Brendon T. Johnson, a political science major and psychology and music minor at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, is the recipient of the eighth Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence presented by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).

Johnson will receive $1,000 and a medallion in recognition of his outstanding academic performance and involvement in extra-curricular activities. A member of the Honors College at West Chester, Johnson will graduate in May.

He has a 3.75 grade point average at West Chester, where has received numerous scholarships, both for academic excellence and community service. He participated in the PASSHE Summer Honors Program, traveling to Europe last summer with 27 other outstanding students from the 14 State System Universities, and also spent two months on the island of Sicily in the summer of 2005 as a recipient of the Sicily International Music Festival Performance Scholarship. Beginning this fall, he will attend the University of Hong Kong, where he will study political economics of developing nations as a recipient of a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship.

While at West Chester, Johnson founded and directed Aid to South Africa, an event that raised more than $16,000 and involved more than 1,000 participants. He also was a member of the University’s forensics speech and debate team, winning a national award given to the top 10 students for service, academics and forensic achievements, and was a Pi Kappa Delta National Semi-Finalist in parliamentary debate in Spring 2007. For the past three years, he has served as “Rammy,” the West Chester University mascot.

The Ali-Zaidi award was established by Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, a founding member of PASSHE’s Board of Governors, to annually recognize and reward a graduating senior from one of the 14 state-owned universities. Each of the 14 PASSHE University presidents is asked to nominate a student for the annual award. A committee appointed by the Chancellor reviews the nominations and selects the award recipient and two runners-up.

This year’s runners-up are Brittany Fox of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and Nicole Thierwechter of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Each received a certificate and $500. Funds for the runners-up awards were provided by the Highmark Foundation.

Dr. Ali-Zaidi served two terms on the Board of Governors. He initially was appointed to the Board by then-Gov. Dick Thornburgh upon the creation of the State System in 1983. He later was re-appointed by then-Gov. Tom Ridge. He also has served for more than 20 years on the Council of Trustees at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

With more than 110,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 405,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.