Next's search for the smartest kid in Colorado led us to an eighth grade student who is learning alongside DU freshmen.
Angelina Akdis, an eighth-grade student at The Rick Center for Gifted Children, has big dreams of owning a fashion company.
She’s been proactive at making sure her dreams come true. The 13-year-old is taking a course at Daniels College of Business next door to her school.
“I’m interested in fashion design so one thing that I wanted to learn was the flip side of that, which is business,” she said.
She sought advice from her curriculum director who contacted Stephen Haag, the Director of Entrepreneurship at the business school.
Haag was surprised to learn Akdis was in the eighth grade.
“I primarily teach entrepreneurialism – focusing mainly on young people starting businesses,” he said.
It’s the first time he’s had a student younger student but he’s pleased with her performance.
Adkis has been auditing Haag’s Gateway to Business course twice a week since the beginning of the semester. She completes every assignment and takes every test.
Haag is hopeful that his new student will learn it takes teamwork to be successful.
“We need to build a support network around every single child to enable them to succeed,” said Haag.
We're still looking for more of Colorado's smartest kids. Know one of those? Email next@9news.com.
