From the Publisher

By Robert L. Miller

Do you worry that the U.S. has lost sight of excellence? We at TIME think we know where to find it. Over the past six months, as part of our College Achievement Awards program, we searched out 20 of America's outstanding undergraduate juniors. Together with the program's exclusive sponsor, Volkswagen United States, we sought to recognize and reward young men and women who have pursued their talents to the limit.

Last week we brought the award winners together in New York City. We were astounded and somewhat awed by their accomplishments. For instance, all of 21 years old, Jennifer Spruill is not only a recognized expert in her field, she is creating it. A native of Pittsburgh and an anthropology major at Bryn Mawr College, she is researching the effect that cultural differences have in resolving conflicts. And at the University of California, Berkeley, Troy Wilson took the first direct image of DNA, the wonderfully intricate molecule that makes up our genes.

Remember David Eggar's name, because we know you will be hearing it again. What we don't know is whether it will be for playing the cello or the piano. A national prizewinner in both instruments, Eggar has also sung in 500 performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Moving along. If ever you get the chance to attend one of Melodye Stewart's workshops on African contributions to civilization, go. After 14 years as a corporate secretary, this dynamic mother of one returned to school and developed the courses in which she teaches that not all great things came from European minds. And keep an eye out for books by Luke Pontifell. He does not write them but prints them, beautifully, by hand. Last year his Thornwillow Press published Arthur Schlesinger Jr.'s J.F.K. Remembered, and in July he will bring out a book by Walter Cronkite on the first human landing on the moon.

Each winner received $3,000. But all of them have discovered a greater reward, the opportunity to be fully engaged in life.