Lawrence University Senior Cited by USA Today as "Academic All-Star"

APPLETON, WIS. -- Lawrence University senior Heidi Busse was cited by USA TODAY Thursday (2/15) as the newspaper announced its 2001 All-USA College Academic Team.

A 1997 graduate of Clintonville High School, Busse was one of 100 students honored from among 682 nominations from colleges and universities across the country, earning honorable mention recognition. Students are selected on the basis of their grades, activities, leadership and how they use their intellectual skills outside the classroom.

"We honor these students for their academic excellence, as well as their willingness to put those talents to use in their communities and throughout the world," said USA TODAY editor Karen Jurgensen in a story announcing this year's recipients.

An environmental studies major with a 3.82 grade point average, Busse was named a Wriston Scholar as a freshman and is a finalist for a Watson Fellowship this spring. In 1999, she was named a Volvo Scholar after an off-campus study program at the Biosphere 2 Center in Arizona. The scholarship was in recognition of her commitment to increasing knowledge and awareness of environmental issues. Active in Greenfire, Lawrence's student environmental organization, she led efforts to establish a "test plot" on campus to measure the effectiveness of organic weed-killers.

Last spring, Busse organized an alternative spring break trip, leading seven students to Perryville, Ark., for a week of volunteer work at the 1,200-acre Heifer Ranch, the outreach center for Heifer Project International.

Lawrence was one of only two Wisconsin colleges represented on this year's All-USA College Academic Team. Twenty students were honored as First Team recipients. Each received a trophy and a $2,500 cash award.