17-year-old college graduate to work on doctorate at Stanford this fall

At a time when most young women her age still romanticize over glittery high school proms, 17-year-old Noshua Watson of Silver Spring, MD, prepares to enter Stanford University in California this fall to pursue a doctorate in economics. A few weeks ago, conscientious Noshua graduated from Virginia's Mary Baldwin College, easily becoming the nation's youngest and possibly the brightest Black college graduate.

She graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and minor in math. Her cumulative grade point average (GPA) was 3.78 with a major GPA being 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. She is a recipient of a Jacob Javits Fellowship and a National Science Foundation Minority Graduate Fellowship.

To make her record even more outstanding, the lass, who yearly landed on the honor roll, earned Phi Beta Kappa rank, but she was no book worm spending excessive hours in her dormitory room. She played varsity lacrosse, sang in the concert choir, and served on the House Presidents Council. She also was active in Minority Women in Unity.

Her parents, Rudy J. and Aremita Watson, are proud of their first offspring. Married for 22 years, Mr. Watson is an IBM manager, while his spouse operates a food and gift gourmet shop in Bethesda, MD. Both graduates of George Washington University, they shepherd a crew of three daughters--all bright, outgoing, and ambitious.

The next youngest daughter, Tenea, entered college at 14 and majors in biology, while 10-year-old Cambria already is in the Montgomery County Math and Science Magnet program for gifted students.

"There are few secrets of dependable parenting but hard work and caring for your children," advises Mrs. Watson. "You must encourage children to do well and be observant of positive behavior.

"Teach your children to read as soon as possible, and encourage them to ask questions."