21st Annual Wendy's High School Heisman Award Winners Announced

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lauren Van Vlierbergen of Algonquin, IL and Nolan Henry of Camas, WA, were honored this evening as National Winners of the 21^st annual Wendy's^® High School Heisman^® program, which recognizes high school seniors who excel in sports, academics and community involvement.

The Wendy's High School Heisman Award, inspired by Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, celebrates the successes of exceptional high school seniors throughout the nation. Not only does it recognize a student's athletic accomplishments, but it celebrates the value of being well-rounded by also judging their academic achievements and community leadership.

"Wendy's High School Heisman Winners are great students and athletes who give their all in everything they do, just like Heisman Trophy winners," said Archie Griffin, two-time collegiate Heisman Memorial Trophy^® winner. "Congratulations to Lauren and Nolan, and all of our 2014 National Finalists. Their outstanding achievements are inspirational, and we're proud to recognize a job well done."

Lauren Van Vlierbergen, Harry D. Jacobs High School
Hometown: Algonquin, IL

Lauren Van Vlierbergen defines a true scholar-athlete at Harry D. Jacobs High School. She has lettered in Cross Country, Track and Field and Basketball. Lauren was named All-Conference and All-District athlete three consecutive years for Cross Country and Track and Field, for which she has set four school records. In the classroom, she was a VFW^® scholarship recipient and an AP scholar with Honors. Lauren is also involved in her community as President of the Girls on the Run^® program.

Nolan Henry, Union High School
Hometown: Camas, WA

Nolan Henry is a top scholar-athlete at Union High School. He has lettered in Baseball and Football, for which he was named All-Conference and All-District for his accomplishments and holds six school records associated with his quarterback position. In addition to being an outstanding student, Nolan leads a number of service activities in his community and abroad. He serves as a mentor to younger athletes, founded the Union Scholar Athlete Club and personally raised $26,000 to aid widows and orphans in Kamara Town, Liberia.

Nolan and Lauren will each receive a $10,000 donation to his and her high school, a crystal Wendy's High School Heisman trophy, a $500 gift card to use at Wendy's restaurants, and will appear on the ESPN^® national telecast of the collegiate Heisman Memorial Trophy presentation on December 13.

"Our founder, Dave Thomas, believed Wendy's should have a higher purpose to help high school students pursue their passions by providing a platform for continued growth and success. For 21 years, we've recognized the accomplishments of scholar-athletes through the Wendy's High School Heisman program, and proudly honor the achievements from Lauren and Nolan that set the new standards for excellence on and off the field," said Emil Brolick, Wendy's President and Chief Executive Officer.

A panel of judges selected Lauren and Nolan from 12 National Finalists – six senior males and six senior females – representing the six geographic Heisman Trophy regions. Wendy's honored the National Finalists at an awards ceremony at the Best Buy Theater in New York City this evening.

The other 10 Wendy's High School Heisman National Finalists are:

The initial rounds of judging were conducted by Scholarship Management Services^®, a division of Scholarship America^®, the nation's largest designer and manager of education assistance and recognition programs which evaluated applicants and determined hundreds of School Winners, 983 State Finalists and 102 State Winners from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. After State Winners were selected, a distinguished panel of judges – from the worlds of education, business and sports, along with former college Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winners and former Wendy's High School Heisman National Winners – carefully reviewed the applications and voted on the National Finalists and National Winners.

For more information about the 2014 Wendy's High School Heisman Award program, and to view photos and bios of the National Winners and National Finalists, as well as photos from the Heisman weekend, please visit www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com.

About the Wendy's High School Heisman Program
Created in 1994 by Wendy's founder Dave Thomas and the Heisman Memorial Trust, the Wendy's High School Heisman Program recognizes outstanding high school scholar-athletes for their commitment to academic achievement, community service involvement and athletic prowess. Students can nominate themselves for the award online, in addition to being recommended by principals, teachers, guidance counselors and coaches. The most exceptional applications are then selected to advance during extensive judging processes conducted at both state and national levels.

About The Wendy's Company
The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ: WEN) is the world's third largest quick-service hamburger company. The Wendy's system includes more than 6,500 franchise and Company restaurants in the United States and 29 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.aboutwendys.com or www.wendys.com.

The Wendy's name and design, and the Wendy's High School Heisman and design are trademarks of Oldemark LLC and are licensed to Wendy's International, LLC.  The Heisman Memorial Trophy, Heisman name and Heisman Trophy figure are registered trademarks of the Heisman Trophy Trust, used with permission.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:
Jenn Bins
Ketchum Public Relations
(404) 879 - 9062
[email protected]

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SOURCE The Wendy's Company