USA Today named Yale students Avni Thakore '97 and Precious Williams '97 to the eighth annual All-USA College Academic Team, honoring them for outstanding intellectual achievement and leadership.
Sathish Jay Subbaiah '97 of Calhoun College, majoring in molecular biophysics and biochemistry, was named to the Second Team. He was singled out for organizing an HIV-education clinic in Madras, India.
Nationwide, 20 students were selected for the award from 1,253 nominees. Yale was the only school to have two winners. According to USA Today, "Outstanding individual scholarship or intellectual achievement, and leadership roles in activities on or off campus were the most important criteria to the judges." Other considerations included academic performance, rigor of academic program, and other notable achievements.
Ms. Thakore is a molecular biophysics and biochemistry major who plans to enter medical school after her graduation this spring with both B.S. and M.S. degrees. A resident of Saybrook College, she has been a member of the equestrian team, choreographed for the Yale South Asian Society, and written for Yale Scientific. She has served on a domestic violence task force and worked as a counselor- educator at a women's shelter in India. Her research has investigated tumor cytogenetics and anti-viral drug therapy for herpes.
Ms. Williams is majoring in ethics, politics and economics, with a concentration on health policy. A resident of Branford College, she is cofounder of the Yale Black Women's Caucus, has chaired the Undergraduate Organizations Funding Committee on the Yale College Council, and tutored in the Urban Improvement Corps. She is also a Truman Scholar, an honor given to college juniors based on their commitment to public service. After graduation she plans to attend law school.