Plano prodigy nears graduation, looks to future

Amy Chyao's resume is longer than most adults' and she isn't even out of high school yet.

With her own nonprofit organization, 10 Advanced Placement courses and a publication in a prominent scholarly journal under her belt, Amy has become a well-known local prodigy. But despite her mind-blowing advances in the science and math fields, the 17-year-old says she is just a normal high school kid.

Amy's love for science and math began in the first grade when she worked on her first science project -- an in-depth look at the drink of choice among outdoor plants.

"We had some red tipped plants in our backyard, I took the leaves and I wanted to see what kind of drinks the leaves would like because, of course, plants are like humans because we drink water and we like different kinds of drinks," Amy said, laughing. "I think my control was water."

Since then, Amy has used the inspiration of her role models (mainly her parents, past teachers and scientist Marie Curie) to put her own dreams into perspective and seek personal growth potential in every opportunity.

When she's not working to cure cancer, Amy's hobbies include playing the cello and continuing her work with Spell Success, Inc., the nonprofit she founded that focuses on tutoring students in vocabulary and spelling. Amy also co-authored a publication in the Journal of the American Chemical Society last year.

"I actually think that's probably the most important thing I do," said Amy about Spell Success. "More than just getting knowledge for myself, the end goal is to contribute to society and this is the most direct way I can do it. It's really inspiring to see my students, and it's probably the most fun and most exciting things I do."

In 2010, Amy was nominated for the Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year. In 2006, she won the Dallas Morning News Regional Spelling Bee and also won the Collin County spelling competition for three consecutive years. Amy was also an award-winning cellist in middle school and won first place in a regional history fair. A few years ago, she flew to Poland to meet leading scientists as part of a Nobel training program.

But that's not all. The Plano East senior may also receive an extraordinary present for her 18th birthday next month: a trip to the White House. Having recently gained finalist standing in the Intel Science Talent Search -- the nation's most prestigious pre-college science competition -- Amy is among 40 students invited for final judging and will display her work to the public and meet with notable scientists to compete in Washington, D.C. for the top award of $100,000.

STS alums have made extraordinary contributions to science and hold more than 100 of the world's most distinguished science and math honors, including seven Nobel Prizes and four National Medals of Science.

For most students, the trip to D.C. would be a chance in a lifetime, but for Amy it will be her second. She visited President Obama and First Lady, Michelle, in 2010 after winning the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Gordon E. Moore Award, a $75,000 prize for best in chemistry. There, she attended the White House State Fair and was invited to attend the State of the Union Address.

Her featured research on cancer, entitled, "Lights, Quantum Dots, Action!" revolves around cancer treatment using photodynamic -- or, light-- therapy and has gained national attention for its ingenuity.

But that's not all. This month, Amy was named the Texas winner of the 2011 Siemens Foundation's Advanced Placement Awards for earning the highest math and science AP exam scores in the state. Chyao received a $2,000 scholarship for inspiring the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

"We have been very happy since she started all of this, she works hard and has worked hard to get where she is," Amy's father, Tim, said. "She doesn't think she's a genius or anything spectacular, she just sees herself as a regular student. Every year is different. It makes us feel very honored. I hope she can accomplish some of things she's talked about doing, we joke that maybe she'll get a Nobel Prize before the age of 30."

Tim said her daughter's exceptional level of dedication and drive is a trait that will make her college years and beyond even more successful but, like Amy, he doesn't like to brag.

"I still remember when she was playing basketball in elementary and middle school," he said. "Every time she gets to work, all the essays and all the projects, she always does each one very carefully. Every class she goes to and for every assignment she takes them very seriously."

Ever modest, the East student is humble in her accomplishments; but her future is sure to be anything but. Her plans for college will include something in the biology and chemistry fields, as she hopes to start a career in biomedical research.

Although she is still not sure on where she will go, Amy has already gotten enticing letters from the University of Texas at Austin, Harvard and Yale University, the thought of which is both exciting and nerve-racking, Amy said.

"I actually depend on my parents a lot and I think most high school students would say the same," she said. "It's exciting because of the change of location, but it's pretty scary because it's my first step toward independence."

If there's one piece of advice she can give to her younger counterparts, it's never let your ego get the best of you.

"I think the most important thing is to set goals for yourself and do anything you can to achieve them," she said. "Work hard and make sure you are putting in enough effort. Once you achieve success, make sure to lay low and remember you have bigger dreams."

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