Name: Christopher To
Age: 16
School: St. Louis
Favorite subject: Math
Pastimes: Reading, bicycling, kayaking
Future: Electrical or computer engineer

To had to work harder than most students at his preschool, where he was first exposed to English.

His determination had its rewards.

To, a senior at St. Louis School, maintains a 4.3 grade-point average and has taken honors courses since his freshman year.

"Since I don't concentrate on sports, I stress on academics and pushed myself hard," To said.

To, the son of Tony and Diane To of Salt Lake, is a member of Amnesty International, the Japanese Club and the math club. He also participates in the Model U.N., where students portray delegates of the United Nations and discuss issues.

To was part of a team that built a kayak using a $14,000 computer and other items. The kayak won first place in two categories at the 47th International Science and Engineering Fair in Tucson, Ariz.

The group represented the United States in the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Helsinki, Finland.

Tom O'Connor, To's adviser and physics teacher, said the youth is amazingly intelligent.

"If something is wrong, Chris can pick it up real quick," O'Connor said. "We're talking a hard worker . . . Chris is always the first here and the last to leave."