The front page of the February 6, 1997 issue of USA Today featured Supinda Bunyavanich '99-'98, who was named on the newspaper's 1997 All-USA College Academic First Team, an honor she shares with only 20 other undergraduates in the nation.

"She's a great student because she's really excited and passionate about what she does," said Bunyavanich's roommate, Mari L. Ryono '99. "I have a lot of respect for her."

Bunyavanich, 19, is the youngest recipient on the First Team, "representing all of the nation's outstanding college undergraduates," according to USA Today.

Bunyavanich accepted the award at USA Today's headquarters in Arlington, Va. last Friday at a lunch banquet which was attended by Congressional representatives, employees of USA Today and representatives from educational associations, she said.

The 20 recipients of the $2,500 award were selected from 1,253 students nominated by their schools, according to USA Today.

"Judges looked at grades, academic awards, leadership roles and public service," wrote Pat Ordovensky in the USA Today article. "They put most weight on students' abilities to use their talents outside the labs and classrooms."

Bunyavanich said she believes that the judging committee was also looking at the dedication of the candidates.

"I think in general they were looking for college students who were really dedicated to both their academics and activities and whose activities had an impact on people's lives, and that they really cared about what they were doing," she said.

Bunyavanich is an environmental science and public policy concentrator and hails from Port Washington, NY.

"I'm really happy she received this award," said Sanga Bunyavanich, her father. "She was really active in high school."

Her father also said Bunyavanich did research in water treatment during high school and was a Westinghouse finalist.

"She's a responsible person," said Sommai Bunyavanich, her mother. "She's very nice and I love her."

Bunyavanich was nominated for the award by Michele N. Holbrook, assistant professor of biology. Bunyavanich traveled with Holbrook to Chile this past summer on a research partnership through the Radcliffe Research Partnership Program. They did research on a plant named nolanamollis, a desert shrub which grows in northern Chile.

"[Professor Holbrook] is a valuable mentor and role model," Bunyavanich said.

Holbrook is currently doing research in Panama.

Bunyavanich is one of the organizers of an annual conference to be held in May sponsored by the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR).

"It's really a dynamic forum to exchange ideas," Bunyavanich said.

Last year, the conference was held in Seoul, Korea and was attended by over 250 delegates from 67 universities around the world.

This year, the conference will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, concentrating on the theme of "Building Nations, Building Communities: New Approaches to Asian Development." The conference will focus on sustaining development, public health, and regional security.

"Supinda is probably one of the brightest sophomores I've had the pleasure of working with at Harvard," said Montira Horayangura '97, who is on the HPAIR committee and is also a Crimson editor.

At the conference last year, "she surprised people with her professionalism and poise," Horayangura said. "She showed maturity in organizing and taking initiative."

"She is always willing to challenge convention if she thinks there's a better way," Horyangura said. "She's very committed and reliable."

Bunyavanich is also involved in Project HEALTH, an undergraduate organization that focuses on social action in terms of public health, in coordination with Boston Medical Center and the Institute of Politics.

Rebecca D. Onie '98-'97, who founded Project HEALTH, says that Bunyavanich is "very reliable and very good at taking things in stride." Onie described her as capable and committed to helping other people.

"She certainly balances a lot in her life and does it very elegantly and successfully," Onie said.

Bunyavanich is currently organizing a children's health forum through Project HEALTH that would address the logistics of organizing a national health care program.

Supinda's roommates also said that she is particularly deserving of the award.

"She's always there for you," Ryono said. "I think this award addresses not only those who achieve but also those who look out for other people's interests."

Mariko K. Johnson '99, who is also one of Supinda's roommates, described her as "warm, caring, dedicated, driven and very self-confident."

"I'm really glad she got a chance to be awarded for what she does. She's really multi-talented," Ryono said.

"We're all so proud of her," Johnson said. "We have many copies of USA Today in our room."CrimsonMelissa K. CrockerSUPINDA BUNYANAVICH '98