Awards: Each March, 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 academically but also extend their intellectual abilities beyond the classroom to benefit society. Unlike a scholarship or grant aimed at helping make education possible, the All-USA Academic Team is an award honoring students for what they have accomplished as undergraduates.

Students must be full-time undergraduates of at least junior standing at a four-year institution in the United States or its territories, and in good standing. U.S. citizenship is required.

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. It is 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.

Nomination Materials and Eligibility:

• Students must be endorsed by a Carleton faculty member. Faculty members should submit the names of students to Karen Moldenhauer, Assistant to Elizabeth Ciner, Director of Student Fellowships.
• Endorsed students must apply on-line at https://www.all-usanomination.com/.
• Two letters of recommendation from people either on or off campus who know the nominee well and can address the merits of their academic work (see application for details).
• 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

Official Deadline: We must submit packets to USA today to be received by 11:59 pm E.T. on (Est.) February 17, 2012.

Faculty Adviser: Elizabeth Ciner, 507/222-4555, Director of Student Fellowships, Laird 132