Wendy's Names Twelve Outstanding Student-Athletes As National Finalists For The 2014 Wendy's High School Heisman Award

National Winners to be Announced on December 12 in New York City

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Nov 12, 2014, 10:30 ET

DUBLIN, Ohio, Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The race to Wendy's^® High School Heisman^® Award is almost over! Twelve exceptional high school seniors were recently named National Finalists for the 21^st annual Wendy's High School Heisman Program. Wendy's is bringing these students to New York City with their families to celebrate their accomplishments at the Wendy's High School Heisman Award Ceremony at the Best Buy Theater on December 12, where one male and one female from this prestigious group will be chosen as the National Winners of the annual award.

The Wendy´s High School Heisman Program honors 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 his or her academic achievements and community leadership.

"Wendy's High School Heisman program has honored all-star scholar-athletes who are also stand-out individuals in all aspects of their lives for more than 20 years," said Archie Griffin, two-time collegiate Heisman Memorial Trophy^® winner. "These 12 young men and women were individually selected for showing the same Heisman ideals of outstanding performance and leadership in the classroom, on the field and in the community, and I'm honored to help Wendy's congratulate these students on being National Finalists."

The 12 national finalists are listed below. To learn more, visit: http://www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com/2014finalists/

FEMALE FINALISTS

Sarah Andrews, North Kingstown Sr. High School, North Kingstown RI

Riley Cooney, Mountain View High School, Loveland, CO

Mariana de Maille, Newbury Park High School, Newbury Park, CA

Jillian Murray, Georgetown Visitation Prep School, Chevy Chase, MD

Claudia Smith, Central Magnet School, Murfreesboro, TN

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

MALE FINALISTS

Patrick Cha, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Chevy Chase, MD

Nolan Henry, Union High School, Camas, WA

Noah Kuehn, Eagan High School, Eagan MN

Trey LaNasa, Fort Walton Beach High School, Miramar Beach, FL

Matthew Salit, Seekonk High School, Seekonk, MA

Dalton Schoen, Blue Valley Northwest High School, Overland Park, KS

Each of the 12 National Finalists will receive a gold medal and a $2,000 award for his or her high school. The one male and one female Wendy's High School Heisman National Award Winners will also earn a Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy, an additional $8,000 donation to each winner's respective high school and a $500 gift card for use at Wendy's restaurants. Additionally, the two winners will be recognized during the ESPN^® national telecast of the collegiate Heisman Memorial Trophy presentation on December 13.

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 Program 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 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.

ESPN is a registered trademark of ESPN, Inc.

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

NOTE: To download bios and photos of the 12 national finalists, please visit http://www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com/2014finalists/

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140902/142233

SOURCE The Wendy's Company