Fourth-grader Is Accepted Into UNA Early Scholars Program

Mar. 24, 2011

FLORENCE, Ala. – Nine-year-old math and computer whiz Maggie Huang, a fourth grade student at Kilby Laboratory School, was recently admitted as the youngest person to ever take part in the Early Scholars Program at the University of North Alabama.

In addition to being UNA’s youngest early scholar, Maggie recently underwent certification training to become one of the youngest Microsoft Office Suite certified professionals in the United States. According to her father, Yingping Huang, associate professor of computer information systems at UNA, Maggie took and passed a national Microsoft Access test at the university testing center.

Maggie will begin taking a Business Applications of Microcomputer Software course at the honors level with other high school honors students starting in the fall.

“I feel very proud,” he said. “I think the Early Scholars Program will give her enough skills to one day make a living.”

In 2009, Maggie was awarded eighth place in an international math competition, and this year she won second place in the same competition. She has also started her own business, SmartMaggie.com LLC, providing Microsoft Excel, Access, VBA and Web development services. Huang said Maggie’s newest career goal is to become a professional web developer.

The Early Scholars Program selects academically competitive students in grades 7-12. Though the program normally takes above-average high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who have high-ranking academic records, Maggie was given special approval by the university based on her previous achievements.

“She is a very bright young lady,” said Dr. Paulette Alexander, chair of the Department of Computer Information Systems. “She is enthusiastically engaged in learning at an earlier age, which is probably attributed to her parents as well as the education she’s receiving at Kilby in supporting that activity to help her reach her ultimate goals.”

For more information, contact the UNA Office of University Admissions at 256-765-4608 or Kilby Laboratory School at 256-765-4303.