A UC Davis undergraduate from San Anselmo -- who made history by bringing early voting to the Davis campus for last fall's presidential election -- is being honored by a national program that identifies outstanding university and college students.

Brian McInnis, who is majoring in history and economics, has received an honorable mention in USA Today's All-USA College Academic Team program, which recognizes students who excel not only in scholarship but also in leadership roles on and off campus.

USA Today named its 2005 All-USA College Academic Team late Wednesday.

"It's really a fantastic honor," McInnis said. "More importantly, it gives me steam to push to enfranchise more UC students."

Last fall, McInnis worked with the Yolo County clerk-recorder to have a campus polling station open for voting -- for any of the county's registered voters -- over five days. It was the first time the county had used a location other than the clerk-recorder's office for early voting.

UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef nominated McInnis to the All-USA College Academic Team, with letters of support from Freddie Oakley, the county clerk-recorder, and Lori Lubin, an associate professor of physics.

McInnis is director of external affairs for the undergraduate student government at UC Davis and chairs the legislative committee of the association that represents more than 200,000 students at UC campuses. Earlier this month, the UC Students Association recognized him as Advocate of the Year for his work with the state Legislature and the UC Board of Regents.

For more information about the All-USA College Academic Team, please visit http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2005-02-16-college-2005-all-stars-cover_x.htm.

For background on McInnis' work to bring early voting to campus, please see http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=7181.