Arfa Karim, Teenage Genius and Programming Prodigy, Dies at 16
Perhaps Arfa Karim is a name you're not familiar with. A Pakistani student and programming prodigy, Arfa Karim became the world's youngest Microsoft Certified Professional in 2004 when she was just 9 years old, a title she held onto until 2008. Now, at the age of 16 years old, this talented young Pakistani who had the brightest of futures passed away after suffering an epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest a few weeks ago, according to Geo News.
She had racked up quite the resume before her untimely death. After becoming the youngest MCP ever at age 9, she was invited to visit Microsoft's Headquarters by Bill Gates when she was just 10 years old. Later that same year, Arfa Karim was honored by the Pakistan Government for the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology. She was also honored with the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award and won the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance. If all that weren't enough, she was certified for flying a plane at a flying club in Dubai...at 10 years old.
After learning of her medical condition, Bill Gates reportedly set up an international panel of doctors for her treatment, and while she showed some sign of improvement, the young genius passed away on January 14, 2012 at 9:50 PM in Pakistan. She was laid to rest at her ancestral village of Faislabad.
R.I.P. Afra Karim.
She had racked up quite the resume before her untimely death. After becoming the youngest MCP ever at age 9, she was invited to visit Microsoft's Headquarters by Bill Gates when she was just 10 years old. Later that same year, Arfa Karim was honored by the Pakistan Government for the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology. She was also honored with the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award and won the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance. If all that weren't enough, she was certified for flying a plane at a flying club in Dubai...at 10 years old.
After learning of her medical condition, Bill Gates reportedly set up an international panel of doctors for her treatment, and while she showed some sign of improvement, the young genius passed away on January 14, 2012 at 9:50 PM in Pakistan. She was laid to rest at her ancestral village of Faislabad.
R.I.P. Afra Karim.
