Super Students
Saturday, January 16, 1999
Name: Tanner Fahl
Age: 17
School: Iolani School
Favorite subject: Math
Pastimes: Soccer
Future: Engineering
Tanner Fahl was no ordinary 2-year-old. He's doing it by the numbers
While his mom drove along Likelike Highway to his aunt's home in Kaneohe, Fahl -- sitting on a booster chair in the back seat of the car -- would count the number of lamp posts on the road. That's when Fahl's mom knew her son would grow up to be a math genius.
Now a 17-year-old senior at Iolani School, Fahl is taking a college-level calculus class and is co-captain of the school's math team. Ever since he joined the team in his freshman year, Fahl has ranked in the Top Three in the Oahu Math League's state mathematics competition, based on individual scores
"What separates him from any other student is his enthusiasm for learning," said Michael Park, Fahl's calculus teacher and head coach of the Iolani math team. "Most good students have good study skills, but he just loves to learn."
Fahl, who has a cumulative grade-point average of 4.32, also is goalie for the school's varsity soccer team and one of three student body presidents. Earlier in the school year, he was selected as a National Merit semifinalist and homecoming king.
Fahl plans to pursue a career in engineering. He has been accepted to Harvard University, but has not heard yet from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or his first choice, Stanford University.
Park said he can picture Fahl becoming president of the United States. "He's a phenomenal student," he said.
Shirley Iida, Star-Bulletin
