A 12-year-old California prodigy has become the youngest person to graduate from his university, with five degrees and plans to earn his pilot’s license in the next four years.
Clovis Hung began attending Fullerton College in the fall of 2020 at age nine in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, who graduated at age 14.
His mother, Song Choi, said she took him out of his traditional public school after seeing his gifts and ability for self-motivation.
“Clovis is super studious, mature, diligent, self-disciplined and highly motivated,” Choi said in a statement. “He’s also very curious and traditional public schools couldn’t satisfy his curiosity, so the best option was to study.”
Hung attended the ‘Special Admit’ program at Fullerton, which allowed him to take college courses while being homeschooled by his mother.
Clovis Hung started Fullerton College in Fall 2020 at age nine and graduates with five degrees at age 12
Part of the state’s public community college system, Fullerton is located in Orange County, about 30 miles from Los Angeles.
They had previously graduated 13-year-old =Jack Rico, who earned four associate degree degrees in the spring of 2020. Hung said he was inspired by Rico.
The school’s professors were concerned that Hung’s age difference and lack of maturity might cause problems, but biology professor Kenneth Collins was impressed.
“Clovis has been a great mix of ‘kid’ and student,” Collins said. “He’s mature enough that the other students take him seriously, but enough of a kid that they care for him like a younger brother and encourage him.”
“When I had questions, I asked them, and when they had questions, they asked me,” Hung said of his colleagues. “They treated me like a little brother.”
Hung said he “immediately fell in love with college life,” despite some initial nerves, and soon began taking more classes as he grew up.
He eventually went so far as to be accepted into the school’s honors program.
The 12-year-old walked at a graduation ceremony on May 20 with 900 fellow Fullerton graduates, who earned college degrees in history, social sciences, social behavior and self-development, arts and human expression, and science and math, according to KABC.
Hung attended the ‘Special Admit’ program at Fullerton, which allowed him to take college courses while being homeschooled by his mother
His trajectory is somewhat reminiscent of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, who graduated from college at age 14.
Hung said he “immediately fell in love with college life,” despite some initial nerves, and soon began taking more classes as he grew up.
The 12-year-old walked at a graduation ceremony on May 20 with 900 fellow Fullerton graduates, who earned college degrees in history, social sciences, social behavior and self-development, art and human expression, and science and math
After getting used to college life, Hung took more classes and was eventually accepted into the Honors Program, where he was able to “thrive.”
Hung, who graduated May 20 along with 900 other Fullerton graduates, earned five Associate of Arts degrees in history, social sciences, social behavior and self-development, art and human expression, and science and math.
The 12-year-old decided to attend Fullerton after then-13-year-old Jack Rico graduated from the school in the spring of 2020 with four associate degree degrees – Rico later graduated from UNLV in December 2021.
Hung will next take STEM courses and start applying to more traditional universities.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a boy with towering achievements, it’s the sky he wants to conquer next.
Hung has career goals as a pilot, aerospace engineer or pediatrician. He is already trying to take the next step towards his first career.
“I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished so far,” said Hung. “I also just joined the Civic Air Patrol and hope to get my pilot’s license at 16.”