Apply Now to Become a Part of Heisman History

DUBLIN, Ohio, May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today through October 2, 2013, high school class of 2014 seniors can apply for the Wendy's^® High School Heisman^® Award, a program honoring outstanding high school scholar-athletes for their commitment to academic achievement, community service involvement, and athletic prowess. To apply, students can go to www.WendysHeisman.com for a chance to win the Award and the prestige of joining an ever-growing family of distinguished past winners. The first 25,000 students with completed applications will receive a Wendy's gift card valued at $10.

Created by Wendy's founder Dave Thomas in 1994, the Wendy's High School Heisman Award has impacted the lives of thousands of scholar athletes who have been a part of the program for the past 20 years. Since its inception, Wendy's High School Heisman has received more than 400,000 applications and honored more than 228 National Finalists and 38 National Winners.

A partner award with college football's acclaimed Heisman Memorial Trophy, the Heisman cache touches students at every level of the program.  In addition to recognition at school and state levels, six female and six male national finalists receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to attend the Wendy's High School Heisman Awards Ceremony and college Heisman Memorial Trophy® Award weekend festivities in December 2013. The one male and one female Wendy's High School Heisman Award winners will also earn $10,000 for their high school and a $500 Wendy's gift card. 

Nearly 50,000 scholar-athletes from across the country apply for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award each year. These applicants are then narrowed down in four phases:

• School Winners Phase – One senior male and one senior female from every school will be selected as a "School Winner"
• State Finalists Phase –10 senior males and 10 senior females—from every state and the District of Columbia will advance to "State Finalists"
• State Winners Phase – One senior male and one senior female from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as "State Winners"
• National Finalist Phase – A judging panel will select "12 National Finalists" from the 102 State Winners

About Wendy's High School Heisman
The Wendy's High School Heisman Award is a joint program between Wendy's and the Heisman Memorial Trust, host of the College Heisman Memorial Trophy. The 2012 winners were Samuel Prakel of Versailles, OH, who plans to study chemical engineering or biology this fall; and Zoe Alaniz of Corpus Christi, TX, who plans to swim at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall, and to follow a pre-med track.

A complete list of past WHSH finalists and winners can be found at www.wendysheisman.com.    

For more information, students can visit www.WendysHeisman.com, call (800) 205-6367 or contact their local high school principal, guidance counselor or athletic director.  Participants can also "Like" Wendy's Heisman on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WendysHighSchoolHeisman for additional program details.  

About The Wendy's Company
The Wendy's Company 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 27 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.aboutwendys.com or www.wendys.com.

Wendy's name and design, and the Wendy's High School Heisman name and design are trademarks of Oldemark LLC and are licensed to Wendy's International Inc.  ©2013 Oldemark LLC.

The Heisman Memorial Trophy, Heisman name and Heisman Trophy figure are registered trademarks of the Heisman Trophy Trust, used with permission.

Contact:
Christyne Muller
[email protected]
404-879-9031

Frank Vamos
[email protected]
614-764-8477

SOURCE The Wendy's Company