While the nation's

sports reporters debated the merits of the five finalists for the Heisman

Trophy last week, McIntosh High School's Robert Huefner won the Wendy's

High School Heisman Award, beating out 13,500 students nominated in October.

He was named

as one of the 1,020 state finalists and 102 state winners before being

selected as one of the 12 national finalists. In a ceremony televised

on ESPN2 last Friday night, Huefner won it all.

Huefner is

a well-rounded individual, in the community and the classroom as well

as on the playing field. He is class president and editor of the school

newspaper as well as co-captain of the varsity soccer team. Huefner has

earned varsity letters in football and cross-country as well as soccer.

Huefner has

also made valuable contributions to the community. He was an officer on

the Youth Advisory Board and has volunteered in a local nursing home and

soup kitchen.

Each year,

principals, athletic directors, teachers and counselors can nominate a

male and female student from their school for the award. Nominated students

are required to be seniors with a "B" average or better and

must take part in one of 32 sports sanctioned by the National Federation

of State High Schools.

As 2002's winner,

Huefner got to take home a crystal trophy and McIntosh High School received

$2,500. While in New York City, Huefner also attended the college-level

Heisman award ceremony Saturday evening.

Wendy's founder

Dave Thomas created an award in 1994 that recognized today's top scholars,

athletes and citizens among America's high school students.

To date, more

than 77,600 high school students have been nominated for the award. Of

them, 97 have progressed to the national finalist level, with 16 having

earned the designation of a Wendy's High School Heisman National Award

Winner. Huefner is the first winner from the Southeast in the history

of the award.