18 year old graduates from ISU with two degrees
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By The Associated Press | Tuesday, May 06, 2008 |
This photo, supplied by Iowa State University, shows Mattias Gassman, 18, who graduates Saturday, May 10, 2008, from Iowa State University with two degrees on the campus in Ames, Iowa, in the last week of April 2008. (AP Photo/Iowa State University)
DES MOINES, Iowa — Like many parents of college-aged kids, Philip and Brigitte Gassman of Ames are bracing for their son to leave home, but don't expect to see them at any freshman orientation gatherings.
Their 18-year-old son, Mattias Gassman, will head to graduate school after receiving two bachelor's degrees Saturday from Iowa State University.
He wracked up nearly twice the college credits needed to graduate and boasts majors in biophysics, German and classical studies, plus a minor in history.
If that wasn't enough, he graduates summa cum laude.
``This is just kind of a natural thing for him and the kind of gift that he has,'' said his father Philip Gassman, an ISU scientist who achieves his own milestone this weekend — earning a Ph.D. in environmental science.
Mattias Gassman plays down all the excitement surrounding his academic achievements and said the's thinking more about whether to get a summer job before beginning his graduate studies at the University of Minnesota.
He said if he continues to pursue the classical languages he could end up with a college teaching career by about the age of 23 — around the same age as many future students.
``I suppose it would be stranger for them than for me, but I've never taught a class before so I can't say,'' he said a telephone interview Tuesday. ``It would definitely be unusual.''
Gassman noted that most of his fellow students at ISU got used to having a younger scholar around.
``For the most part, they've been pretty good,'' he said. ``They have treated me normally I would say.''
When Gassman was just a fifth grader he earned a high enough score on a college entrance exam to get a scholarship to take a college-level course. At age 11, he aced that class — Latin 101.
By the time he was 14 he had a full scholarship to Iowa State and had already earned enough credits to be classified as a senior. Shortly after he was named the top senior by the biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology department — one of many honors he's earned at Iowa State.
His parents note that at age 6 their son, who was a preemie born 11 weeks early, was reading encyclopedias and anything else that came his way. Philip Gassman said he was tipped off to Mattias' abilities by the way the child processed information and ``his understanding of ... the natural world around him and scientific things in general.''
His mother, Brigitte, said her son was home-schooled and was encouraged to study math and piano ``for the discipline of doing something regularly.'' He attended a high school commencement for home schooled students last weekend.
The Gassmans said that throughout the years their son has continued playing piano and remained active in a church youth group. He recently became an Eagle Scout.
Philip Gassman said he's certain that Mattias will quickly adjust to his new surroundings in Minnesota, but that the family is still preparing for his absence.
``You hate to see your kid walk out the door. It's a transition time and you're not going to have him at home anymore,'' he said. ``We'll miss him for sure.''
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