USU Honors Student awarded 2010 Pearson Prize

Utah  State University Honors student Justin Hinh was awarded a 2010 Pearson Prize for Higher Education in June and travels to Boston Aug. 4-6 to be honored.
          
Hinh is one of 50 students nationally to be named a Pearson Prize Community Fellow and is the recipient of a $500 scholarship from the Pearson Foundation. Additionally, 20 students were named Pearson Prize National Fellows and will receive $10,000 over two years. The Pearson Foundation is flying the prize winners to Boston Aug. 4-6 to formally recognize their achievements and service at an awards ceremony.
          
The Pearson Foundation is a non-profit arm of Pearson, an educational textbook and media company. The foundation strives to promote learning by supporting students who give back to their respective colleges and communities. The prizes identify these students and enable them to continue their work. Applicants must attend a two- or four-year accredited institution, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, have completed at least one year of college and demonstrate leadership through community service.
          
Hinh attended high school in Farmington, Utah, where he became involved in debate, leading to an interest in politics. Now a political science major at Utah State, Hinh is working to gain the experience and knowledge he needs to pursue a career in politics.
          
“Due to this award, I can continue to support my university and fellow peers and pursue my goals,” Hinh said.
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n the 2009-10 academic year, he competed with the USU Debate Team, contributing to its first place ranking at the 2010 Northwest Forensic Conference. Hinh also worked with fellow USU student lobbyists to get their voices heard concerning state education budget cuts.
          
For fall semester 2010, Hinh will volunteer for the Honors Mentor Program, a new peer-to-peer program dedicated to furthering the academic and leadership skills of USU Honors students. The program aims to foster success among its incoming freshmen.
          
“The Pearson Prize recognizes Justin’s commitment to reaching his goals,” said Christie Fox, Honors Program director. “The USU Honors Program works to create a climate in which all of our students set and achieve high goals. We want to help them change the world.”
          
As an Honors Mentor, Hinh will serve as a guide and role model for eight incoming freshman Honors students, showing them how to get the most out of their college experiences.