Father, son top of Mattituck class 33 years apart

As for his son’s earning the same honor he did, Mr. Montgomery said learning about the achievement was “heartwarming.”

“Christian has always truly had a thirst for knowledge and asked a lot of questions, so it’s pure joy as his father to watch him grow and thrive,” he said. “He doesn’t just memorize it for the test and forget. You can ask him weeks later and he still remembers what he learned.”

There’s a third valedictorian in the family as well.

Christian’s cousin, Alex Whittle, son of Mr. Montgomery’s sister Linda, was Greenport’s valedictorian last year. Alex, who has autism, was featured on the cover of The Suffolk Times last June, and described how he had overcome daunting hurdles.

Christian, who attended elementary school at Our Lady of Mercy Regional School in Cutchogue, said he’s grateful for his parents’ guidance and support from his classmates and teachers.

His advice for aspiring high achievers is to become an independent learner and try different approaches, like listening to books on tape.

“Find a way to inspire yourself in whatever it is that you’re learning and do some research before diving into a new topic,” he said. “Just explore so you’ll have a better understanding and try to learn about it on your own so you can learn at your own pace and go beyond — you’re not restricted to the school and what’s covered in class.”