fraternal twins Mackenzie and Michael Shelton share the valedictorian speech Sunday at the Brandywine High School 2013 commencement ceremony. Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT

Fraternal twins and co-valedictorians Mackenzie and Michael Shelton share the same last name.

They share the same household and the same grade point average.

They have even shared the same ACT score — three separate times.

So it was fitting that the two took turns giving the same speech at the same podium during the commencement ceremony for the Brandywine High School Class of 2013 Sunday.

“It is pretty awesome,” Michael said. “We pretty much do everything together, and we are always together so it’s kind of cool we get to end off together.”

As freshmen, the Sheltons said they thought about being valedictorians because their older brother, Nick, was salutatorian in 2004.

“We had to one up him,” Mackenzie said. “We set that goal our freshman year.”

They pushed each other to be the best.

“We are really competitive with each other,” Michael said. “We were always trying to get better and better grades on tests and everything.

“Honestly, if he (Michael) wasn’t in my grade, I don’t think I would be here,” Mackenzie said.

The Sheltons were among the 81 members of the Brandywine Class of 2013.

Five seniors graduated with an associate’s degree from Lake Michigan College and 88 percent of graduates reported they would be attending a college or university.

One graduate each will be joining the United States Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force.

It was Brandywine’s 51st annual commencement exercise.

Janice A. VanDyken, a member of Brandywine’s first graduating class, the Class of 1963, was the honored guest speaker. She said she was moved to tears as she watched the graduates walk to their chairs as the band played “Pomp and Circumstance.”

There were 71 members of Class of 1963. VanDyken said 61 are still alive.