Akilesh Palanisamy '98 and Sarita James '98 were named to USA Today's ninth annual All-USA College Academic First Team at an awards ceremony at the newspaper's Arlington, Va., headquarters late last week.

Judges selected the 20 First Team members, as well as the 40 students on the All-USA Second and Third Teams, from about 1,200 applicants nominated by their schools. Winners received a $2,500 scholarship.

Judges took into account grades, academic awards, leadership roles and public service, placing the most weight on student's abilities to use their talents outside the classroom and laboratory.

"The way I would describe this weekend would be inspirational but very humbling," said James, a computer science concentrator. "The other students had done so many things and in so many cases had overcome extreme adversity."

A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., James was also an All-USA High School First Team member. The Lowell House resident has worked as a senior editor of the Harvard Science Review and has done research at California Institute of Technology in computational neuroscience.

James spent last summer working for Mother Teresa in her Calcutta, India Clinic. In the mornings, she had the opportunity to speak to Mother Theresa.

"She has always been a role model for me," she said. "I spoke to her just two weeks before she died."

This summer, James hopes to be working in Zimbabwe on a documentary about the African nation with a fellow honoree whom she only met this past weekend.

As co-chair of the student advisory committee for the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, James worked to bring events such as Cultural Rhythms to the Harvard campus and provide grants for ethnic clubs.

Sewell Chan '98, a former Crimson executive and fellow Foundation member, says he saw how well James was "able to bridge the gap between the different ethnic, cultural and other students organizations on campus."

"[James] has demonstrated incredible leadership. [She's] an incredibly warm, friendly person," Chan said.

Biochemical sciences concentrator Palanisamy said winning the award was an equally positive experience.

"It was really motivational to...see the level of accomplishments that is possible for young leaders today," said Palanisamy, a native of Gilbert, Ariz..

The founder of Harvard's Hippocratic Society, the Quincy House resident organized a conference on end-of-life care, and is currently planning another conference this spring focusing on alternative medicine.

"It's very satisfying to meet someone who is not driven by resume-building, but by the things that he finds really important, like helping others," said Michael Jasienski, a post-doctoral student who taught Palanisamy in a biology tutorial.

Palanisamy has also studied skin cancer with Dr. James Rheinwold at Harvard Medical School, researching the changes that take place during the early stages of carcinogenesis.

Palanisamy also tutors clients at the Multidisciplinary Institute for Neuropsychological Development.

Other Harvard undergraduates were also honored by USA Today.

Jinesh N. Shah '98 won a spot on the Second Team. A cognitive neuroscience concentrator, he hopes to combine teaching and medicine by forming preventive health and awareness curriculum for high schools.

Currently, the Leverett House resident works in Professor of Psychology Stephen M. Kosslyn's laboratory, studying the brain regions involved when one determines the identity of objects which are viewed in contorted positions.

"On one side, he's really fun, but on the other side, if you seriously want to talk to him, he'll listen and provide different ways to approach problems," said Dave Hurvitz, an assistant in Kosslyn's lab.

Shah showed his desire to interact with others when he taught biology at North Quincy High School as part of his training for the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program. He has also worked as group coordinator for the Keylatch Afterschool Program.

Another Harvard student, Lauren K. Williams '99, earned an honorable mention form USA Today. The Pforzheimer House resident was unable to be reached for comment.