Fourteen-year-old excels in tough, university courses
The only thing to indicate David Lubling-Kolbow’s age is his birth certificate. Few would guess that the University of Nevada, Reno student, at a looming 6-feet 2-inches and with a spot in Chemistry 341, is only 14 years old.
The honors student is currently taking 19 credits at UNR, including Calculus 181 and third-year Latin.
“It’s not that hard for me,” said Lubling-Kolbow, an undecided major who is leaning towards physics or chemistry.
While technically classified as home-schooled, he is earning both college and high school credits simultaneously. He said he will graduate from high school by 2010 and from college by 2011.
Lubling-Kolbow said he will have 60 college credits from UNR by winter 2009.
Despite his extraordinary situation, he said he has adjusted to college life and made friends at UNR.
“My age doesn’t matter to most people,” he said.
Lubling-Kolbow said his teachers generally don’t treat him differently from older students because of his age.
“Most professors are nicer to me, but it’s because I express an interest,” he said.
Lubling-Kolbow has always outshined his peers with his intellect, said his mother, Eve Lubling.
She said it took her son only a few weeks to learn the entire alphabet when he was 2 years old.
Born in Tucson, Ariz., Lubling-Kolbow later moved to California, where he spent much of his childhood.
At 12 years old, he came to Reno to attend the Davidson Academy, and he started taking courses at UNR this semester, in hope of finding greater challenges.
“I always asked a lot of questions and strived to get good grades,” Lubling-Kolbow said.
Dr. Tamara Valentine, director of the Honors Program, said she welcomed the “rising academic star.”
“Students with outstanding minds and talents like David help to foster an intellectual community,” she said.
Once he graduates from high school, he said he wants to transfer to the University of California, San Diego or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he plans to complete his bachelor’s degree. He is also considering the California Institute of Technology and Stanford University.
Lubling said he possesses the brains and work ethic to attend these prestigious colleges — last semester he took Robotics 470/670, alongside university seniors and graduate students.
Fascinated by the mysteries of black holes, subatomic particles and string theory, Lubling-Kolbow envisions a future of heavy graduate research.He said he is also interested in discovering ways for humans to inhabit other planets.
“He was given a gift and he will pass it on to humanity,” Lubling said.
Although his intelligence can make his peers “a bit jealous,” Lubling-Kolbow said he tries to keep his composure.
“I don’t let myself get cocky,” he said.
Aside from being a math and science-whiz, he said he enjoys playing video games, fencing and drama.
He said he is also aiming to become an Eagle Scout, because it “looks good on a transcript.”
Ethan Malone can be reached at editor@nevadasagebrush.com.
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