Jack Gregory, PowerPoint expert, joins select computer whiz kids group
Jack Gregory, 12, of the U.K. would be a helpful guy to have around. He just obtained his Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint 2010 certification, according to F-Keys, a Microsoft certified training program. With this, Jack should be able to create a well thought out, logical, slide-by-slide presentation on why he should be able to stay up late. Not content to rest on his laurels, though, Jack’s next goal is to become a Microsoft Office Specialist Master.
But Jack, pictured above with F-Keys’ director Alex Waterton, is practically a geezer compared to Marko Casalan, of Macedonia, who obtained his Microsoft certification this summer at the age of nine, making him the world’s youngest certified programmer. Marko showed early signs of brilliance by being able to read and write at the age of two. It is also no coincidence that his parents run a private school specializing in computer studies, recognized his talents and were able to nurture him.
And Jack Gregory is not the first computer prodigy to be featured in Network World. In 2008, Ellen Messmer profiled Jon Penn, 11, who became the IT staff at his school, Victory Baptist School in Sherwood, Ark. He stepped into the role after the professional, and adult, IT administrator suddenly departed just before the school year started.
“This is kind of a small school, and I’m known as the computer whiz,” the sixth grader told Messmer, and then went on to explain how he installed a McAfee Secure Internet Gateway Appliance to protect the school’s computer network.
Lastly, there’s the story of Ainan Celeste Cawley, age 9, of Singapore, who mastered computer programming at the age of 8. As his father Valentine wrote in a blog post, he asked his son, “Who taught you to do that? Do they teach that at school?”
“No, Daddy,” Ainan, explained with a slight tone of exasperation, “You can teach yourself that.”
Kudos to the computer prodigies of the world and to the parents and teachers who recognize and can nurture them. Now, how can I get rid of this annoying pop-up window on my screen?
