Smart beyond their years

Stephen Stafford is like any other college student, except for one small difference: He's only 13. But he's not the first -- and probably not the last -- kid genius.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States, and he has become a human rights icon: King is recognized as a martyr by two Christian churches. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career.He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.

In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had re focused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War, both from a religious perspective. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.


The real Doogie? Akrit Jaswal performed surgery when he was only 7 and is said to be working on a cure for cancer. (He even made an appearance on "Oprah" with other whiz kids.)

Akrit Jaswal (born April 23, 1993) is a Indian adolescent who has been hailed as a child prodigy who has gained fame in his native India as a physician.

Role model: This 18th-century Italian prodigy became the first female mathematician and university math professor.
Maria Gaetana Agnesi (May 16, 1718 – January 9, 1799) was an Italian linguist, mathematician, and philosopher.

Head of the class: Adora Svitak wrote her first book at the age of 7 and now offers writing tips to teachers around the country.

Promoting peace: Gregory Smith had been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize by age 14.

Musical boy genius: Did you know that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began composing when he was 5 years old?

Musical girl genius: Singer and pianist Tori Amos was the youngest student ever accepted to this music school.

Fictional smart kids: "Matilda," "Doogie Howser, M.D." and "Magnolia" all revolve around child geniuses.