The Kids Hall of Fame Inductees
7-Year-Old Extraordinary Achievers
ACTIVIST: ANIMAL ADOPTION
Roman McConn, who believes that dogs deserve more than a life in a kennel or shelter, helped rescue over 1,300 dogs from shelters and helped get them into loving families. Roman also expanded his efforts to Georgia after moving there. For his amazing work, Roman was named ASPCA’s 2018 Kid of The Year.
(Augusta, Georgia: 2018)
Photo: Courtesy of The McConn Family and Project Freedom Ride
Visit Roman’s website.
Learn about Roman as:
– an activist: age 4, age 5, age 12
– a founder: age 5
– a speaker: age 7 (see below)
– a TV host: age 8, age 10
ACTIVIST: CHILDREN'S HEALTH
Ryan Fordiani became a Children’s Diabetes Congress Delegate.
(Fort Myers, Florida: 2000)
Learn about Ryan as:
– a fundraiser: age 6
ACTIVIST: CLIMATE
Russell Essary, trying to prevent the ozone layer from disappearing, campaigned to help persuade lawmakers to phase out CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).
(Forest Hills, New York: 1989)
ACTOR / ACTRESS
Jackie Coogan became a millionaire after appearing in the title role of Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid.
(Los Angeles, California: 1929)
Georges Du Fresne acted in the film Ma Vieen Rose (My Life in Pink).
(Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France: 1997)
Dakota Fanning played the role of Lucy Dawson in the drama film I Am Sam, for which, in the following year she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, making her the youngest nominee in SAG history.
(Conyers, Georgia: 2001)
Learn about Dakota as:
– an actress: age 5, age 10, age 11, age 12, age 14, age 15
ACTOR / ACTRESS
Justin Henry began his acting career playing the role of Billy Kramer in the film Kramer vs. Kramer. Justin’s performance earned him a nomination for an Academy Award (Oscar) and a Golden Globe Award, in the Best Supporting Actor category.
(Rye, New York: 1979)
ACTOR / ACTRESS
Ella Rogers and Zachry Rogers, twins, played the girl and boy Spider-Man saved from getting hit by a truck, in the movie Spider-Man 2
(2003)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
AMBASSADOR: MARCH OF DIMES
Nina Centofani became the National Youth Ambassador for March of Dimes for 2013. She traveled throughout the United States, with her family, sharing her inspiring story and helping to raise awareness of premature birth.
(Mason, Ohio: 2013)
AMBASSADOR: MARCH OF DIMES
Lauren Fleming became the National Ambassador for March of Dimes for 2011.
She traveled throughout the United States, with her family.(Marvin, North Carolina: 2011)
AMBASSADOR: MARCH OF DIMES
Joshua Hoffman became the National Youth Ambassador for March of Dimes for 2010.
Joshua explained, “The March of Dimes saved my life, and now I want to fight for preemies and reach for the stars.”
(Weston, Florida: 2010)
APP DESIGNER / DEVELOPER
Anvitha Vijay started coding by watching YouTube instructional videos. She was inspired to make an app to teach her sister, a toddler, how to identify the names of animals.
(Melbourne, Australia: 2014)
Learn about Anvitha as:
– an app designer/developer: age 9
ARTIST: PAINTER
Akiane Kramarik
Visit Akiane’s website.
La Shonda Parker painted Cheetah which was selected for the Very Special Arts Calendar.
(1991)
ARTIST: PAINTER
Kieron Williamson had 33 of his original impressionist style paintings (which included landscapes, worldwide cityscapes and other watercolors) exhibited at the Picturecraft Art Gallery. Local inhabitants, as well as people from South Africa and the United States attended. Many camped outside for two days, waiting for the 9 o’clock sale. Within 27 minutes, all of Kieron’s 33 latest paintings were sold, earning him $236,850. Gallery owner Adrian Hill, who has known the Williamson family for nearly a decade, said that Kieron has always been fascinated by art. “As a small child, he would walk around the gallery and closely examine all of the works each time he visited…Kieron’s paintings are impressionist without being abstract and realistic without being photographic.” After the exhibit, there was a wait list of 700 people who wanted to purchase Kieron’s original works.
Visit Kieron’s website.
(Norfolk, United Kingdom: 2010)
ATHLETE: ARCHER
Guy Gerig was the youngest competitor in the history of the Empire State Games.
(New York: 1964)
ATHLETE: MOUNTAIN CLIMBER
ATHLETE: RACER: WHEELCHAIR
Maddie Wilson became the youngest girl to ever compete in the wheelchair division of the Falmouth Road Race. Maddie, born with spina bifida explains that she uses a wheelchair, “because my legs don’t work.”
(Spencer, Massachusetts: 2016)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
ATHLETE: SPRINTER
Rudolph “Blaze” Ingram was dubbed “the fastest kid in the world”. He completed the 100-meter race in 13.48 seconds and set an all-time record in his age group in the United States. “Blaze” began training to be a track runner when he was 4 years old.
(Tampa, Florida: 2019)
Illustrated by Alexandra Holliday
AUTHOR: INFLUENTIAL LETTER
Sammy Blum persuaded Marvel Comics to omit cigarette and cigar smoking from future Superhero trading cards.
(Houston, Texas: 1993)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
Anthony Ferreira wrote to United States President Ford regarding a pardon for Richard Nixon.
(Fair Lawn, New Jersey: 1974)
AUTHOR: INFLUENTIAL LETTER
Vivian Lord
Illustrated by Ray Russotto
Learn about Vivian as:
– an author: age 6
AUTHOR: INFLUENTIAL LETTER
Timothy Madders wrote to Queen Elizabeth II, “You might be feeling sad or lonely during lockdown…” He included his hand-written Happiness Wordsearch by Timothy, that he created especially to cheer her up.
Timothy received a letter of thanks and appreciation for his kindness, from Philippa de Pass, one of the monarch’s ladies in waiting.
(Essex, England: 2020)
Illustrated by Alexandra Holliday
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED ARTICLE
Elizabeth Mulé had two articles on tarantula spiders published in The American Tarantula Society Journal.
(New Orleans, Louisiana: 2001)
Illustrated by Elgin Bolling
Learn about Elizabeth as:
– a speaker: age 6
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED BOOK
Benjamin Kendall wrote & illustrated Alien Invasions.
(Pennsylvania: 1992)
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED BOOK
Justin Miller published his first cookbook, Cooking with Justin. It contains recipes that kids can make with adult supervision. Each has its own chef’s hat rating, indicating levels of difficulty. Justin spiced up his cookbook by sprinkling the margins with “Knock! Knock!” jokes. Justin was dubbed the world’s youngest chef.
(Pennsylvania: 1997)
Illustrated by Elgin Bolling
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED BOOK
Lauren Peters wrote and illustrated Problems at The North Pole.
(Kansas City, Missouri: 1989)
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED BOOK
Adora Svitak, with her mother, Joyce Svitak, had her first book published, Flying Fingers: Master the Tools of Learning Through the Joy of Writing. This 290 page book was published by Action Publishing.
(Redmond, Washington: 2005)
Visit Adora’s website.
Learn about Adora as:
– a speaker: age 12
AUTHOR: PUBLISHED BOOK
Nicholas Woo wrote More & More Potato Chips.
(1989)
COLLEGE FRESHMAN
Michael Tan was accepted as a freshman to Cambridge University, New Zealand and began studying for his bachelor’s degree in mathematics.
COMPOSER
Alma Deutschner completed her short opera, “The Sweeper of Dreams”.
(Basingstoke, England: 2012)
Visit Alma’s website.
Learn about Alma as:
– a composer: age 9, age 10, age 14
DANCER
Rickie Taylor and Erik Linder performed on the Oprah show. They competed together as ballroom dancing partners from age 4 through 16.
(2008)
Illustrated by Sofia Gomez
DANCER
DESIGNER: DRESS
Max Alexander designed dresses.
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DIRECTOR: FILM
Saugat Bista became a director of Love You Baba, a professionally made feature length film released in cinemas. Saugat also became a member of the Film Directors Guild of Nepal.
(Kathmandu, Nepal: 2014)
Illustrated by Sofia Gomez
DISCOVERER
Nicole Oliveira discovered seven asteroids. She participated in the International Astronomical Search Collaboration and NASA Citizen Science Program Asteroid Hunt.
(Fortaleza, Brazil: 2021)
Learn about Nicole as:
– a discoverer: age 8
DISCOVERER
Diego Suarez discovered a fossil of the dinosaur Chilesaurus during a research trip with his geologist parents.
(Cerro Negro, Chile: 2004)
DOCUMENTARIES: SUBJECT
BBC & NETFLIX Film
Akash Vukoti was the subject of the BBC documentary The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed and the Netflix documentary film Spelling the Dream. BBC’s The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed was an exploration into how the body works, and Akash was featured to demonstrate how the brain processes information, such as spelling words. Netflix’s Spelling the Dream explores Indian Americans’ decades-long success at the National Spelling Bee, the largest academic competition in the world. Both the BBC and Netflix documentaries showcased Akash preparing for the 2017 Regional Spelling Bee.
(San Angelo, Texas: 2017, 2020)
Story: Courtesy of Akash and His Family
Visit Akash’s website.
DONOR: HAIR
Bethany Champ donated her cut hair to Little Princess Trust, to create a wig for a kid who lost his/her hair.
(England: 2019)
Vinny Desautels let his hair grow for two years, had it cut, then donated it to be made into wigs for cancer patients. A few weeks afterwards, he was diagnosed with cancer.
(California: 2016)
Lacey Garred who donated her hair to make wigs for kids who lost their hair due to medical problems, explained, “I sort of want it short so I can grow it again and grow another wig.”
(East Lismore, Australia: 2017)
Eddie Haley donated 17 inches of his hair to Little Princess Trust.
(Great Britain: 2022)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
DONOR: HAIR
Bruce Hernandez, after nearly three years, had grown his hair to the recommended 14 inches long, had it cut, and donated it to Wigs For Kids, a non-profit organization that makes wigs for kids who lose their hair due to medical conditions. Bruce explained, “It makes me so happy that I can help other kids. By cutting my hair and donating it, kids get wigs that make them feel like kids again.” When Bruce and his parents learned that it cost about $1,800 to make one wig, they started a fundraiser.
Learn more about Bruce as a hair donor.
(California: 2022)
Izze Lindsey, along with her 5-year-old sister Leni, donated their cut hair, which took them two and a half years to grow, to make wigs for kids who lost their hair. Izze explained, “It’s nice to help people.”
(Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida: 2016)
Ivy Sue Moore donated 20 inches of her cut hair to the Little Princess Trust. Ivy Sue explained, “…then I can give my hair away to someone that needs it.”
(Great Britain: 2022)
Grace Zulke, after two years of not cutting her hair, had it cut and sent to Wigs for Kids BC.
(British Columbia, Canada: 2011)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
ENVIRONMENTALIST
Ryan Hickman’s achievement story as the founder of Ryan’s Recycling went viral around the world, after nearly 4 years of providing a can/bottle collection service for his neighborhood in an effort to keep those items out of the landfill. Ryan had recycled a total of 200,000 cans and bottles at that point. Ryan was featured on many news channels and talk shows including The Ellen Show, ABC World News and more.
(San Juan Capistrano, California: 2016)
Photo: Courtesy of Ryan’s Recycling
Visit Ryan’s website.
Learn about Ryan as:
– an ambassador: age 10
– an environmentalist: age 8, age 9, age 10, age 11, age 12, age 13, age 14
– a founder: age 3, age 12, age 13
– a speaker: age 9, age 10, age 13, age 14
ENVIRONMENTALIST
ENVIRONMENTALIST
FOUNDER
Dana Perella founded Cookies4Cures, a non-profit organization, run by kids for kids, that raises money to fund research into rare pediatric diseases. Dana explained, “When a kid has a rare disease, sometimes there isn’t any medicine or treatment. When there isn’t a cure, the only thing to do is to help scientists do research to find one. We fund research because, for kids with rare diseases…RESEARCH IS HOPE!”
(Boulder, Colorado: 2017)
Photo & Story: Courtesy of Cookies4Cures
Visit Dana’s website.
Learn about Dana as:
– a fundraiser: age 7 (see right column), age 8, age 10, age 13
FOUNDER
Caleb Stewart founded and became the CEO of Master Caleb’s Discovery Library. It’s a non-profit, pop-up library that delivers free books and reading materials to kids of all ages. The library is located in a towable trailer and can “pop up anywhere”. Caleb explained, “Our goal is to get more books into the hands of kids unlocking every child’s reading potential to comprehend and retain any text placed in front of them. We will encourage them to have confidence and know that it’s okay to ask for help when reading unfamiliar words.”
(Tallahassee, Florida: 2022)
Illustrated by Emilia Guerrero Hayllar
Learn about Caleb as:
– a speaker: age 3, age 4, age 5, age 7 (see below), age 8
FUNDRAISER
Dana Perella launched Cookies4Mila, her very first Cookies4Cures fundraiser, to help save the life of her friend, Mila, who had a rare disease called Batten. By the end of the year, they raised $56,000 that helped fund the first ever treatment for Mila’s form of Batten, called Milasen. Dana explained, “I started baking on my 7th birthday to raise money for my friend, Mila…My first goal was $1,000. Every weekend, I sold cookies around my neighborhood out of my red wagon. I taped a sign to it that said, “Cookies4Mila.” It took three months but I did it!” Dana’s little brother, Carson, was delighted to help.
(Boulder, Colorado: 2017)
Photo & Story: Courtesy of Cookies4Cures
Visit Dana’s website.
Learn about Dana as:
– a fundraiser: age 7 (see left column), age 8, age 10, age 13
GAMER
Victor De Leon III, known as “Lil Poison,” signed an exclusive deal with the organizers of Major League Gaming and became the youngest signed professional video gamer.
(Holbrook, New York: 2005)
Visit Lil Poison’s website.
Learn about Victor as:
– a gamer: age 6
Sumire Nakamura started competing in national Go tournaments. Go is an ancient Chinese strategy board game for two players who place white and black stones on a 19 by 19 grid. The aim is to surround more territory on the board than the opponent.
(Japan: 2015)
Learn about Sumire as:
– a gamer: age 3, age 10, age 13
INVENTOR
Gavin Batarse invented Glove Wrap, a precisely measured elastic band that breaks in, shapes, and forms a perfect pocket in a new baseball, softball, and hockey goalie glove.
(Tustin, California: 2022)
Photo: Courtesy of Glove Wrap & The Batarse Family
Visit Gavin’s website.
Learn about Gavin as:
– a speaker: age 8
LIFESAVER / RESCUER
Chloe Bradburn saved her dad’s life when she called 999, which is 911 in the UK. She explained, “I heard a thud and then I went downstairs and I saw Daddy crying on the floor and then I dialed 999 because I saw he was hurt. I felt scared. They told me to pump his heart seven times and make sure he was breathing. I waited with Daddy until the ambulance came and then I let the ambulance people in.”
After he recovered, Ashley, Chloe’s dad, explained, “She saved my life.”
(Loughborough, United Kingdom: 2018)
MAGICIAN
Sonu Jadugar performed as a magician.
(India: 2012)
MAGICIAN
Sparsh Rupesh Koyelot performed as an optical illusionist.
(Vikhroli East, Mumbai, India: 2019)
MAGICIAN
Swarang Pritam Randive became India’s youngest magician. He presented 150 shows.
(India: 2018)
Learn about Swarang as:
– a magician: age 3
MEMORY WHIZ: ANIMALS: DINOSAURS
Mikhail Vincent Paul identified the names of 202 species of dinosaurs, by looking at their pictures on a screen, in less than three minutes.
(Kerala, India: 2024)
Advay Sumith identified a hundred dinosaurs, by viewing their pictures, in a little over one minute.
(Kerala, India; 2021)
MEMORY WHIZ: HUMAN SKELETON
Shreyaan Bivin identified and recalled the name of all 206 bones of the human, in less than two and a half minutes.
(Kerala, India: 2021)
MEMORY WHIZ: PERIODIC TABLE
Avika Srivastav, in 44 seconds and 62 milliseconds, recited the complete elements of the periodic table.
(Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, India: 2020)
R. Vivaan, in 2 minutes, 28 seconds and 78 milliseconds, recited all 118 elements (symbols and atomic numbers) of the periodic table.
(Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: 2022)
MEMORY WHIZ: STAR CONSTELLATIONS
Gayatri Reneesh identified all 88 IAU (International Astronomical Union) star constellations, by seeing their pictures on a screen, in less than one minute
(Kerala, India: 2022)
Illustrated by Sofia Gomez
MEMORY WHIZ: STAR CONSTELLATIONS
MEMORY WHIZ: STAR CONSTELLATIONS
MUSICIAN: CELLIST
Yo-Yo Ma played the cello at the Kennedy Benefit Concert in Washington, D.C. as part of the nationally televised The American Pageant of the Arts. Yo-Yo’s 11-year-old sister, Yeou-Cheng Ma, accompanied him at the piano. They were the youngest performers on the program and received excellent reviews. President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, attended the performance. Yo-Yo grew to be one of the best, if not the best, cellist in the world.
(New York City, New York: 1962)
Illustrated by Elgin Bolling
Visit Yo-Yo’s website.
MUSICIAN: CELLIST
Alec Urbach made his Carnegie Recital Hall debut, performing two solo works by Saint Saens: The Allegro Appasionato and The Swan. The recital was a benefit for Beth Israel Medical Center’s Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (The I.N.N.). The concert was produced by Children Helping Children, a musical charity organization that fund raises for the pediatric departments of New York area hospitals, of which Alec is a founding member.
Learn more…
(Long Island, New York: 2003)
Photo: Courtesy of The Urbach Family
MUSICIAN: TRUMPETER
Judy Dove Alleva, after having played the trumpet for only one year, performed the United States national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”, at various institutions during her Maryland State Tour. Among them were: Johns Hopkins University before the Women’s Lacrosse game; at a Tuscarora High School basketball game; at a Stevenson University basketball game; and for Towson University.
(2016)
Illustrated by Jake Reher
Enjoy Judy’s performance.
MUSICIAN: VIOLINIST
Leah Flynn’s recorded violin performance of “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen, amassed more than 2.8 million views on YouTube.
(Orlando, Florida: 2014)
Visit Leah’s website.
Learn about Leah as:
– a visionary: age 15
Yehudi Menuhin soloed with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
(San Francisco, California: 1923)
Visit Yehudi’s website.
MUSICIAN: VIOLINIST
Aaron Yi Huang was the youngest violinist in the Little Neck Youth Symphony and performed solos and other leading parts. The Symphony was invited to perform at the White House, the United Nations, Lincoln Center, and for Pope John II and the King of Spain.
Learn more…
(Little Neck, New York: 2001)
Photo & Story: Courtesy of Jacques X. Huang
PATENTEE
Julian Pavone obtained a patent for Julian’s Drum Gloves, which he invented at age 5.
(Detroit, Michigan: 2007)
Photo: Courtesy of The Pavone Family
Visit Julian’s website.
Learn about Julian as:
– an ambassador: age 5
– an inventor: age 3, age 5
– a musician: prior to age 1, age 1, age 2, age 4, age 8
– a patentee: age 5
POLYGLOT
A polyglot is a person who speaks, writes, reads, or understands more than one language.
Ronnie Yung spoke 5 languages: English, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Chinese.
(Toronto, Canada: 2021)
SPEAKER: ANIMAL ADOPTION
Roman McConn spoke at an ASPCA program, with an audience of over 400 people, and encouraged them to adopt animals and provide them with a happy home.
(Augusta, Georgia: 2018)
Photo: Courtesy of The McConn Family and Project Freedom Ride
Visit Roman’s website.
Learn about Roman as:
– an activist: age 4, age 5, age 7 (see above), age 12
– a founder: age 5
– a TV host: age 8, age 9
SPEAKER: TED TALK
Molly Wright gave her presentation, How Every Child Can Thrive By Five. She was one of the youngest people ever to give a TED Talk.
(Queensland, Australia: 2021)
Illustrated by Alexandra Holliday
VISIONARY
Alina Morse, after visiting her dentist, envisioned a lollipop made without sugar, so it wouldn’t be bad for her teeth.
(Wolverine Lake, Michigan: 2011)
Illustrated by Alexandra Holliday
Visit Alina’s website.
Learn about Alina as:
– a founder: age 9
– a millionaire: age 13
WEBSITE DESIGNER / CREATOR
Avi Schiffmann began teaching himself to code from online tutorials such as YouTube videos. By age 17 (in 2020), Avi created one of the world’s largest coronavirus-tracking websites and gained worldwide attention.
(Mercer Island, Washington: 2009)
Visit Avi’s website.
Learn about Avi as:
– a website designer / creator: age 17
YOGA INSTRUCTOR
Praanvi Gupta, after completing a 200-hour training program, became a certified yoga instructor by the Yoga Alliance Organization. Praanvi, at age 3 and a half, began practicing yoga alongside her mother, then joined classes as a student. Praanvi explained, “I want to spread the love of yoga to as many people as possible.”
(India: 2023)
Illustrated by Emilia Guerrero Hayllar
NOTABLE
Helen Keller, blind and deaf, mastered a vocabulary of 625 words.
(Tuscumbia, Alabama: 1887)
NOTABLE
Stephen King wrote his first short story.
(Portland, Maine: 1954)