At 16 He's a Senior in College

Today a story broke with amazing news from The Chicago Tribune. When 11 year old Robert Krzyanowski walked into Richard Wilder's office at North Central College to enroll in math and science classes, the veteran academic scholar was shocked by the boys age. All it took was an introduction to put the professor of mathematics at ease and make him realize the boy was special.

"You can call me Rich," the professor told the boy.

"My name is Robert," the boy replied. "But you can call me Poor."

Wilder's saw maturity and enthusiasm in the boy and soon welcomed him to the Naperville College's Liderman Scholars Program for high schoolers who are ready for college. Wilder's became Krzyanowski's academic adviser, life mentor and , eventually, friend. "He basically sold me in about two seconds that he was already to do this." Wilder's said.

Five years later, Krzyanowski now 16 is a senior at north Central, preparing to graduate this summer with a triple major in physics, mathematics, and computer science. He is believed to be the youngest person to ever graduate in the colleges 146-year history. As you would expect, it hasn't been easy for him to fit in. In his early years on campus, he limited his social interaction mostly to his developing a friendship with Wilder's, but he came into his own after joining the college's forensics team.

Now 5 foot 6 inch teenager with floppy hair and wire-rimmed glasses, doesn't seem so out of place. There's general lack of fuss about him, but he has made an impression on much of the campus community.

Sources:
The Chicago Tribune