11-Year-Old Girl Graduates from US University, Sets Record as School’s Youngest Graduate

Eleven-year-old prodigy identified as Athena Elling has made history as the youngest student ever to graduate from Irvine Valley College in California, USA with a degree.

Eleven-year-old Athena Elling has made history as the youngest student ever to graduate from Irvine Valley College in California, USA.

Athena earned an Associate degree in Liberal Arts, graduating summa cum laude. She was inspired by her older brother, who also achieved his Associate degree at the age of 12.

Following her brother’s milestone, Athena enrolled at Irvine Valley College, taking high school courses early and then adding community college classes through a dual-enrollment program.

“My brother graduated with an AA just a couple days before he turned 12, and when he did it, I really wanted to do that too,” Athena said. “It was sort of the final moment that — woohoo! — I beat Tycho,” she added.

Athena competes with her brother in everything, from cooking to taekwondo. She expressed a desire to outpace him in various activities and has long hoped to surpass him in height.

Athena’s mother, Christina Chow, told USA TODAY that the community college allowed her daughter to explore a wide array of interests. “In the past year, she has wanted to be a divorce attorney, an allergist, and an actor. We’ve tried not to say no to anything she’s expressed interest in,” Chow said.

In sixth grade, Athena began taking classes at Irvine Valley College before leaving her charter school to start homeschooling a few months later. Her parents enrolled her as a ninth grader while she continued her community college courses.

Chow mentioned that her children began reading mystery and science fiction novels at a young age, but she isn’t sure how they became so intelligent so quickly.

“We made it clear to Athena and her brother, Tycho, that there was no pressure to continue with college courses,” Chow said. “We don’t like to stand in their way, and we think that they need the freedom to explore.”

“We just ask that whatever they do, they take it seriously. And Athena often takes everything she does very, very, very seriously,” she added.

Athena initially took psychology and Chinese classes without prerequisites, then advanced to computer science and writing courses. While she initially felt out of place among her older classmates, she eventually became more comfortable.

She plans to take more classes at Irvine Valley College, aiming to earn associate degrees in psychology, theater, and music. Ultimately, Athena hopes to attend a more competitive four-year college than her brother, aspiring to an Ivy League school.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION