The Kids Hall of Fame Inductees
6-Year-Old Extraordinary Achievers
ACTIVIST: CIVIL RIGHTS
Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to integrate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960, after Federal courts ordered the desegregation of public schools. She was escorted to school every day that year by four federal marshals. She became a civil rights icon.
(New Orleans, Louisiana: 1960)
Illustrated by Rob Maystead
Visit Ruby’s website.
ACTOR / ACTRESS
Abigail Breslin was cast for the film Little Miss Sunshine, which didn’t begin filming until she was 8. Abigail would play the role of Olive Hoover who was obsessed with winning the Little Miss Sunshine Beauty Pageant.
(New York City, New York: 2003)
Scarlett Estevez played the role of Abigail in the film And Then There Was You, also known as Someone to Love.
(Los Angeles, California: 2013)
ACTOR / ACTRESS
Maya Le Clark performed the role of Mya in Nickelondeon’s Sizzling Summer Camp Special, TV movie (the sequel to Ho Ho Holiday Special). She also played the role of Kid with Puppy, in Nickelodeon’s Not So Valentine’s Special.
(San Diego, California: 2017)
Keshia Knight Pulliam became the youngest Emmy nominee of all time, when she was nominated for best supporting actress for her work as Rudy Huxtable on “The Cosby Show.”
ACTOR / ACTRESS
Shirley Temple performed in Bright Eyes and won the first Academy Award ever presented to a child. Shirley was the youngest ever to win an Oscar.
(Hollywood, California: 1934)
Illustrated by Carolyn Watson Dubisch
AMBASSADOR
Aidan Lamothe became the National Ambassador for the March of Dimes for 2014.
(Manchester, New Hampshire: 2014)
Tommy Morrissey became an ambassador for the unLIMBited Foundation at the Paley Institute in Jupiter, Florida. He helps raises awareness for kids with limb differences. He advocates for limb saving and limb correction treatments for children. Tommy explained, “I only have one arm, but I’m using it to save theirs.” He hopes that one day, no child will have to lose an arm or legs due to lack of awareness of alternative treatments or financial resources.
(Florida: 2016)
Learn about Tommy as:
– an athlete: golfer: age 3
– an athlete: baseball player: age 10
APP DESIGNER / CREATOR
Yuma Soerianto started learning to code because he said his schoolwork wasn’t challenging enough for him.
(Melbourne, Australia: 2013)
Learn about Yuma as:
– an app designer/creator: age 6
ARTIST: PAINTER
Aelita Andre painted live in front of 20,000 people in the LDS Concert Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Aelita created a painting attaching a real violin to the canvas which she played while it was glued to the painting.
(Melbourne, Australia: 2013)
Visit Aelita’s website.
Learn about Aelita as:
– an artist: age 2, age 4, age 9, age 12
ARTIST: PAINTER
Georgie Pocheptsov held his first art show resulting in sales over $227,000. The media dubbed him “Little Picasso”. Many people signed an 18-month waiting list to purchase his future work.
(Rockville, Maryland: 1998)
Photo: Courtesy of Georgie’s Mother
Learn about Georgie as:
– an artist: age 4, age 9
Diana Rude was the youngest artist ever to have her painting chosen for the Very Special Arts Calendar. (1991)
ARTIST: PAINTER
Wang Yani, by the time she was 6 years old, made over 4,000 paintings since she started painting at age 2 and a half. Many of Yani’s paintings were of monkeys, which were inspired by the pet monkey her artist father gave her on her 4th birthday. Note: In China, a person’s last name is written first.
(Guangxi, China: 1981)
Illustrated by Daniel Pacificador
ATHLETE
Marcus Mann played numerous sports in spite of being wheelchair bound due to muscular dystrophy.
Billiard Player
Willie Mosconi, standing on a box, played an exhibition match against the reigning world billiards champion, in front of a full house of spectators. Although Willie lost, he earned lots of attention.
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 1919)
Learn about Willie as:
– an athlete: age 11
Cyclist
Nicolas Panagakos was the youngest to enter and complete a 25-mile bike tour. Nicholas explained, “Cheer yourself on. Keep saying, I can do it. I can do it.”
(Calverton, New York: 1998)
Figure Skater
Alyssa Licata became a county figure skater champion for her age group.
(Long Beach, New York: 2000)
ATHLETE: GOLFER
Tiger Woods hit his first hole in one. Tiger went on to become one of the most accomplished athletes of all time.
(Cypress, California: 1982)
Visit Tiger’s website.
ATHLETE: GYMNAST
Alexsa performed tumbling on Australia’s Little Big Shots.
ATHLETE: GYMNAST
AUTHOR: INFLUENTIAL LETTER
Alex Myteberi wrote to President Barack Obama, reminding him of Omran, the young Syrian boy photographed in an ambulance after an air strike on Aleppo. Alex wrote, “Can you please go get him and bring him to [my home]. We’ll be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons. We will give him a family and he will be our brother…”
President Obama shared Alex’s letter with world leaders at the Leaders Summit on Refugees, in an attempt to help solve the global refugee crisis. President Obama explained, “The humanity that a young child can display, who hasn’t learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of where they’re from, or how they look, or how they pray, and who just understands the notion of treating somebody that is like him with compassion, with kindness — we can all learn from Alex.”
(New York: 2016)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
Read Alex’s letter.
AUTHOR: INFLUENTIAL LETTER
Vivian Lord
(Little Rock, Arkansas: 2019)
Illustrated by Ray Russotto
AUTHOR: INFLUENTIAL LETTER
Michael Natalie explained to his kindergarten teacher, Janet Casella, at Central Boulevard School, that weekends are too short. So, he drafted a letter to President Clinton suggesting that an eighth day, Funday, be added to the week.
Michael explained, “Important people listen, because kids’ ideas matter.”
(Bethpage, New York: 1998)
Story & Photo: Courtesy of Erin Duignan, Michael’s First Grade Teacher
Learn more…
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED BOOK
Parker Curry is a New York Times bestselling author. Her 48-page book, Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment, was co-authored with her mother, Jessica Curry. It was published by Aladdin, which is an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Parker was inspired to write her book after she saw First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait in Washington, DC’s National Portrait Gallery. Parker’s reaction to the portrait went viral.
(Sherman Oaks, California: 2019)
Mrigendra Raj had his poetry book, Udbhav, published by Ritambhara Press, India.
(Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India: 2013)
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED BOOK
Dorothy Straight had her 62-page book, How the World Began, published by Panthon Books. She is considered the world’s youngest published author. Dorothy wrote her book when she was 4 years old.
(Washington, DC: 1964)
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED BOOK
Dennis Vollmer had his book, Joshua Disobeys, published by Landmark Editions (Oklahoma: 1988). He was listed in the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records (p. 134) as the youngest author/illustrator of a published book.
(Oklahoma: 1987)
CHEF
Nihal Raj became a chef.
(India: 2013)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
CHESS PLAYER
Robert James “Bobby” Fischer learned to play chess and went on to become the youngest international grandmaster at age 15.
(Chicago, Illinois: 1949)
David Peterson became the nation’s best 6-year-old player.
CHESS PLAYER
Samuel Reshevsky (above) played simultaneous chess games against adults.
(Poland: 1917)
Photo: Public Domain
Arthur Wei Became the National Chess Champion for his age group.
(Brooklyn, New York: 1997)
COLLEGE STUDENT
Michael Kearney became a college freshman, beginning his studies for an Associate of Science degree at Santa Rosa Junior College.
(California: 1990)
COMEDIAN
Callaghan McLaughlin set up a free “Drive – By, Walk – By, Joke Stand” at the end of his driveway. Adhering to social distancing, he helps people smile during rough times. Callaghan shares jokes he memorized from Rob Elliott’s book, Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids. Callaghan explained, “Even when you are scared or sad, a good joke makes you feel a little bit better.”
Since Callaghan lives near the beach, his stand gets frequent visitors, many of whom share their jokes with him. The stand is open during routine hours, but when Callaghan needs a day off, he notifies visitors with a sign.
(Saanich, British Columbia, Canada: 2020)
COMPUTER PROGRAMMER / CODER
Arham Om Talsania became a computer programmer.
(Ahmedabad, India: 2020)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
COMPUTER PROGRAMMER / CODER
Kautilya Katariva taught himself to code during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
(Northampton, United Kingdom: 2019)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
COMPUTER PROGRAMMER / CODER
Muhummad Hamza Shahzad became a computer programmer.
(Birmingham, United Kingdom: 2016)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
CONTESTANT: SPELLING BEE
Akash Vukoti became the first ever, first grader to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
(San Angelo, Texas: 2016)
DONOR: HAIR
Libby Ayling had her first haircut ever and donated the 20 inches of it to the Little Princess Trust to be made into wigs for kids who lost their own hair due to illness.
(England: 2013)
Amelia Barratt had 10 inches of her hair cut and donated it to the Little Princess Trust, to have in made into wigs for kids being treated for cancer. She also raised money to help pay the cost of creating a wig.
(Gloucestershire, England: 2021)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Elissa Burton had her hair cut so it could be made into a wig for a kid who lost her hair due to a medical situation. Elissa explained, “My hair will grow back in a year; theirs won’t.”
(South Wales, United Kingdom: 2015)
Hailey Coates began donating her hair, every two years, to Wigs for Kids. Hailey viewed it as one way she could be kind to others every minute of her life. By age 16, she donated over 5 feet of her hair.
(New Providence, New Jersey: 2008)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Evelyn Elizabeth Doyle, who donated her hair for a wig, explained, “I want to give my hair so people who don’t have hair can have hair.”
(Weston, Wisconsin: 2015)
Kyra Lauren Fernandes donated 22 inches of her hair, on the same day her 9-year-old sister, Adeline Nia, donated 19 inches of her hair to make wigs for cancer patients. Their mom, Sushma, explained, “We learn many things from our first giving experience. We learn that we are never too young or too small to find ways to give.”
(India: 2022)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Simon Hall, after growing his hair for three years, had it cut on Valentine’s Day and donated it to be made into a wig for a kid who lost his/her hair due to cancer.
(Vero Lakes Estates, Florida: 2020)
Silas and Emerson Kannisto, identical twins, donated their hair to be made into wigs for kids who suffer hair loss.
(Buffalo, New York: 2017)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Denae Kettle (a big fan of Rapunzel) told her mother that she wanted to give her long hair to a girl who had no hair. Denae and her mother then had their hair cut and donated it to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Wig Program.
(Prince George, Canada: 2013)
Skyler Latendre-Cailes spent a year and a half growing his hair so he could donated it to The Canadian Cancer Society, which he did, plus the $700 donation he raised.
(Ontario, Canada: 2017)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Erica Littleton had her hair cut at Great Clips in Ooltewah, Tennessee (at no charge) and donated it to Wigs for Kids. Erica wanted her hair to go toward making a wig for her best friend who was 6 years old and diagnosed with leukemia. Unfortunately, donors don’t get to select the person who receives the wig created from their hair. (Harrison, Tennessee: 2012)
Isabelle McCoy, along with her 10-year-old friend, Madeline Thompson, donated their hair to be made into a wig. They did so in support of their friend who suffers from a disease that causes hair loss.
(Ocala, Florida: 2010)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Scarlett McSherry, along with her 4-year-old sister Kenna, had their hair cut and donated it so it would be made into a wig for kids who lose their hair due to cancer treatments. Scarlett said, “It was awesome being able to help other people.”
(Florida: 2020)
Rachel Modisette donated four 14-inch pony tails of her hair to be made into wigs for kids who lose their hair due to illness and/or medical reasons.
(Lufkin, Texas: 2014)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Caleigh Pesina had her long hair cut and donated it for “little girls to make them feel pretty again.”
(Los Lunas, New Mexico: 2020)
Delaney Pickrel donated her cut hair because she “wanted to help kids who didn’t have hair.”
(Illinois: 2021)
Alex Schumann, on her sixth birthday, had her first haircut ever. She donated the almost 12 inches of hair to make wigs for children who lost their hair due to cancer treatments.
(Clearwater, Florida)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Izabella Smith had her hair cut and donated it to Little Princesses, an organization that makes wigs for kids suffering from cancer.
(England: 2015)
Charlie Tillotson donated 2 feet of her hair to help make a wig for a child suffering from cancer.
(Great Britain: 2014)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
ENTREPRENEUR
Warren Buffet earned profits by selling Coca-Cola to his friends. He went on to become a Wall Street investor and one of the riches people in the world.
Illustrated by Jake Reher
ENTREPRENEUR
FUNDRAISER
Ryan Fordiani, six months after being diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes, raised over $900 for Walk For A Cure. It won him the “Do the Right Thing” Student of the Month Award. He explained, “We need to find a cure for juvenile diabetes. I don’t want Mommy and Daddy worried all the time.”
(Fort Myers, Florida: 2000)
Photo: Courtesy of The Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Myers, Florida
FUNDRAISER
Ryan Hreljac began raising money to dig wells that would provide clean water for people in Uganda, Africa. His inspiration came from his grade one teacher, Mrs. Prest, who told the class that many people in Africa were sick and some were dying because they didn’t have clean water or access to wells.
(Canada: 1998)
Illustrated by Elgin Bolling
GAMER: PROFESSIONAL
Victor De Leon III, known as “Lil Poison,” became the youngest signed professional video gamer.
(Holbrook, New York: 2004)
Visit Lil Poison’s website.
INVENTOR
Jacob Dunnack invented the BatBall, a plastic baseball bat with a removable cap so balls can be stored inside. It sold in Toys “R” Us stores across the United States.
(Connecticut: 1999)
Illustrated by Elgin Bolling
INVENTOR
Suzanna Goodin invented the “Edible Pet Food Server,” a spoon-shaped cracker that can be broken up and put into the pet’s food after the spoon is used to serve it. Suzanna’s inspiration came from her being tired of cleaning a messy spoon after feeding the kittens. Suzanna adds one of three flavors to the spoon: charcoal to sweeten a pet’s breath, garlic to control intestinal parasites, or brewers’ yeast for flea control. Her invention won a grand prize for the best idea submitted by children in the kindergarten through fourth grade division of the Weekly Reader National Invention Contest, of which more than 200,000 children participated, reported the Weekly Reader school publication.
(Hydro, Oklahoma: 1987)
Illustrated by Jiani Ma
INVENTOR
Nicole Klein invented the Refrigerator Carousel, which brought him winner status at the Invent America! Contest.
INVENTOR
Spencer Rocco Whale, after visiting a hospital, invented a rideable toy car with an attached IV pole so hospitalized children could play safely and easily while receiving their medicine. Spencer’s KidKare Cars and Trucks are used in several children’s hospitals in the US. Spencer explained, “Kids hospitalized with serious health conditions still like to play.”
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: 1998)
Illustrated by Alexandra Holliday
LIFESAVER / RESCUER
Tammy Crites saved her 11-year-old sister during a plane crash.
(1980)
Fatuma Dhidha saved his mother from the jaws of a crocodile.
(1980)
Jaime Hult saved her family from their burning home.
LIFESAVER / RESCUER
Malak Touak saved her mother’s life, by using a set of skills she had learned three days before at school. Zahia Halfaoui, Malak’s mother, who wasn’t feeling well after spending the day cleaning, passed out onto the floor. Malaka then went into action. She placed a pillow under her mother’s head, put her into the recovery position, and dialed 999 (the equivalent of 911 in the United States). An ambulance arrived, took her mother to the hospital, where she recovered.
(Pinner, London, UK: 2018)
MAGICIAN
Ehrich Weiss (Harry Houdini) performed his first magic trick.
(Appleton, Wisconsin: 1880)
MEMORY WHIZ: ANIMALS
Adam Nibin recited the name of 221 wild animals, by looking at their pictures, in 3 minutes, 31 seconds, and 42 milliseconds.
(Kottayam, Kerala, India: 2021)
MEMORY WHIZ: CAPITALS
V. Thirumurugan recited the capital of each state in India, in 13 seconds and 4 milliseconds.
(Salem, Tamil Nadu, India: 2021)
MEMORY WHIZ: FLAGS
Aarav Gopinath identified flags of all UN recognized 195 countries, in 1 minute and 33 seconds.
(Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: 2020)
MEMORY WHIZ: FLAGS
Ansh Shah identified flags of all 195 UN recognized countries, in 1 minute and 10 seconds.
(Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India: 2022)
MEMORY WHIZ: FLOWERS
Niranjan K. A. recited the names of 125 flowers in one minute.
(Thrissur, Kerala, India: 2021)
MEMORY WHIZ: GEOGRAPHY
Madden Landicho recited the name of every country in the world, in alphabetical order, in approximately 4 minutes, starting with Afghanistan and ending with Zimbabwe. He practices reciting them every day. Madden can also identify each country’s flag. He started learning the names of the countries at 3 years old, by repeatedly watching and mainly listening to YouTube videos on his phone.
For Madden’s 6th birthday, his godmother gave him an atlas. It helped him locate countries on the map and match each country with its flag.
(Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: 2018)
MEMORY WHIZ: GEOGRAPHY
Revuru Venkata Shreyansh identified and named the flags and capitals of 200 countries of the world (195 UN recognized and 5 others), 50 states of the United States of America, and 28 states and 9 union territories of India. He also identified 12 largest countries by area, 7 continents with the country names in each continent and 5 Oceans.
(Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India: 2020)
MEMORY WHIZ: SPELLING
Anaisha Shalaka Anish Kering recited and spelled 10 longest English words, including hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia and honorificabilitudinitatibus.
(Pune, Maharashtra, India: 2021)
Sparse Shah spelled the 45-letter-word “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.” It is the name of the lung disease caused by the inhalation of very fine silicate or quartz dust, causing inflammation in the lungs.
MEMORY WHIZ: SURGICAL ITEMS
Hrithikesh S. Nair identified 52 surgical items, including grasping, holding, retractors, cutting and other instruments.
(Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India: 2022)
MUSICIAN: COMPOSER
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(Salzburg, Austria: 1762)
MUSICIAN: INSTRUMENTALIST
Miles Bonham played many instruments.
Illustrated by Jake Reher
MUSICIAN: KEYBOARD
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave keyboard concerts throughout Europe.
(Salzburg, Austria: 1762)
MUSICIAN: PIANIST
Arjun Ayyangar played Happy Song (his original composition) on PAX TV’s America’s Most Talented Kid. He played Haydn’s Concerto in D major, 3rd movement, in Animal Planet’s The Most Extreme: Tough Babies episode. This was an episode featuring the extreme abilities of animals and comparing those with extreme abilities in humans. Arjun’s music, math, and memory was compared to the octopus’ ability to learn quickly.
Arjun also gave a solo piano performance during halftime basketball games at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Arjun played Six Variations on a Simple Theme, Kuhlau.
(Pennsylvania: 2004)
Photo: Courtesy of The Ayyangar Family
View Arjun’s performance.
Learn about Arjun as:
– an ambassador: age 11
– a college freshman: age 15
– an intern: age 18
– a memory whiz: age 1, age 2
– a musician: age 3, age 4, age 6, age 8, age 9, age 10, age 11, age 13
MUSICIAN: SINGER
Marian Anderson joined Philadelphia’s Union Baptist Church junior choir and learned all the vocal parts of the hymns. Years later she became one of the first female African-Americans to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1955
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 1903)
Hailie Jade Mathers recorded her R&B hit, “My Dad’s Gone Crazy’. She performed on the vocal track with her father, famous rapper Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers, III).
(Unite States: 2002)
Osamu Minagawa sang and recorded Kuro Neko No Tango which sold a million copies.
MUSICIAN: TABLA PLAYER
Truptraj Atul Pandya, by age 6, played the tabla at over 50 public performances at various functions throughout India. He was awarded a certificate from Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest ever tabla master.
(Mumbai, India: 2011)
Photo: Courtesy of Atul Pandya
Visit Truptraj’s Website.
Visit Truptraj’s YouTubeChannel.
PATENTEE
Robert W. Patch patented a “Toy Truck” that he created from Keds shoe boxes, when he was 5 years old. The truck can be disassembled, and other trucks made from it. With help from his father, a practicing patent attorney, Robert became the youngest inventor to obtain a United States patent.
Although Robert never made any money from his invention, he did receive newspaper coverage. He also received a pair of sneakers from Keds, as a “Thank you” for the publicity.
(Chevy Chase, Maryland: 1963)
Illustrated by Ray Russotto
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hawkeye Huey published his first photo book, Cowboys, Indians, Hobos, Gamblers, Patriots, Tourists & Sunsets: A Portrait of the American West.
(Seattle, Washington: 2016)
POLYGLOT
A polyglot is a person who speaks, writes, reads, or understands more than one language.
Bella Devyatkina spoke 8 different languages.
(Moscow, Russia: 2019)
SOCIAL MEDIA STAR / INTERNET CELEBRITY
Emma Kaji is heavily involved in her family’s YouTube channel called Ryan’s Family Review. It is named after her older brother Ryan Kaji. It has 8 million subscribers and has had more than 11.7 billion views.
(Cypress, Texas: 2022)
Anastasia Radzinskaya became a YouTube star.
SPEAKER
Elizabeth Mulé gave presentations about tarantula spiders to high school students.
Elizabeth explained, “Most of the time, when people have arachnophobia, it is because they don’t really understand spiders. Spiders are not really scary. Most spiders are not harmful to people.”
(Louisiana: 1999)
Illustrated by Elgin Bolling
SPEAKER: SHARK TANK
Kiowa Kavovit spoke on Shark Tank, ABC’s television series (Season 3, Episode 20). She obtained $100,000 in funding to help create her invention, Boo Boo Goo, a paint-on, waterproof bandage, that looks like normal skin. At that time, Kiowa was the youngest inventor to ever appear on Shark Tank. Kiowa had invented Boo Boo Goo at age 4.
(Los Angles, California: 2014)
Illustrated by Jiani Ma
Learn about Kiowa as:
– an inventor: age 4
SPEAKER: TED TALK
Simon Link gave his presentation, “Kids Need Recess”, at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences.
(Georgia: 2014)
Illustrated by Alexandra Holliday
TELEVISION SHOW HOST
Luis Tanner hosted his own TV show, Cooking for Kids with Luis (Nickelodeon). The show was initially recorded when Luis was 5 years old.
(Australia: 2004)
Illustrated by Jiani Ma
VISIONARY
Sydney Mesher, after watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, envisioned herself becoming a Radio City Rockette. Sydney was determined not to let the fact that she was born without a left hand deter her from joining one of the world’s most famous dance troupes.
At age 22, Sydney broke the troupe’s 94-year history and became the first visibly, physically disabled dancers.
(New York: 2019)
Visit Sydney’s website.
NOTABLE
Pepi II became king of ancient Egypt. He lived for 100 years and ruled for 94 of them, making him the longest reigning pharaoh of ancient Egypt. He inherited the throne after the death of his half-brother. Pepi II was the last pharaoh of the Old Kingdom to build the “classic” style pyramid complex.
(Egypt: 2278 – 2184 BC)