State Winners In Midwest Region For Wendy's® High School Heisman® Award Announced

DUBLIN, Ohio, Nov. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wendy's^® High School Heisman^® program honored outstanding high school seniors with the distinguished recognition of State Winner in the states of the Midwest region. States of the Midwest region include: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. These recognized students will now advance to compete for the national award that celebrates their hard work, dedication in athletics, academics and community leadership.

"State Winners are exceptional examples of well-rounded students who excel academically, lead and serve others with the passion and persistence of a Heisman winner," said Archie Griffin, two-time collegiate Heisman Trophy winner. "While these students are recognized as leaders in their communities, the Wendy's High School Heisman Award gives them the national recognition their achievements have earned." 

The Wendy's High School Heisman Award, now in its 20^th year, is awarded in conjunction with the collegiate Heisman. The award has set the standard for high school student-athletes and has gained tremendous prestige among universities and colleges nationwide.

The selected 2013 State Winners were chosen from 48,000 applicants, surviving rounds that narrowed contenders to one male and one female winner from each school, and then to each state's respected group of 20 State Finalists. 

Midwest Region's Wendy's High School Heisman Award State Winners:

Illinois

• Rebekah Ehresman, Female, El Paso-Gridley High School, Gridley
• Dalton Mitchell, Male, Massac County High School, Metropolis

Indiana

• Kieran Casey, Female, Perry Meridian High School, Indianapolis
• Chandler Carroll, Male, Yorktown High School, Alexandria

Iowa

• Lexi Flynn, Female, Assumption High School, Davenport
• Eli Dunne, Male, Grinnell Community Senior High School, Grinnell

Kansas

• Shaelyn Martin, Female, Salina High School Central, Tescott
• Travis House, Male, El Dorado High School, El Dorado

Michigan

• Elianna Shwayder, Female, Saline High School, Saline
• Maxwell Schwegman, Male, Notre Dame Preparatory, Birmingham

Minnesota

• Carly Bandt, Female, Mounds View High School, Shoreview
• Tim Larson, Male, Thomas Jefferson Senior High School, Bloomington

Missouri

• Nicole Lee, Female, Clinton High School, Clinton
• Ryan White, Male, Marionville R-9 High School, Aurora

Nebraska

• Mckenzie Brown, Female, Northwest High School, Grand Island
• Alexander Harms, Male, St. Patrick High School, North Platte

North Dakota

• Haley Hodenfield, Female, Ray High School, Ray
• Darin McClintock, Male, Drake High School, Drake

Ohio

• Allison Parks, Female, United High School, Lisbon
• John Barba II, Male, Meadowbrook High School, Cambridge

South Dakota

• Cheyenne Schaller, Female, Groton High School, Groton
• Jase Kraft, Male, Wessington Springs High School, Wessington Springs

Wisconsin

• Madeline Reed, Female, Lourdes High School, Oshkosh
• Trey Horbinski, Male, Necedah High School, Necedah

These students will go on to compete against winners from other regions across the country for a chance to be named one of 12 National Finalists in Wendy's annual quest to find the nation's top scholar-athletes. These 12 outstanding students will go on to compete for the National Winner title in New York City on December 13. National Finalists will be featured during a televised ceremony on ESPN^® networks and will receive gold medals and $2,000 awards for their high schools. One male and one female National Winner will each receive a crystal Wendy's High School Heisman trophy, a $500 Wendy's gift card, and a donation from Wendy's in the amount of $10,000 to their respective high school. Additionally, the winners will be recognized during the collegiate Heisman Trophy announcement on December 14.

For more information about the Wendy's High School Heisman Award program and to view all the state winners and finalists, visit www.WendysHeisman.com.

About the Wendy's High School Heisman Program
Created in 1994 by Wendy's and the Heisman Memorial Trust, the Wendy's High School Heisman Award recognizes outstanding high-school seniors nationwide who excel in athletics, academics and in the community.  Students can nominate themselves for the award online, in addition to being recommended by principals, teachers, guidance counselors and coaches.  The most exceptional students 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 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.

Contact
Janna Chapman
Ketchum Public Relations
(404) 879-9159
[email protected] 

NOTE:  For a list of your state winners' achievements or to find out more about the program,
please call Janna Chapman at (404) 879-9159.

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

SOURCE The Wendy's Company