11-year-old girl graduates cum laude from California college

Athena Elling. Image: athena_elling/Instagram

IRVINE – Last year, when Tycho Elling set a record for youngest graduate of Irvine Valley College at 11 years old, his younger sister saw a challenge.

“She basically said anything he can do I can do as well or better,” proud mom Christina Chow said of her 11-year-old daughter, Athena Elling.

“I’m just really happy and excited that I can have this great opportunity to beat my brother in such a meaningful way,” Athena said with a chuckle about her graduation Thursday from the community college.

She admitted she’s a “little competitive,” but added of her brother, “we’re very different people.”

The competitiveness “is more of a one-way thing,” she told City News Service. “We tease each other, but we do get along.”

Another difference is Tycho’s narrowly focused interest in math. He is now studying as a junior at UC Irvine, Chow said. Athena is more interested in the performing arts and plans to pursue more associate degrees in theater.

“I just really want to get another associate’s and keep going and getting (more),” she said. “I might get another one in theater because I’d like to be an actress.”

Athena and Tycho were both enrolled in an online charter school, said Chow, who was formerly a high school chemistry teacher.

“We tried home schooling,” she said.

But Chow found it harder because of her emotional investment in her prize students.

“It’s easier when you don’t teach your own children,” she said.

Tycho “has been on the math train for years,” his mother told CNS. “For Athena, she does dancing, singing and guitar and she really feels she doesn’t have just one passion.”

Athena also enjoys sketching and has taken courses in Russian and guitar. “I’m learning songs like `Tonight, Tonight’ by the Smashing Pumpkins,” Athena said.

She also has a passion for taekwondo and is a second-degree black belt.

Both graduated at 11 years old, but Tycho was a week away from turning 12, Chow said. Athena is 11 1/2.

“She was so determined to break his record,” Chow said.

Initially, Athena took her courses online when she was 9. It was a little nerve-wracking, however, when she started taking classes in person.

“When I started going in person I was scared,” she said. “There were people double my age sitting next to me … I’m still a little scared.”

But she made friends, she said, adding: “I’m more extroverted than my brother.”

Athena will graduate cum laude with a GPA between 3.50 and 3.74, with an associate’s degree and an emphasis on liberal studies.

Tycho graduated last year magna cum laude with a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99 with a degree in math while also taking classes at UCI. (CNS)