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Among 4,500 undergrads to receive their bachelor's degrees from the University of Arizona Friday will be Viputheshwar Sitaraman, who goes by Vip.
Vip was 16 when he started his studies at the UA, now, two years later, at 18 he will be the youngest person to graduate this year.
"I’ve just always been trying to be ahead I guess?" said Sitaraman.
He said usually his age is helpful.
"People are kind of awestruck and like 'oh you’re only 18.' And other times people start to doubt whether I do what I do or question my experience or knowledge just because of my age, so it’s a double-edge sword."
With university behind him, Sitaraman will focus full-time on the company he started while at the UA, DrawScience. The business works with academic publishers to take laboratory research and illustrate it in a way that anyone from a scientist to a layperson can understand.
He has already secured seed funding for the venture.
Sitaraman said he considered grad school, but at least for now, he’ll be taking a break from the classroom.
