(May 13) - When University of Kentucky seniors graduated last weekend, one young lady stood out for her high academic achievements and, in particular, her low age.
Just three months following her 14th birthday, Kelsey Ladt finished university summa cum laude and with a degree in biology with honors, reported the Lexington Herald-Ledger.
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From an early age it was clear to Kelsey's parents that their daughter was "profoundly gifted." She finished elementary school by age 8 and was the valedictorian of her high school class at age 11. While completing high school Kelsey simultaneously earned an associate's degree from West Kentucky Community and Technical College.
When she moved on to the University of Kentucky, Kelsey was expected to meet the same requirements as any other student. Yet, despite her advanced intellect, her parents and mentors wanted her to still have a childhood.
"Her parents put a special focus on her socialization," Kelsey's longtime mentor, Joy Navan, director for gifted studies at Murray State University, told the Herald-Ledger. "They enrolled her in every sport. She had sleepovers, lots of friends her age. They wanted her to be seen for who she was and not for what she could do in the classroom."
"I just think of myself as just a little faster processor," Kelsey said. "Otherwise, I'm a typical teenager."
Next up for Kelsey is a year of research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. From there she will apply to combined medical and doctoral degree programs for a seven-year course of study. If all goes to plan, she could be a doctor by the age of 23.
Get more details on Kelsey's story from the Lexington Herald-Ledger
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