Update: Kaylee is currently a junior at the University of Minnesota majoring in bio-chem and is a member of the swim team. Last season, Kaylee was a member of the Big Ten and NCAA teams last season earning Academic All American and Outstanding Scholar Athlete awards. Her career focus is dentistry or medicine at this time. Kaylee had the opportunity last summer to participate in a medical mission trip to Costa Rica & Panama where she helped set up clinics in outback areas to provide medical treatment. She found the experience humbling and hopes to continue this type of work.

What did winning the Heisman mean to you?

"Winning the Heisman was a huge surprise and honor for me. I will forever remember the wonderful experiences and people I met that weekend. With this award comes the desire to continue to excel in the areas of education, service and athletics. I hope I can continue to be a positive role mode in representing Wendy's and the Heisman honor."

What advice do you have for this year's finalist and their families?

"It is an honor for all of them to be a participant in such an amazing weekend, regardless of who wins. My advice to the finalists would be to relax, enjoy and get to know the other finalists, participate in all the activities, and take lots of pictures. I made a scrapbook of the weekend that included the cards and emails I received from friends. It was nice to know others back home were as excited as we were."

Sam Finlayson

Update: Sam has taken a break from his studies and water polo pursuits at Stanford University to take part in a full-time service program through his church in southwestern Texas. Since participating in an intensive language study program for three months last fall, Sam has spent his time seeking to serve the Spanish speaking population there in any way possible. Sam will remain in Texas until summer of 2010, when he will return to Stanford and resume his studies, his pursuit of water polo, and his other activities. He sends his very best to everyone in the Heisman Program, and offers his congratulations to this year's finalists and winners--- he looks forward to meeting you upon his return!

What did winning the Heisman mean to you?

"Being selected as a winner of the Wendy's High School Heisman continues to inspire and humble me. Serving as a representative of this wonderful program reinforces my desire to stand for and promote the values of scholarship, sportsmanship and service in my own life, and hopefully allows me to encourage similar aspirations in the lives of those around me. It remains my best hope to live a life worthy of the Wendy's High School Heisman name, and I could not be more proud of, or grateful for, the opportunity to be part of this great tradition."

What advice do you have for this year's finalist and their families?

"Relax, Dress Warm, and Have a Wonderful Time in New York!! You are about to meet an amazing group of fellow student-athletes that despite coming from very diverse parts of the U.S., share a passion for scholarship, athletics and community service that will bind you in exciting and unexpected ways. I promise, that before the weekend is out, you will consider your fellow finalists not as acquaintances, but as friends Congratulations to all!"