MCLEAN, Va., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- USA TODAY named 20 students to its 20th annual All-USA High School Academic First Team. The students will each receive a trophy and $2,500 cash award.
"We're pleased to be able to honor these remarkable students who have demonstrated both impressive scholarship and leadership. They are destined to make a difference," said USA TODAY Editor Ken Paulson.
Following are the 20 First Team members:
* William F. Alden, Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood, Calif.
Parents: Robert Parson and Joan Freeman Alden
* Stephanie J. Brinton, East High School, Salt Lake City, Utah
Parents: Greg and Sally Brinton
* Eunice G. Buhler, Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest, Ill.
Parents: Robert and Violetta Kapsalis Buhler
* Daniel B. Cayce, Bearden High School, Bearden, Ark.
Parent: Joannie Cayce
* Jonathan B.B. Cross, James W. Robinson, Jr. Secondary School, Fairfax,
Va.
Parents: James and Karen Cross
* Shiv M. Gaglani, West Shore Junior/Senior High School, Melbourne, Fla.
Parents: Mukesh and Vanita Gaglani
* Alexander Gribov, Mayfield High School, Mayfield Village, Ohio
Parents: Michael and Irene Gribov
* Lindsay K. Haines, Wheeler High School, Marietta, Ga.
Parents: David and Hiemi Haines
* Brett A. Harrison, Half Hollow Hills High School West, Dix Hills, N.Y.
Parents: Aaron and Rhonda Harrison
* Laura A. Huppert, Piedmont High School, Piedmont, Calif.
Parents: Chris and Susan Huppert
* Daniel A. Litt, Orange High School, Pepper Pike, Ohio
Parents: Jonathan and Maria Litt
* Aliza I. Malz, Hunter College High School, New York, N.Y.
Parents: Abraham Malz and Ruth Ellen Stark
* Anish J. Mehta, Indian Hill High School, Cincinnati, Ohio
Parents: Jayesh and Jyoti Mehta
* Sarah K. Rapoport, Horace Mann School, Riverdale, N.Y.
Parents: Samuel and Sandra Rapoport
* Albert D. Shieh, Chaparral High School, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Parents: Fei-Ying and Chan-Long Shieh
* Justin M. Solomon, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science &
Technology, Alexandria, Va.
Parents: Rod Solomon and Nancy Griesemer
* Michael A. Viscardi, Josan Academy (home school), San Diego, Calif.
Parents: Anthony and Eunjee Viscardi
* Xin (Cindy) Wang, Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy, Aurora, Ill.
Parents: Shiying Wang and Bin Liu
* Ilana R. Yurkiewicz, Lawrence High School, Cedarhurst, N.Y.
Parents: Jack and Shelley Yurkiewicz
* John C. Zhou, Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills, Mich.
Parents: Suwei and Xiaofeng Zhou
The team of 20 was selected by a panel of judges from just over 1,700 nominees nationwide. Outstanding individual scholarship or intellectual achievement, and leadership roles in activities on or off campus were the most important criteria to the judges. Students also were judged on academic performance, honors, awards, rigor of academic pursuits and the ability to express themselves in writing.
Criteria for the All-USA High School Academic Team were developed in consultation with USA TODAY's co-sponsors: the National Education Association (NEA) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
The 2006 All-USA High School Academic Team final judges were:
* Ashley Bass, 1995 All-USA High School Academic Team
* Art Buikema, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
* Michael Clark, National Education Association
* David Evans, Harvard College
* Richard Flanary, National Association of Secondary School Principals
* Jay Goldman, American Association of School Administrators
* Meg Gruber, National Education Association
* Shanda Ivory, National Association for College Admission Counseling
* Barry Stark, National Association of Secondary School Principals
* Robert Thornton, Housatonic Community College
* Martin Wilder, University of Mary Washington
* Richard Wong, American School Counselor Association
For more information on these winners as well as the second- and third- team members, see the Thursday, May 18 editions of USA TODAY and USATODAY.com.
USA TODAY is the nation's top-selling newspaper. It is published via satellite at 36 locations in the USA and at four sites abroad. With a total average daily circulation of 2.3 million, USA TODAY is available worldwide. USA TODAY is published by Gannett Co. Inc.
