DANVILLE — A local college student has received national recognition this week for his placement on the USA Today All-USA first academic team.

Jacob Lane, a Danville Area Community College sophomore and 2006 Schlarman High School graduate, is the highest-ranking recipient of the honor in Illinois.

This weekend, he attended the American Association of Community Colleges’ annual convention in Philadelphia, where he received his award at the Phi Theta Kappa presidents’ breakfast Monday.

Lane also receives $4,500 in scholarship money: $2,500 from the All-USA and an additional $2,000 from New Century Scholars because he was the top-rated Illinois team member.

Lane was chosen to be one of 20 for the team out of 1,600 applicants.

He is studying political science and pre-law; he hopes to go into politics one day.

“First off, I want to go to law school,” he said. “I’d like to practice law and then be a politician.”

His biggest goal would be representing Illinois in Congress, he said.

Applicants were chosen based on a point system that ranked community and campus involvement. They also needed three references: one from the community college Phi Theta Kappa honor society, one from a faculty member and a reference from an individual familiar with an endeavor the applicant participated in on behalf of the college or community.

Lane’s endeavor was the co-founding of the campus Republican group this fall, which he wrote about in his application.

He also is active in DACC student government, where he serves as vice president.

He is president of the DACC Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

The USA Today program is teamed with the national Phi Theta Kappa organization, and all eligible students in PTK are encouraged to apply, Lane said.

“I was shocked,” he said, when he learned how highly he was ranked among the competition.

Lane was the only person from DACC who applied this year. Applicants had to have at least a 3.25 grade point average just to be considered and slated for graduation this spring.

Lane has been accepted to a number of schools, including the University of Illinois, Illinois State University and Millikin University, but his latest accomplishment may lead to other schools out East he hadn’t considered before, he said.

One thing is for sure: Lane is a young man with plans for the future.

“My philosophy is you can do anything with hard work and determination,” he said simply.

“If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, anything you want to do, you can accomplish.”

Getting as involved in any activity or experience makes it “a lot more enjoyable,” he added.

On his professional goals, he said he sees the political arena as a way to really serve society.

“I want to do something where I could really help people,” he said.

These days, so many people are turned off by politics because of corruption and mudslinging, he said.

“I want to be a different politician,” he said — actually working for the people he’s elected and paid to represent.

“I’ve always had an interest to serve my country and this was a great way to do it.”

Rich Pate, DACC history instructor, said Lane’s ambition is obvious, but he’s also a serious scholar.

“I think he wants to accomplish quite a bit in his life, and he’s starting early,” he said.

Pate said Lane is one of the top student writers he’s seen in 20 years of teaching, both for in-class writing and out-of-class research writing.

As a history student, he always carefully considered context and perspective, Pate added.

“I also thought that he did a good job of exploring things in class and being able to read the different perspectives.

“He obviously has a political perspective he’s invested, but our readings run the gamut from liberal to conservative — he thoughtfully considered every one of them, which I appreciate in these times.

“He’s a good kid, and we’re so proud of him at DACC. He’s going to do well wherever he goes.”