Six-foot-tall, blue-eyed and brown-haired Mark Wieder won a $10,000 scholarship not for being the best athlete or the smartest in his class -- but for being voted 2003's teenage heartthrob.

He was awarded the prize to the college of his choice for receiving the most online votes from BoyCrazy.com, where he was named "Boy of the Year."

Girls on campus next fall might catch a glimpse of Wieder, because he was accepted to University Park and considers it one of his first choices.

Life hasn't changed much for the newest celebrity to hit Central Dauphin High School, yet he does admit his win was a huge surprise to him and his family.

"I didn't think I was going to win. I can't believe that people I didn't even know voted for me," Wieder said. "That was the coolest part."

BoyCrazy.com is a Web site "by boys for girls" that sells magazines and trading cards featuring pictures of 12- to 20-year-old men. The Web site is run by Decipher Inc., owner of the Boy Crazy line of products.

A year ago, Wieder's modeling agency from Washington, D.C., contacted him about the online contest.

Many teenagers from across the country applied with creative resumes, but only 100 were selected for the 25-week voting extravaganza.

Wieder received news of his victory by phone during Thanksgiving break.

"I had the day off for the holiday, and a guy called me and told me that I won the contest," he said. "I didn't know what to say. I think I was still asleep."

Wieder's family told friends, family, neighbors and strangers to vote for him, said his mother, Cheryl Wieder.

"He even e-mailed some of his friends at Penn State to vote for him," she said.

Cheryl Wieder said her son visited the campus last summer and loved it.

"I am a Penn State grad, and we looked here because he wants a school with a quality education and a Division I track team," she said.

In an admissions essay he wrote for Penn State, Wieder said, "Being so 'hot' will keep me warm during State College's cold winters."

Wieder's talents go far beyond his looks, although the 18-year-old includes modeling as a side job.

"He is an amazing athlete and great in school," Cheryl Wieder said. "And during the contest, he had to write articles for the Web site every month."

Some Penn State students have mixed feelings about the "Boy of the Year" award.

Lauren Brantz (senior-marketing and international business) said this is the first she has heard of an online contest giving away such an extravagant monetary award for college.

"He won money for college for being hot? Well, good for him. I think as long as it's not a university-sanctioned thing, it's OK," Brantz said.

Although she is in favor of Wieder's good fortune and good looks, she said universities should not start awarding people scholarships for "things like being hot."

Ryan Fitzpatrick (junior-telecommunications) said he does not think Wieder merited the award.

"I think they should give money on how smart you are, not on your looks," Fitzpatrick said.

Jake Wade (junior-telecommunications) offered a neutral response to the online heartthrob.

"I couldn't care less," he said.