SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Tennessee All-American Eric Berry might not get an invitation for the Heisman ceremony, but Alex McCandless did--high school style.

From a competitive pool of over 54,000 applicants nationwide, the Sevier County High School track and cross-country runner has been selected as one of 12 national finalists for the 2009 Wendy’s High School Heisman award. It’s one of the biggest honors a high school scholar-athlete can win.

"I've worked hard all thru high school and year-round with running. I never thought I would win an award like this," McCandless told Sports Overtime's Daryl Hobby Monday morning.

"I was completely surprised. It was a bit surreal. I'm not use to anything like this. Track and cross country aren't really glory sports."

McCandless learned he was a national finalist in a surprise ceremony at the school. December 11th thru the 13th, he'll enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to New York City for the ceremony. The ceremony will air on ESPN2.

This is the second time a student from Sevier County High School has reached the national finalist level since the award program was established in 1994 by Wendy’s and the Heisman Memorial Trust. Sarah Edwards (1998 graduate) represented Sevier County at the 1997 awards ceremony and was named the national winner.