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CORVALLIS, Ore. - An Oregon State University senior from Livingston, Mont., has earned the title of Forensics All-American.

Bridget Burns, a member of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and former president of Associated Students of OSU, was recognized at the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament at California State University Long Beach earlier this month.

Judges cited Burns' grade point average, service to the community and her forensics success in naming her a Forensics All-American.

In addition to her success on the OSU Forensics Team, Burns was the 1998 state champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate, a debating style that features two speakers - one on each side of a single issue.

Burns, who expects to graduate from OSU this year with a degree in political science, first came to OSU in 2000. She was appointed to the State Board of Higher Education in July 2003.

She has served as national chairwoman of the State Student Association Alliance and has served as director of the ASOSU Federal Affairs Task Force and the Disabled Affairs Task Force.

Burns advocated on behalf of low-income students at OSU, ultimately winning a $2.2 million dollar increase in financial aid and also set up a need-based aid program at OSU by raising $300,000 for low-income students. Before beginning at OSU, Burns attended North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, where she was student body vice president.