NEED TO KNOW
- Chase and Derek Herzog are one of 15 sets of twins graduating from Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview, New York on June 22
- The twins tell PEOPLE they never thought their situation was unique — until their graduating class became the focus of multiple news stories
- When they go off to college, the brothers — who have always shared a bedroom — will live apart for the very first time, but both say they’re ready and excited for the change
Brothers Chase and Derek Herzog are just one of 15 sets of twins in their graduating high school class — and growing up, they didn’t think that was unusual.
The Plainview, N.Y., school’s 2025 graduating class is made up of 447 seniors — 30 of whom have a twin sibling. Chase and Derek’s dad, Jeff Herzog, tells PEOPLE, “It’s pretty remarkable.”
The Herzog brothers say they’ve been friends with most of the other sets of twins since elementary school and they all happen to be in the same friend circle.
In fact, the brothers, who are both 18, say they never really thought much about how many of their classmates also have a twin — that is, until a series of news stories made them realize “how unique we are,” Derek says.
Lately, the twins been recognized in public, even without their siblings.
“It’s blown up around here. I walked into a pizza place and they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re one of the twins,’” Chase says.
The Herzog brothers both run track, and are on the honor roll and the National Honor Society. Chase says his brother is his “best friend,” and tells PEOPLE the pair “do everything together,” including volunteering to help seniors with technology.
Derek thinks sharing a bedroom has kept them extra close over the years.
“It’s an amazing experience just throughout our lives that we have someone with us all the time, because high school can be really rough,” he says. Thanks to their bond, the brothers say they always “support” each other through hard times.
This fall, Derek plans to attend Ohio State University and major in psychology. His brother will be about two hours away at Miami University of Ohio, where he plans to study public health and business so that he can work in health care administration one day.
College will mark a new chapter for the brothers’ relationship; the longest they’ve spent apart was seven weeks, when Derek went to summer camp.
Derek tells PEOPLE he and his brother are “ready” for their new phase in life, while Chase says he’s “very very excited” about graduation and going to college.
“So many things are going to change, and I love it,” Chase says. “I’m so excited.”
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