WHEN 18-year-old twins Katie and Sarah Pugh’s A-level grades arrived through the post at their Wrexham home they naturally wanted to be the first to see them.
However, with both girls studying in the USA it meant their parents, Tony and Gaynor, had to send both sets of sealed results across the Atlantic.
The girls, both pupils at the Maelor School, Penley, had left for Georgia a few days before the grades were released but both got the marks required to take them to university.
At present Sarah is at Savannah University while just over an hour’s drive away, at Middle State College, Cochran, Katie – like her sister – is studying a variety of subjects on a year long course.
When completed Katie will study film, television and photography at Bangor, with Sarah set to read psychology at Aberystwyth.
The girls, like numerous other Penley students, have been sponsored by Wrexham Erddig Rotary Club and looked after by host families in the States.
The Pugh family live in Borras.
Dad Tony, a former press photographer, is a lecturer in media studies at Yale College while mum Gaynor is a social worker with Wrexham Council and helps support people with learning disabilities.
Tony said: “The girls are having a wonderful time and have already made lots of friends.
"The Georgia Rotary Student Programme is excellent and the girls say they can’t believe how lucky they are to be on the scholarship scheme.
“Rotary certainly make things happen and we are very grateful for what they are doing for the girls.”
Despite events, both girls remain determined to keep practising their music – both are members of Farndon and District Brass Band.
The girls attended Borras infants and junior schools before going to Penley.