From Foley to the halls of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 19-year-old Noah Clark walked across the stage as the youngest graduate in SIU’s fall commencement ceremony last weekend at Banterra Center.

Focused and driven, Clark has charted an ambitious academic path that began earlier than most and shows no signs of slowing down according to a news release.

Clark, whose family now lives in Foley after growing up in Shelbyville, Tennessee, will earn a bachelor’s degree with a double major in linguistics and languages, cultures and international studies with a concentration in Spanish. The University Honors Program student will also graduate magna cum laude, reflecting a GPA between 3.75 and 3.89.

“Many colleges near my hometown either had a good linguistics program or a good Spanish program, but SIU has both,” Clark said in the release, referring to his decision to attend SIU Carbondale in 2022.

Clark’s academic journey began early. He graduated a year ahead of schedule from Shelbyville Central High School in May 2022, having already taken college-credit courses. Now, less than two years after arriving at SIU, Clark is preparing to begin a master’s degree in linguistics next month, just before turning 20.

Focused on historical and documentational linguistics, Clark hopes to eventually pursue a doctorate, possibly in communication studies, to explore how social factors influence language use. His ultimate goal is to conduct field research or teach linguistics with a focus on language acquisition, conservation and documentation.

Clark’s determination and maturity caught the attention of his professors early on.

“Noah was already focused on looking for research opportunities because he knew that he wanted to get a graduate degree in linguistics,” said Katherine Martin, an associate professor of linguistics. “That’s really rare — most people have never even heard of linguistics until they get to college because it’s not a subject taught in most high schools, and to have someone be so focused on a graduate degree with such certainty so early was really memorable.”

Jeffrey Punske, another linguistics associate professor, noted Clark’s intellectual and academic maturity.

“He has a virtually unmatched passion for language and linguistics and exhibits real leadership inside and outside of the classroom,” Punske said. “I’m very glad he is continuing his academic journey with us and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next.”

Clark’s accomplishments go beyond the classroom. He regularly volunteers with the university’s Center for English as a Second Language as a conversation partner and is proficient in several languages. He also designed an independent study abroad experience, planning to spend a month in Italy next summer.

Elizabeth Donoghue, assistant director of the University Honors Program, called Clark “a dedicated student with a wonderful, positive attitude” who seized every opportunity to grow academically and personally.

Martin, who mentored Clark in research for several semesters, noted his exceptional analytical skills, likening his work to that of advanced graduate students.

“He was doing the quality of work that I would expect from an advanced master’s or early Ph.D. student, already as a junior undergraduate,” she said.

For Clark, the experience at SIU has been about more than academics. He said he’s learned valuable lessons about what drives him, both in his studies and relationships.

“I have learned a great deal about how I am as a person and what drives me, scholastically and in my relationships with people,” Clark said. “I found that respect and honesty are things I look for in many aspects — from how I talk to strangers, friends and family, to how we talk about other languages and cultures.”