USA Today is looking for a few good students. In cooperation with four higher education students, USA Today is beginning its annual search for the nation’s 60 best college students to form their 1998 All-USA Academic Team.

Students selected to the first, second and third teams will be featured in a special section of USA Today.

The 20 first-team members will be invited to receive their awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Feb. 13, and will receive $2,500 cash. Any full-time graduate of a four-year institution in the United States or its territories is eligible to apply. Winners will be selected by a panel of educators.

The criteria are designed to find students who excel not only in scholarship, but in leadership roles on and off campus. The most weight in the selection process will be focused on a student’s original academic or intellectual product, such as a composition or a painting, as described by the student in writing.

Decisions will also be made based on recommendations from a nominating professor and three other people of the student’s choice.

The application process includes filling out a form that asks for honors, activities and experiences, describing an intellectual endeavor and sending an official grade transcript.

Nominations must be sent by Nov. 29 to All USA-Academic Team; c/o Carol Skalski; USA Today; 1000 Wilson Blvd., 10th floor; Arlington, VA 22229. For more information, call Skalski at (703) 276-5890.