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UA junior Zachary Gibson was among only 10 students across a National Society of Collegiate Scholars award.

A University of Arizona student was one among 10 in the nation to earn an award in a competition that measured values of integrity.

Zachary Gibson, a junior majoring in Spanish and pre-business, received the National Society of Collegiate Scholars 2009 Integrity Scholarship. The award comes with $1,000, which Gibson is using toward his education at the UA.

The scholarships go to students who have "displayed integrity when confronting an ethical dilemma," according to the society's Web site. Other students who received the scholarships are attending schools that include Baylor University, Johns Hopkins University and George Mason University.

"It's a nice recognition," Gibson said.

The scholarship program is part of the society's Integrity Initiative, which is promoting a devotion to ethics whether it be in personal, professional or academic situations.

"NSCS believes very strongly in the value of integrity," said Stephen E. Loflin, the society's executive director, said in a statement.

"The integrity scholarship serves as recognition of students like Zachary who've made wise choices when faced with an ethical challenge," Loflin said. "Zachary serves as a role-model for other NSCS members and students everywhere."

Gibson submitted two essays to the national competition.

In the first, he had to respond to a scenario: An insurance claims adjuster is trying to determine whether he should leave his daughter in the care of a woman who he knows, though his work, is dealing with emotional trauma. The question, Gibson said, deals with an issue of moral obligations as a parent, but also professional ethics.

"Rather than make any assumptions and breaking the code of the insurance industry to remove his daughter from Miss Anderson's care, Don can use this experience as a precaution," Gibson wrote in his essay. "It likely will become apparent if Erica comes close to any harm. Being around emotionally distraught people is an inevitable experience in life, and this may be nothing more than one of Erica's firsts."

The second essay detailed an experience Gibson had while in high school in Phoenix. A friend of Gibson's was involved in a car wreck that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Gibson said he and a group of other friends opted to host a fundraiser for their peer, who had to have his home and vehicle converted to be wheelchair accessible. None of the items, Gibson said, would be covered by insurance.

Gibson encouraged his peers to help with the fundraising by selling raffle tickets and prizes and holding a carnival.

In the end, the group raised about $40,000. Gibson said it was one of the most "gratifying experiences" he has had.