Siblings Haripriya and Bhagirath Mehta are sometimes each other’s greatest competitor, but most days they are each other’s number one fan.

The Iroquois Elementary students recently competed against one another and a score of others in a state chemistry contest and when the field was narrowed down to two, only Haripriya and Bhagirath were left standing. But for the tight-knit Des Plaines sister and brother, competing is never about winning or taking home a trophy.

During the contest, “I was thinking, no one can take away the learning from you,” says Haripriya, 13. “Everybody is a winner who comes through.”

Ultimately, Haripriya won and her brother Bhagirath, 10, took second place. She will represent Illinois in the national You Be the Chemist competition in Philadelphia on June 20 — a dream she has had for nearly three years.

Bhagirath harbors no bad feelings; instead, he quizzes and preps her for the big challenge. Though they are two years apart, the duo have a special bond, especially when it comes to learning. Haripriya remembers learning how to read with her mom, noting her little brother would always join in and listen. They mastered the skill at the same time — she was 5-years-old and he was 3.

They have the same approach when it comes to school — study hard. There are moments when they become frustrated, but they keep at it. Their greatest gift is not just their knowledge, but their humbleness as they learn, said Dr. Tom Ray, an Iroquois teacher who helped mentor them for the chemistry contest.

“If they’re not clear about something, they always ask,” Ray said. “But at the same time, they exhibit a a humility where they don’t dominate things. They could, but they don’t.”

As an elementary student, Haripriya became excited after seeing chemistry competition fliers in the hallway. When she learned she was old enough to participate in the You Be The Chemist contest two years ago, she eagerly signed up and began studying guides and notes.

Bhagirath helped her, too, even though he was in the hospital then because of a ruptured appendix. He was in pain at the time, but he quizzed her from his hospital bed to ensure she would win.

“That symbolizes their relationship,” Ray said. “They’re just very supportive of each other.”

The first year she participated in the You Be the Chemist contest, Haripriya won first place locally and took third in the state.  The following year, as a sixth-grader, she came in second in the state.

Competing is no foreign subject to the two — from science to reading to math, they easily best their peers in and out of the classroom. They could attend prestigious schools like the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in the future, but the two like being around friends they’ve known since kindergarten.

Iroquois Principal Michael Amadei said the school makes sure to challenge them constantly — like asking high school English teachers for book recommendations or enrolling them in high school level math classes — but also provides them with a relaxed social environment.

When they’re not studying, the brother and sister participate in band and orchestra. Haripriya is the president of the school’s student council, a position that is typically held by an eighth-grader, and takes lessons in Bharat Natyam, an Indian classical dance. She loves to design T-shirts and is thinking of starting a label someday.

Bhagirath can usually be found playing basketball in his backyard or watching “Scooby-Doo” on TV. His favorite subject is math and he dreams of being an inventor. He also likes to tease Haripriya, which is “what little brothers are for,” he jokes.

When the siblings competed on the local and regional level this year, Bhagirath trumped his sister both times. He admits he was excited and nervous during the state contest, but mostly relieved to see his fiercest competitor and biggest fan was his final opponent.

“It was fun,” he says with a smile. “You know that you could beat your sibling, but also first place would still go to one of us.”

When she competes in Philadelphia, Haripriya will have 10 seconds to answer questions. She hopes to win first place and dedicate the honor to her teacher, Ray, who retires at the end of this school year.

This competition is no different than any other, Bhagirath reminds his sister. She agrees and says it’s all about the experience and knowledge they’ve gained.

“Hard work is what gets you to the top,” she says. But the “journey is more important than the destination.”