11-Year-Old To Graduate College, Breaking Brother's Record

IRVINE, CA — An 11-year-old girl will become Irvine Valley College’s youngest-ever graduate on Thursday, according to the school.

Athena Elling will graduate cum laude with an associate degree in liberal studies, beating out her brother, Tycho Elling, who graduated last year magna cum laude with an associate degree in mathematics.

Athena is about six months younger than her brother was when he graduated, according to KTLA, which reported that the siblings are from San Juan Capistrano.

“I know I’m supposed to say that learning is its own reward and it really kind of is, but also, as a second child, beating my older brother is kind of everything,” Athena told The Orange County Register.

In addition to her advanced studies, Athena is a second-degree black belt in taekwondo who enjoys juggling, acting, singing, dancing, sketching and soap making. She likes visiting Disneyland, Legoland and Angel Stadium, and she has many pets including two chinchillas, several chickens, and soon, she hopes, a tarantula.

In the short-term, she plans to stay at Irvine Valley College for another associate degree, according to KTLA, but longer term, she wants to be an allergist or actress, the Register reported, noting she recently modeled for Ulta Beauty as part of an in-store campaign.

Tycho is now studying mathematics at the University of California Irvine and plans to start applying for doctoral programs in the fall, according to the Register.