The halls of Goshen High School were completely silent Tuesday afternoon. Only the voice of Principal Major Lane could be heard throughout the school as he spoke to the student body via the public address system.

“Tyler Phillips is a shining star and I’m not saying that for any reason except it’s true,” Lane said. “He is the cream of the crop.”

Lane was congratulating Tyler Brown Phillips, who received the prestigious Scholar Athlete Award for Class 2A at the Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete Program at the Birmingham Sheraton ballroom Monday night. The program honors the state’s best and brightest in scholastic prowess and student achievement.

The program honored 104 student athletes as regional representatives with $2,500 scholarships for their post-secondary education.

On Monday night, Lane said he was a “proud man” as Phillips was named the state’s Scholar Athlete in Class 2A and received a $5,500 scholarship for that award.

Out of 150,000 student-athletes across the state, only seven, one from each school classification, were honored as Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athletes.

“Tyler is the first student-athlete in Pike County’s history to receive a Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete award,” Lane said. “And, it happened at Goshen High School. I was a proud man last night.”

Lane challenged each student at GHS to do as Phillips has done and strive for excellence.

“Tyler has set a great example for all of us,” he said.

Phillips listened quietly as Lane spoke about him and then sat thoughtfully before he spoke.

“I had no idea,” he said, with a smile. “I was honored to be at the Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete banquet. I never thought that I might be named a scholar athlete. It was the greatest honor I have ever received because it recognizes scholarship and athletics.”

The award also acknowledges the quality of leadership in the recipients.

Phillips said leadership is a learned attribute that he has acquired in the classroom and on the field.

“Teamwork is important no matter whether you’re playing football or in class,” he said. “You have to learn to work together and to depend on each other. I’ve worked hard at being a good leader and I hope that I’ve set a good example for others.”

Phillips has excelled in the classroom and on the playing field and, in so doing; he has helped dispel the jock-nerd stereotype.

The idea that jocks play sports and those who make good grades are nerds has no validity, he said.

“You can do both,” he said. “I worked hard a doing both.”

Phillips has received a trunk-load of awards during his athletic career at GHS, including being named to the Dothan Eagle’s Super 12 football team and the All-Area baseball team.

Those awards and trophies have singular importance. However, being president of the GHS Student Government Association and being named valedictorian of the GHS Class of 2015 means a little more to him.

“There comes a time when you no longer play football or baseball but the things that you have learned academically, stay with you throughout your life,” he said. “That’s why the scholar athlete award means so much to me.”

Phillips said his hopes are that he has set a good example for other students at GHS to follow as he leaves for “The Loveliest Village on the Plains.”

“I’ve already been admitted to Auburn University and, based on my ACT score, I would receive a scholarship that paid half of my tuition. But, today I got a phone call from the scholarship office at Auburn. They offered me a full four-year tuition scholarship. I was shocked. I never expected anything like that. It was such an honor and such a shock. All I could say was ‘thank you.’”

Phillips has attended Goshen schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. Looking back on those years, he said has tried his best in all that he has done.

He has tired to do the best for himself. He has tried his best to make his parents proud, to set a good example for others to follow and to be a good reflection of his school.

The 2015 Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete Award will always stand above any recognition he has received, “because the name Goshen High School is on the trophy.”