11-year-old Irvine Valley College graduate makes history

At just 11 years old, Tycho Elling is a math whiz. And a college graduate.

The San Juan Capistrano resident is Irvine Valley College’s youngest student to graduate from the school — ever. He graduated on May 25 as magna cum laude (which means he had a GPA of 3.75 to 3.99) with an associate degree in mathematics.

Two years ago, Elling quickly completed his courses at his charter school, which included classes from the high school level, and was encouraged by the school to enroll in community college courses.

IVC offers limited courses to K-12 students who apply with the school’s permission, said Ruben Guzman, a registrar representative with the community college. After completing the courses IVC offers for K-12 students, Elling was admitted as a full-time student at the community college.

Tiffany Tran, left, a counselor at Irvine Valley College, stands with Tycho Elling, 11, of San Juan Capistrano, in front of graduation balloons at the school’s library just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tiffany Tran, left, a counselor at Irvine Valley College, places the cap on Tycho Elling, 11, of San Juan Capistrano, just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tycho Elling, 11, of San Juan Capistrano, stands in front of graduation balloons at the school’s library just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Irvine Valley College photographer Ace Caguioa, left, takes a photo of Tycho Elling, 11, of San Juan Capistrano, just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tycho Elling, 11, of San Juan Capistrano, poses with a sign on campus just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tycho Elling, 11, of San Juan Capistrano, holds his youngest sister, Nova, 2, just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Christina Chow, left, of San Juan Capistrano, holds her son, Tycho Elling, 11, left, as her daughter, Nova, 2, sits in a stroller while Tiffany Tran, right, a counselor at Irvine Valley College, looks on just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Irvine Valley College photographer Ace Caguioa, right, takes a photo of Tycho Elling, 11, left, of San Juan Capistrano, and Irvine Valley College President John C. Hernandez, center, just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tycho Elling, 11, of San Juan Capistrano, stands with balloon letters of Irvine Valley College at the school’s library just prior to commencement in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Christina Chow, left, of San Juan Capistrano, places the magna cum laude cords around her son, Tycho Elling, 11, just prior to commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Christina Chow, right, hands an extra graduation tassel to her daughter, Nova, 2, after her son, Tycho Elling, 11, of San Juan Capistrano, picked up his tassel just prior to his commencement at Irvine Valley College in Irvine on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Elling is the youngest 2023 graduate and the youngest student to graduate in IVC’s 38 years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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“I don’t think we realized we were on this journey,” said his mother, Christina Chow. “I think every step of the way we have been like, ‘He says he likes math,’ but we never realized it was going to be a journey.”

Elling is passionate about math, he said, because it “really builds on itself.”

“You can learn addition or calculus, and then later on in number theory or elementary analysis, you relearn them in fun and different ways,” he said.

And math has always been a favorite of his, Chow said.

“There was a year where he only had to take humanities and general elective classes,” said Chow, “And he would get through it, and say, ‘I can’t wait to take more math.’”

When asked about learning with older students at IVC, Elling said he didn’t really notice the difference.

“With the pandemic and online classes, all of the cameras were off, and everyone thought I was just a normal student taking the class,” said Elling.

The last person to hold IVC’s youngest graduate honor was a 14-year-old who graduated in 2008, according to Guzman.

At IVC,15% of the student population is younger than 18 years old.

While completing his degree, Elling took simultaneous classes at UC Irvine as part of its Division of Continuing Education program, designed to help those who are seeking an advance in their education.

Elling is now enrolled in three UCI classes and has already completed nine. He will be a full-time UCI student in the fall, majoring in mathematics.

This transfer to UCI was made possible through IVC’s Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG), which promises community college students admission to UCI if they meet the prerequisites, according to Elling’s admissions counselor, Tiffany Tran.

At UCI, Elling’s favorite class is an elementary analysis course where he learns the basic explanations of proofs with the integration of calculus.

“It’s been really good at UCI,” said Elling with a joke: “It has been really nice to see that there are other people who are really short.”

In his free time, Elling enjoys many hobbies including — but not limited to — building aquaponics, tutoring, fixing his 3-D printer, creating a Wordle solver or zombie game and reading “XKCD” comics.

He also enjoys participating in computer programming competitions with his friends as well as taking care of his seven chickens.

Although Elling is not sure what he wants to do when he grows up, he does have one plan.

“I just really want to take all of the math classes I can.”

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