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13-Year-Old Prodigy Enrolls in College
Categories: In The News, Weird But True, Education, Amazing Kids
13-year-old Paige Epler, right, listens to a lecture during her astronomy class at George Mason University. Credit: Mark Gail, Washington Post
Paige Epler, 13, celebrated her high-school graduation on June 5 by delivering the commencement speech at University of Oklahoma High School in Norman, Okla., where she enrolled in distance-learning classes at the age of 9, according to The Washington Post. Her grade-point average when she graduated? An impressive 4.0.
The brainy teen is now enrolled at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., taking classes in the school of science.
"Paige is a fully admitted student, taking classes and earning credit," Dan Walsch, press secretary for GMU, told ParentDish. "She is doing well and we are glad to have her here."
Her class load is nothing to shrug off, either. The teenager is taking English, math and astronomy at GMU, according to Walsch. She told The Post that she likes the college scene because her fellow students are "engaged in class and are really there to learn."
No matter what her age, Paige is clearly an academic standout among her older friends at GMU. According to The Post, Paige has already created an exhibit for the Smithsonian Institution and serenaded President Barack Obama with her violin, which she said she began playing because "it was a challenge for me."
Paige's hunger for a challenge started early, according to her mom, Pam, who told The Post that her daughter started reading the labels on spice bottles at age 1. By age 2, her mom added, the girl was reading medical encyclopedias.
The child prodigy has never been taught in a traditional classroom -- she attended another distance-learning program at the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential for elementary and middle school, and then went on to the University of Oklahoma High School program at the age of 9.
Besides playing the violin -- which she began at age 6 -- Paige developed a keen interest in sharks after a visit to the National Aquarium in Baltimore several years ago, according to The Post. Interested in doing something to help the endangered species, she created a "Save the Sharks" exhibit for an ecology day at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Museum officials were so impressed that they shared Paige's name with their colleagues at other institutions, where she also made her presentation. Pam Epler told The Post that she also shared her passion with a congressional hearing committee. Paige has also been featured as a "shark expert" on CBS's "The Early Show."
So just what does a child prodigy do when she's not wowing academics and saving endangered species? She's hanging out with her friends and her dog, Cuddles, and playing "Super Mario Brothers" on the Wii, just like every other kid.
Paige loves both babies and science, so she plans to combine those two passions and become a pediatrician, according to The Post. After that? She wants to one day move to a "classy" area of The Beltway, like Georgetown or Alexandria.
Paige's parents are understandably proud of their precocious progeny.
"I always saw potential in every kid, and it is just a matter of them seeing it in themselves," said Pam Epler, who was a high school teacher while her husband was in the Air Force. "As a parent, I am glad Paige can see her potential and has excelled. . . . We're really proud of her."
Correction, Oct. 1, 2009: An earlier version of this column appeared with additional comments from the college, which were supplied without permission of Paige's family. The college has retracted its original comments.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
patricia childress 9-23-2009 @ 5:55AM
to me it seems that yalls are scared of certain children wanting to learn. so why is this college not allowing her to get her grades as she should, if she is enrolled , legally , as a student. she is not in jail. it is illegal to enroll a person into college and not give her grades as a student. i do believe that the big wig of this college i s playing bad pool, and if the parents wanted to, they could sue him for fraud, according to the college rules. someone might want to think about this one.
Reply
Greg H. 9-20-2009 @ 6:43AM
Why is Obama in the headline?
Reply
NANA 9-20-2009 @ 8:31AM
BECAUSE THEY PUT HE THERE????
Itsonlyme 9-20-2009 @ 10:23AM
Greg H. 9-20-2009 @ 6:43AM
Why is Obama in the headline?
Reply; Now I'd have been more worried if Clinton was in the headline!
Kira 9-20-2009 @ 8:13AM
My thoughts exactly!
Ivi 9-20-2009 @ 8:45AM
I agree with this since most school actually teach subjects that are simply a waste of time. I was held back a year when I was 9 because I was "too young to be in 5th grade", which is completely retarded since that's the right age for that. (and about obama- he's not a liar as someone mentioned in these comments, he was disrespected by Wilson, which clearly puts it out there that the Congress is behaving like a child's class room)
Atochabsh 9-20-2009 @ 9:49AM
[quote]I don't agree with accelerating academics, find enrichment outside of class. This kid is going to be socially out of wack.[/quote]
I would have done anything if technology had allowed me to acellerate through classes like this kid. I got As with barely opening a book, but was socially outcast for it. Middle School and High School were hell for me. I didn't really start to socialize until I got out of that small town clicky environment. Had the technology been there when I was a young teenager I'm sure I'd have graduated before 18 too.
Monabona 9-20-2009 @ 10:01AM
While I don't think the headline should read as it does - yet another way to be subtle while pandering, the headline was there because in the body of the article it says "Paige has already created an exhibit for the Smithsonian Institution and serenaded President Barack Obama with her violin..."
WOW! I should have written to him and maybe the headline would read, "President Obama receives letter from citizen in CA ...." It is just as newsworthy and eye catching.
helayne 9-20-2009 @ 10:28AM
There have been several 12 13 and 14 year old students (not many) that have acquired high school and college degrees before the age of 16......historically parent hold thier kids back. Let them GOOOOOOOOO....todays standards have declined so pathetically that students should be allow to accell if they so dare........you go kids.
from a tenured educator (28 years)
James the Rational 9-20-2009 @ 10:29AM
Simple ! Its always about Obama Get it! He is the only president who acts like an American Idol winner
vern 9-20-2009 @ 11:33AM
Because Greg, he is mentioned in the 12th paragraph if you even bothered to read the story.
James 9-20-2009 @ 12:18PM
Ivi, honey, you were held back because you're stupid sweetie. I am so sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but it's true. You're retarded and cannot help that, but you have to try to keep up and not blame the system for recognizing your shortcomings.
Beatriz Hernandez 9-21-2009 @ 12:11AM
Did you read the article. "Paige has already created an exhibit for the Smithsonian Institution and serenaded President Barack Obama with her violin, which she said she began playing because "it was a challenge for me."
Lana 9-21-2009 @ 12:49AM
Greg, because brilliant minds are drawn to each other. Also, he is the President of the United States of America. 70 million voted for that Nov. 2008. It's a mandate. Get over it. He is a modern day President, technology savvy, he can be everywhere. Bush is still looking for the INTERNETs. :o)
CONGRATULATIONS TO PAIGE and her parents, job well done!
Jen 9-21-2009 @ 6:08AM
If you want to get your children excited about nature....this educational product is sweeping the country. It's called the TickleMe Plant and its a real plant that Moves when you Tickle It. The leaves close and even the branches droop when Tickled. Now it can easily been grown indoors year round. Who know a plant could move when Tickled. You can see the video and its even more fun to grow your own. My Students love it.
Search The TickleMe Plant
Get back to nature!
Reply
westernjockey 9-20-2009 @ 8:19AM
To be blunt, I don't think it is something to awe about. There are dozens of children her age in my community who are in higher education curriculums. However, around here (and even though I tried) we couldnt graduate that early. We have certain laws from the school systems that hold our students back. And another point, she didnt waste her time in elementary and middle school with pointless subjects that aren't even used in high school. Many more kids can be like her if we just cut out the crap out of our school subjects
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Tracy 9-20-2009 @ 9:20AM
I don't agree with accelerating academics, find enrichment outside of class. This kid is going to be socially out of wack. My daughter was skipped a grade because she topped out all of the scores on standardized tests. She is 13 and entering high school and STILL topping out all the the test scores. So am I going to just promote her right out of high school?
This child needs to be a kid, not a college student. As a teacher and a Mom, I have seen most super achieving students with parents who are living their lives vicariously through them. Some of the kids do everything well, instead of focusing on their passion. They play ALL the sports, instruments, academics, etc. I was overjoyed when my 10 year old said "I like all the sports, but I just want to focus on baseball."
I am not saying the kids don't enjoy the hardwork and challenge, I wanted to get A's and 100's myself. What is their passion? Getting an A? I know if I am not busy doing something, and likewise with my daughter and son, it can actually make me feel bad.
Is this child's "SELF" defined by her grades and her achievements? I just can't imagine going to bed at night feeling fulfilled and peaceful about my wonderful 4.0.
My daughter's passion is art and computer graphics, and if she's able to go to a community college and then a four year college to work on something she loves for the rest of her life, that will be great. If she finds herself in an apartment with the walls plastered with her art, yet she's doing something she loves, to me, that is more important than what her gpa is or what name is on the diploma
jstrongcmt 9-20-2009 @ 9:50AM
you might think (and I agree) that there would be many more prodigy like results if we 'cut the crap from the curriculum' but few parents can manage the education of their own kids these days and no public or private institution would have the capacity to tailor programs for the particular talents and abilities of a school of individuals. A better tack might be to look for especially talented individuals and spend some extra time and resources on those that excell. Of course.. individual attention equates to greater funding and the US has a problem called the Republican party that stands against any sort of funding that fails to further their political agenda. Might be able to get funding for in-school bible study. In the southern states anyway. Supporting thinking? I doubt it.
Sam M 9-20-2009 @ 11:56AM
is there anyone else who isn't impressed because she's graduating from schools in oklahoma and virginia? then they're gonna protect her and make sure she succeeds at george mason just to make a better story out of it. this girl is gonna have no social life, no street smarts, and will probably end up playing violin on the corner unless another place finds a way to take her story and somehow use her to make money on it because no company is gonna want an 18 year old college grad over someone who's older and has more life experience.
blondyblueyed19 9-20-2009 @ 12:01PM
I agree with Tracy. There was a girl who was 11 and attending my high school, and no one would talk to her. Word went around that there was a 6th grader here, and she was whispered about in the halls. In all honesty, you loose the high school experience that helps you grow and mature. You make stupid mistakes, but you learn them while still in school so that when your out of your parents house, you won't repeat them. I tried talking to her once, being nice and polite, and she couldn't hold a conversation with me, she got so terribly nervous. That's not how a kid should grow up without social skills. I pity her, and wish her the best of luck when she gets to college.