This afternoon, three UW students will receive extra appreciation for outstanding performance during their time here at the UW.

In a private reception hosted by UW President Mark Emmert, the freshman, sophomore and junior medals for high scholarship during the 2005-2006 academic year will be awarded.

The freshman medal will be given to Nate Bottman, 16, the sophomore to Jeremy Yangshi Chan, 17, and the junior to Minh-An Nguyen, 21.

The medals are given annually to the three students who have had the highest scholastic standing during their completed years of study at the UW.

The Faculty Honors Committee, a subcommittee of the Faculty Council on Academic Standards, selects the students.

Although having the highest GPA is important, the level of challenge presented to the student in his or her courses is also taken into consideration.

Freshman and sophomore medals were first given for the 1974-1975 academic year and the first junior was awarded during the 1994-1995 school year.

Two similar awards, the President's Students Medal and Transfer Students Medal, are given to two students upon graduation in spring quarter.

A traditional high school degree is not a requirement.

"An interesting thing this year is that two of three medalists did not complete high school," said Bob Roseth, UW news and information director.

Both Bottman and Chan entered the University via transition school as part of the Early Entrance Program.

The honorees entered the one-year preparatory program directly after middle school.

Bottman, now a sophomore, took advantage of the chance to get an early start and is now double-majoring in math and applied mathematics.

Last year he received two grants to begin a research project with a faculty member in the department of applied mathematics.

"We are getting good results and will publish soon," Bottman said.

Although he is advancing quickly, Bottman said he will probably stay at the University four or five years, as he wants to take as many courses as he can.

In the future, he would like to become a mathematics professor.

Sophomore medalist Chan, now a junior, is majoring in neurobiology and hopes to one day become a physician. He would prefer to become a pediatrician.

"I love working with kids," he said.

Together with two friends, Chan has started the non-profit foundation Care for Kids.

The foundation's mission is to raise awareness in American youth about children's health care issues globally, in particular kids orphaned in Zambia as a result of AIDS.

Chan gives much of the credit for the recognition to his professors and other UW faculty.

"Receiving the medal is as much a reflection of them as of me," he said.

Nguyen, the junior medalist, is majoring is biochemistry and chemistry. In the future, she would like to attend dental school.

"I hope to be a healthcare professional ... and get to provide care to a diverse population," she said.

Originally from Vietnam, Nguyen lived in Norway for nine years.

Her studies have also taken her abroad. She spent five weeks in Rome with the Honors Program in 2005.

Nguyen is the president of the student-run Health Care Alternative Spring Break.

This year, the project will send about 70 undergraduate students to volunteer at health clinics around Washington.

At today's reception for family and faculty, the students will, in addition to the honor, each receive an engraved medal.

Reach contributing writer Clara Good at develop@thedaily.washington.edu.