OSU student named to USA Today Academic First Team

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State University student Josh Lotz has earned a spot on the prestigious USA Today All-USA College Academic First Team. The publication today presented the award to 20 undergraduate students who excel in scholarship while working to benefit society. Candidates were evaluated and selected based upon their grades, academic rigor, leadership experience, extracurricular activities and a written essay. In recognition of his achievements, Lotz's photo and accomplishments are featured in the Feb. 14 USA Today Life section. He will receive a trophy and a $2,500 cash award.

Last year, Ohio State student Yoonhee Patricia Ha received this award and was named as a Marshall Scholar in the same year. Ha was also named a Truman Scholar in 2006.

"We are proud that a Buckeye has been named to the USA Today All-American Academic Team for a second consecutive year," said Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee. "Josh is one shining star within one of brightest classes ever at Ohio State. Over the past several years, our students have received a record number of national scholarships and honors for their achievements – and we are optimistic that this trend will continue."

Lotz, a senior earning an M.A. in Chinese and B.S. in biochemistry, is currently studying in Bejing. He also studied traditional Chinese medicine there at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in 2003. In 2007, Lotz was named a Truman Scholar by the United States Congress, a scholarship awarded to 60 of the nation's top students committed to public service. He also won first prize in the annual "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition in 2007.

Outside of his academic endeavors, Lotz has been extremely active both on the Ohio State University campus and internationally. He co-founded the Global Heath Initiative in 2006, which organizes global-health related events, lectures and study-abroad opportunities for Ohio State students. Lotz also organized a small community school in Tibet in 2003 where he taught English to more than 100 local residents. A native of Newark, Delaware, he currently serves as the director/founder of the Do-Kham Foundation, a registered non-profit organization in China that works on various education and medical initiatives.