A Letter From the Publisher

By Richard B. Thomas

In saluting the 20 winners and 80 merit finalists of TIME's first College Achievement Awards last week, Editor in Chief Henry Grunwald issued a challenge. Citing James Fenimore Cooper's observation that "the tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity," Grunwald declared, "It is more urgent than ever for us to prove that democracy does not necessarily lead to mediocrity. That, on the contrary, the freedom it allows us does and can lead to excellence."

Reviewing the accomplishments of the award recipients, he had good reason to be heartened. The 775 college and university juniors who applied to the awards program last year were judged on the basis of their academic records as well as their achievements outside of the classroom by a panel of TIME judges and the Washington-based Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. The winners included a physics major, a musical prodigy who finished first in last year's New York Philharmonic Concerto Competition and an Air Force Academy cadet from Viet Nam who in 1975 was forced to flee Saigon in a refugee boat.

Several of the winners have made impressive contributions to public service. Edward Glauser, 22, of the University of South Florida, collected $500,000 worth of food and supplies for the victims of last November's volcanic eruption in Colombia and oversaw the delivery of the goods via van and aircraft. Michael Kujawski, 27, of Marquette University, last year became president of the local chapter of an organization that combats student alcoholism. Marylee James, 45, enrolled at Furman University, is a member of the Navy Reserve and an ex-nurse who counseled Viet Nam veterans before, she says, "it was chic to be a Viet Nam vet."

TIME proudly presents these exemplars of excellence with scholarship awards of $3,000. This summer they will receive first consideration for internships at Time Inc. Our heartiest congratulations to them all.