Many high school students excel in both athletics and academics.

But only a select few make it this far.

Drew Snyder, a senior swimmer and volleyball player at Seneca Valley, is a state finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award.

He will travel to Philadelphia Thursday, along with nine other male student athletes from across Pennsylvania, to be on hand when the state winner is announced.

Snyder learned in May 2003 that he was being nominated for the award.

Since then, the field has been narrowed by a series of eliminations, which included essay writing.

"When you look at how many great student athletes there are across the state, it was an honor just to make it past the nomination," said Snyder.

The Pennsylvania representative will be judged against other state winners from the Mid-Atlantic Region, which includes seven other states and the District of Columbia.

One male student athlete from each of the country's six regions then will be invited to New York City in early December, when a national winner will be announced. That person will receive a crystal trophy and $2,500 for his school.

Athletics and academics have gone hand in hand for Snyder since he was 5 years old.

"I've been swimming competitively for 13 years now, and this will be my second season on the boys volleyball team," he said.

"I've always liked swimming because if you work hard enough, it will pay off. That's not always the case in other sports. In swimming, it's just you and the clock."

Snyder, who is a 50- and 100-yard freestyle specialist for the Raiders, has made it to the WPIAL Class AAA finals the last three years.

"His best attribute is his work ethic," said Seneca Valley swimming coach Tom Donati. "He's always giving 110 percent. It's a trait that can't be taught, but one that has helped him in both athletics and in the classroom."

A fourth-place finish in the 50 freestyle last February sent him to the PIAA finals at Penn State University, where he placed 21st.

But his most memorable moment in a pool came three years ago as a freshman at the district championships.

"We knew we needed at least a fourth-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay to move on to states," Snyder said. "Jesse Bowser was a senior swimming the anchor leg and he told us to keep it close for him.

"I went out and swam the best time of my life up to that point and we finished in the top four to make the state meet," he said. "Just to be able to compete at that next level, it just made me want to work harder and get back there the next year."

The Harmony resident carries the same attitude into the classroom.

He currently sports a 4.6 grade-point average and is No. 1 in a class of 554 students.

"I owe a lot to my parents (Steve and Ellyn Snyder)," he said. "They're always encouraging me to give my best in everything I do.

"Plus I have a competitive drive. If I think I can do something, I'm going to go out and do it. I would feel I'd be selling myself short if I didn't give my best effort."

Along with academics and athletics, a third criterion for the Wendy's Heisman is community service.

Snyder has logged almost 300 hours of community service since his freshman year in high school.

Counting math as his favorite subject, Snyder plans to major in electrical engineering in college.

"Hopefully, I will get accepted at Grove City (College)," said Snyder. "I definitely plan on swimming and, if I have the time, I might play volleyball, too. But my concentration will be on swimming."

Wendy's has been awarding a national high school Heisman award to one boy and one girl each year since 1994.