Awards: Each February, USA Today honors 20 outstanding college juniors and seniors as its All-USA College Academic Team. The students named to the All-USA College Academic First Team have their photos published and accomplishments spotlighted in USA TODAY's Life section as representatives of all outstanding undergraduates. They each receive a trophy and a $2,500 cash award. Forty more runners-up will be named to the Second and Third Teams; they will receive certificates and have their names announced in the newspaper.

Purpose and Criteria: The All-USA College Academic Team 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.

Nomination Materials and Eligibility:

• Students must be nominated by a Carleton faculty member. Faculty members can submit names to Elizabeth Ciner, Associate Dean of the College.
• Students must register electronically with USA Today and be screened for eligibility. If they are eligible they will be directed to a PDF of the nomination form and instructions about the application process. To register and obtain a nomination form/instructions, students should go to http://allstars.usatoday.com and use the All-USA drop-down menu to the 4-year college program.
• Students must be full-time undergraduates of at least junior standing at a four-year institution in the United States or its territories. U.S. citizenship is not required.
• The criteria are designed to find students who excel not only in scholarship but also in leadership roles on and off campus. A key element is the student's essay (500 words or less) describing his or her most outstanding undergraduate intellectual endeavor and how it may benefit society. The endeavor may be in (but not limited to): academic research; public service; the arts; journalism or public policy. Judges will consider the endeavor's originality and level of difficulty, result and benefit to society.
• Completed nomination materials must include a completed nomination form, the nominee's essay (500 words or less), a letter from the nominating professor (500 words or less) describing why the endeavor described in the nominee's essay is outstanding, official transcripts, and two other letters of recommendation from people either on or off campus who know the nominee well and can address the merits of their academic work.
• Schools may nominate as many students as they consider appropriate candidates for this award.

Selection: Winners will be selected by a panel of educators, chosen in cooperation with their co-sponsors: the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the American Council on Education (ACE).

For detailed information, visit their official website: http://allstars.usatoday.com/

Campus Deadline: All nomination materials must be turned in to Danette DeMann, x4976, Dean of the College Office, Laird 144, by Monday, November 17, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.

Official Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by November 30, 2008

Faculty Adviser: Elizabeth Ciner, 507/222-4300, Dean of the College Office, Laird 131