On Jan. 30, Robert Buscaglia got the letter he was expecting.

His roommate was not home, so Buscaglia, a junior at Northern Arizona University, went to the office of his apartment complex manager so he wouldn't have to open the letter alone.

It was from USA Today, and in it was the news that Buscaglia had been named to USA Today's All-USA College Academic third team, ranking him among the top 60 students in the nation. He is one of two Arizona students to receive the honor this year. A third received honorable mention.

"I was jumping up and down having fun," he said. The apartment manager didn't know what was going on, Buscaglia said. "He went 'Is that a good thing?' and I said 'Yes, it's a good thing.' "

Buscaglia, 21, is double majoring in American chemical society biochemistry and extended applied mathematics. He works with Ed Lewis, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at NAU, who conducts groundbreaking cancer research. (See related story.)

"I'm not at all disappointed by third team," Buscaglia said. "It's amazing for NAU now because NAU had never had a student on a team."

Lewis said most of the winners of USA Today's All-USA College Academic competition come from prestigious universities such as Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"I think it's a tribute to this university that not only can we attract these students but provide the opportunities they need to win these awards. And hopefully there will be more to come," he said.

Buscaglia, who was born and raised in Higley, has worked with Lewis for more than two years.

"He's obviously one of the best in the country," Lewis said. "He took full advantage of his opportunities here at NAU."

Lewis said an opportunity for undergraduates to work on something as cutting edge as cancer research is unique to NAU.

"He's probably done as much research as many master's students," Lewis said of Buscaglia. One of the reasons Lewis said he came to NAU 2Ö years ago was to interact with students of Buscaglia's caliber.

"The students are enthusiastic about their work," Lewis said after Buscaglia hurriedly came into his office on Tuesday to ask research-related questions. "There are good things happening here."

Buscaglia attributes his success to the educators who have supported him.

"Without the professors, I wouldn't be anywhere. Every professor has helped me toward my goal."

Buscaglia plans to graduate in May 2007 and go to graduate school. He's still thinking about where he wants to go and what exactly to study. Molecular biophysics is a good possibility, he said. In the long run, he hopes to end up doing research on a university campus "to try to be a Dr. Lewis because he's been such an inspiration in my life."

Buscaglia is competing this year for a Beckman scholarship.

"Several Nobel Prize winners were Beckman Scholars," Lewis said.

Last spring Buscaglia was one of two Arizonans to receive the Barry M. Goldwater scholarship for excellence in science and mathematics. Buscaglia also received a Hooper Undergraduate Research grant, which pays him an hourly wage for his work in the lab, where he runs and designs experiments, analyzes data and supervises other undergraduates in the lab.

Crystal Landa, a chemistry teacher at Highland High School in Gilbert, taught Buscaglia during his junior year at HHS.

"I'm very proud of him. I have some of his [scientific] articles posted in my classroom," she said.

Landa tells her students about him because she is impressed with his accomplishments. She said it's good for them to realize he sat in the same seats a couple years ago.

In a letter nominating Buscaglia for the USA Today award, NAU President John Haeger wrote, "Robert's ultimate career goal --to help cure or control debilitating diseases-- might seem like a pipe dream for most. But given his talents and perseverance, Robert could very well be someone who helps write scientific history in the field of molecular biophysics."

Students named to USA Today's All-USA College Academic teams were selected by a panel of judges from more than 600 students nominated by colleges and universities across the United States. Judges considered grades, leadership, activities and, most importantly, how students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom, according to USA Today's Web site.

Annie Braun can be reached at abraun@azdailysun.com or 556-2250.

On the Net: www.allstars.usatoday.com.