He will transfer to the University of South Florida in August and wants to become an astrophysicist.

ST. PETERSBURG – When St. Petersburg College holds its 137th commencement today, one graduate will stand out.

He’s 11-year-old William Mallis.

By the age of 5, William was declared a genius by Ohio State University psychologist Joanne Ruthsatz. But he was showing signs of genius even before then. By 11/2 years old, he was performing addition and subtraction. By 3, he had learned the alphabet. By 4, he was doing algebra and had started elementary school. At 9, he graduated from Penn-Trafford High School in Pittsburgh.

Today, he’ll get an associate in arts degree from SPC. And, in August, he’ll transfer to the University of South Florida where he plans to study to become an astrophysicist.

He’ll be the youngest to receive a degree today from SPC. The oldest is 69 and seven others are older than 60.

With this graduating class, St. Petersburg College will have awarded 171,685 degrees since the college – Florida’s first community college – was founded in 1927.

SPC will award:

• 659 associate in arts degrees
• 153 associate in science degrees
• 51 bachelor of applied science degrees
• 39 bachelor of science degrees
• 168 certifications

Kevin Wesley and Alessandra Korber will address fellow graduates and guests. Wesley will earn a bachelor’s of science in Public Safety Administration. Korber, an associates of science.

The commencement ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, 12685 Ulmerton Road, Largo.

Photo of William Mallis courtesy of the Mallis family.

St Petersburg College | William Mallis | Graduation | Education | Tampabay News

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