High school grad, 13, counts down fireworks for P-Nats

Staff report

Paige Laura Epler of Lake Ridge, at 13 the youngest girl in U.S. history to ever walk the stage and earn her high school diploma from an accredited high school, was recognized Saturday at a Potomac Nationals baseball game.

Paige counted down to the fireworks display at 9 p.m.

She graduated at the top of her class with a 4.0 GPA on June 5 from the University of Oklahoma High School. She gave a speech and performed on violin at the ceremony.

Paige has been honored and recognized for her accomplishments by Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, Sen. Mark Warner and Congressman Gerald Connolly, who put her in the Congressional Record.

Prince William Supervisor Marty Nohe and the Prince William Board of County Supervisors plan to present Paige with a board proclamation in the near future.

The teen is a big advocate for sharks and created a "Save the Sharks" exhibit now on file at the Library of Congress.

She has given her presentation at major museums, including the Baltimore Aquarium.

Paige was also featured last summer on CBS News when she performed a solo violin concert at the Georgia Aquar-ium in Atlanta. She is a violinist who has performed around the world and in numerous orchestras.

She was recently selected as the violinist who performed at President Barack Obama's inaugural luncheon in Washington.

Paige will start college in the fall and wants to pursue a career dealing with math and science.

Paige's mother, Pam Coan Epler, is a former Prince William County school teacher, and her father, Tony K. Epler, is a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot.