Gregory R. Smith

An Ambassador for Peace and the World Children

Greg R. Smith, 2008                  14-years old, 2003

At the age of 13, Gregory Smith already has a career as a motivational speaker and as a world-recognized advocate for children and peace. He is a two-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize and has appeared on numerous television shows, including Sixty Minutes, The Oprah Show, Late Night with David Letterman, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Morning Show, Voice of America ,CNN and all the major network morning news shows.

He has met with Presidents, Nobel Peace Laureates, religious leaders and educators such as former President Bill Clinton and former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and Nobel Peace Laureates: Ireland's Betty Williams, South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu, East Timor's Jose Ramos-Horta, to describe his educational and peace plan. He was a CCF delegate to the UN Special Session on the Rights of the Child. He has appeared before the Security Council of the U.N., Florida and Virginia General Assemblies and the State of the World Forum to build a network of individuals and organizations willing to support his cause.
 
Through his many appearances, Greg appeals to governmental leaders to value their children as their country's greatest resource. He teaches about ending the cycle of violence and has pledged his life to the pursuit of peace. A motivational speaker with a powerful message, he has made speeches, written letters, held meetings, conducted surveys and appeared on countless television and radio programs to spread his message of hope and to bring awareness to the needs of children here in America and around the world.

But while Gregory's life has been, and will continue to be, devoted to these world-wide causes, he has another great passion: math. Greg writes, "Science is the gateway to the mysteries of our universe, and mathematics acts as the beacon to light its path. With every new course I take, I learn more and more of how this connection takes place." However, math is not an end, but a means to an end, as Greg explains: "As the connection is rapidly being made between the biological sciences, macro and micro, chemistry and the physical sciences, it is becoming very apparent that this connection is facilitated by mathematics and that only through mathematics will this connection be realized to its fullest potential. This is the reasoning behind my interest in mathematics."

Greg was president of the RMC chapter of MAA (Mathematics Association of America), and a member of Pi Mu Epsilon (National Math Honor Fraternity), Chi Beta Phi (National Science Honor Fraternity), Beta Beta Beta (National Biology Honor Fraternity), Phi Alpha Theta (National History Honor Fraternity) and Phi Beta Kappa (National Academic Honor Fraternity). He is the youngest public high school graduate from the state of Florida, and the youngest graduate in the history of Randolph-Macon College.

As part of his M. S. in Computational Biology, Greg Smith plans to research computational biology's applications in genomic research.

Greg recognizes the limitations of his youth, and that it will be a long time before he enters a particular career choice. He writes, "I am keeping my study, and my options very broad so that following the completion of my first doctorate . . . I will have the ability to choose from a wide range of career opportunities. Mathematical research, biomedical applications, and international political initiatives are all part of my ultimate plans."

As he goes on to graduate school, Greg will continue to work for peace and for the welfare of children. He is the founder and president of International Youth Advocates, which collects educational supplies, clothing, and toys and works with non-governmental organizations and government and business leaders to enhance and protect the rights and well being of children. He is the youth spokesperson for World Centers of Compassion for Children, a non-profit group formed by Nobel Peace Laureate Betty Williams to create a strong political voice for children in areas of stress due to war, hunger, or social, economic, or political upheaval and to respond to their needs. And he is the youth ambassador for the Christian Children's Fund, which provides assistance to approximately 2.5 million children worldwide, regardless of race, religion, or gender.

      14 months: solving math problems.
      2-years old: reading & correcting adult's grammar.
      Decided to become a vegetarian.
      5-years old: explaining photosynthesis to kindergarten classmates.
      6 to 9-years old: 10 grades of school in 3 years.
      9-years old: graduated with honors from high school
      10-years old: college freshman
      Founded IYA (international Youth Advocates)
      2002 (12-years old): nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
      2003 (13-years old): nominated again for the Nobel Prize.
      2003, May 31: graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Mathematics
      and minors in History and Biology.

IYA’s Mission is to protect young people from violent situations and to facilitate adequate educational and life-sustaining services.