Perales to make history as youngest graduate from Crafton Hills

Alisa Perales is about to make history. The ten-year-old from San Bernardino will be graduating from Crafton Hills College (CHC) in May and will become the youngest Roadrunner ever to graduate from the Yucaipa-based community college.

Perales will leave CHC with two associate degrees—one in multiple sciences and another in mathematics. Had she stayed one more semester, Alisa could have earned two additional degrees in computer science and physics.

Perales began attending Crafton in the spring of 2023. Before becoming a Roadrunner, she considered applying to California State University, San Bernardino, but a counselor encouraged her to explore community college first due to her homeschooling background.

Taught by her father, Rafael Perales, Alisa’s love for learning began early. By her first birthday, she had already moved beyond basic ABCs and 123s.

Perales credits her father for her success, even accompanying her to school in the early days and patiently waiting outside her classes.

After college, Perales hopes to work in the artificial intelligence tech industry, either by joining an established company or building a startup with her dad.