Joseph “Jeb” Sharp spends a good amount of time doing two things – playing sports and studying.

And now, those two things have paid off, in a big way for the Charles Henderson senior.

On Friday, the cross-country runner and soccer player was named the 5A, Region 2 winner of the 2010 Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete award.

The Bryant-Jordan award is celebrating its 25th year of celebrating student-athletes who excel on the field and in the classroom.

Over 2,200 students have benefited from the program, according to its website.

Not only did Sharp win the award, but along with it comes a $2,500 scholarship for college, which he will be attending at the University of Alabama next fall.

“Anything with Bryant-Jordan on it is always going to be prestigious,” Sharp said.

“I had to really focus on academics while I was playing sports.

“It was difficult and took up a lot of time but in the end I think it was worth it,” he added.

On Monday, Sharp will attending the annual banquet at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel Ballroom, in Birmingham, where all 96 regional winners will be recognized and the 12 class winners and two state winners will be announced.

“We think so much of this award,” Charles Henderson principal David Helms said.

“This is a big honor for anyone and we are very proud of Jeb for receiving this award.”

Short has to go through several steps in order to get Birmingham.

He had to be the top student-athlete in his school and then had to win his area, followed by his region.

“He is a very well-rounded kids,” Helms said.

“He excels on the field and in the classroom and has great leadership skills.

“He really is the complete package,” the principal added.

But for Sharp, the invitation to Birmingham is nothing more than “icing on the cake,” as he puts it.

“I am not really nervous about being named the overall winner,” he said. “Everything else will be a plus thanks to the scholarship.”

As far as which Sharp prefers, between, academics and athletics, he gave the answer many would.

“Academics is more time consuming.

“Athletics is more of a release, plus I get to hang out with my friends,” the Trojan right defender said.

“I am happy (the school year) is winding down, but I hope that we are able to go farther in the playoffs this season than last year,” Sharp added.