'Outstanding' students sought for nominations for national award

USA Today is seeking outstanding juniors and seniors for its 19th annual All-USA College Academic Team.

The program "honors full-time undergraduates who not only excel in scholarship but also extend their intellectual abilities beyond the classroom to benefit society. Criteria include grades, academic rigor, leadership, activities and most important, the student's essay describing his or her most outstanding intellectual endeavor done while in college."

The 20 students named to the First Team win trophies and $2,500 cash awards and are featured in USA Today in February as representatives of the nation's outstanding undergraduates.

Forty more students will be named to Second and Third Teams. They will be named in the newspaper and receive certificates.

Students must be nominated by their schools and register electronically to download the form, which is to be completed and mailed in by Nov. 30.

Information about the program, bios of former winners, advice to nominators and FAQs for students are available online, or e-mail allstars@usatoday.com.

Specific pages:

• All-USA College Academic Team page
• Student registration
• Sign up to receive e-mail notification about All-USA programs