Fact Sheet

Award Concept
The Wendy’s High School Heisman Award is presented annually to one male and one female high school senior who best exemplify the designation of scholar-citizen-athletes.

Award Sponsor
Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants.

Who's Eligible
Men and women entering their senior year of high school who have at least a “B” grade average and participate in at least one of 33 sports officially sanctioned by the National Federation of State High Schools.  Students are judged on their academic achievements, community and school service and athletic accomplishments.

Award History
The program was created in 1994, with more than 6,200 nominations submitted in the first year from high schools nationwide.  Since then, more than 150,000 students have been nominated and 26 have joined the prestigious Heisman family.
 

1994	Barrett Robinson Chaminade-Julienne High School, Dayton, Ohio
	Trisha Perry Mansfield High School, Mansfield, Missouri
1995	Jeremy Royal The Altamont School, Birmingham, Alabama
	Jill Aholt Linn High School, Linn, Missouri
1996	Chris Kirchhoff Worthington Kilbourne High School, Worthington, Ohio
	Erin Dromgoole Millbury Memorial High School, Millbury, Massachusetts
1997	Blake Moore Ogden High School, Ogden, Utah
	Sarah Edwards Sevier County High School, Sevierville, Tennesse
1998	Anthony White Rosemead High School, San Gabriel, California
	Kelly Landreth McDowell High School, Marion, North Carolina
1999	Barrett Brandon Lake Country Christian High School, Fort Worth, Texas
	Abby Miller Green Valley High School, Henderson, Nevada
2000	David Donaldson Walker High School, Jasper, Alabama
	Kate O'Toole Villa Madonna Academy, Crescent Springs, Kentucky
2001	Paul Corsello Pittsford Mendon High School, Pittsford, New York
	Megan May Handley High School, Roanoke, Alabama
2002	Robert Huefner McIntosh High School, Peachtree City, GA
	Meghan O'Leary Episcopal High School, Baton Rouge, LA
2003	Chase Correia Galena High School, Reno, NV
	Ashley Wolf Montville Township High School, Montville, NJ
2004	Andy Bratten James M. Bennett High School, Salisbury, MD
	Brenna Brucker Bethel Park Senior High School, Bethel Park, PA
2005	William Jacobs James Monroe High School, Fredericksburg, VA
	Katie Zaeh Gov Livingston High School, Berkely Heights, NJ
2006	Samual Finlayson San Ramon Valley High School, Alamo, CA
	Kaylee Jamison St. Charles North High School, St. Charles, IL

Judging Timeline
New this year, any high school senior that meets the the aforementioned criteria is invited to apply for the award.  Each student applicant must have a high school official review and approve their application before it can be submitted.  Applicants must fill out their application online at www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com  All applications must be completed and reviewed by a high school official no later than 11:59pm October 1, 2007. Completed applications are then scored by ACT Inc. and 1 male and 1 female winner per school is chosen.  From the School Winners, the field is narrowed to 1,020 State Finalists – 10 male and 10 female per state including the District of Columbia – who are announced in late October.  In early November, the field narrows to 102 State Winners – one male and one female from each state including the District of Columbia. 

In mid-November, a judging panel, including representatives from education, sports and business, along with former Heisman Memorial Trophy recipients, selects 12 National Finalists - one male and one female from each of six geographical regions.  These students are invited to the Wendy’s High School Heisman Awards Banquet on Friday, December 7, 2007 in New York City. They also will attend all Heisman Memorial Trophy Weekend festivities. 

Two National Winners, one male and one female, are selected from the 12 National Finalists, and are honored during ESPN’s national telecast of the college Heisman Memorial Trophy on December 8. 

Award Levels and Monetary Awards
Every applicant can download a certificate of recognition from the website for applying.  Each School Winner will receive a congratulatory letter from Wendy’s and a certificate of recognition.  The 1,020 State Finalists will receive a congratulatory letter from Wendy’s and a bronze medal.  The 102 State Winners will earn a silver medall.  The 12 National Finalists will be given an all expense paid trip to New York City, gold medal of recognition, and $2,000 for their high school.  Two National Winners receive a Wendy’s High School Heisman Crystal Trophy and an additional $10,000 for their high schools.

Program Judges
Representatives from the worlds of education, business, community service and sports, including former college Heisman Memorial Trophy and Wendy’s High School Heisman Award recipients.

Program Spokesperson
Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman Memorial Trophy recipient (1974 and 1975) and current President/CEO The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

Heisman Regions
The 12 National Finalists of the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award program are grouped according to the same geographical regions used by the college Heisman Memorial Trophy.  One male and one female National Finalist are selected from each of these six regions:

• Far West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
• Southwest: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas
• Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin
• Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont
• Mid-Atlantic: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia
• South: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee

Officially Sanctioned Sports
To be nominated for the Wendy’s High School Heisman, students must participate in at least one of these 33 sports officially sanctioned by the National Federation of High Schools:

• Archery
• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bowling
• Canoeing
• Cheerleading
• Crew
• Cross Country
• Decathlon
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Field Hockey
• Football
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Heptathalon
• Ice Hockey
• Judo
• Lacrosse
• Pentathlon
• Riflery
• Skiing
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Track & Field
• Triathlon
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• Weight Lifting
• Wrestling

Program Partners
Heisman Memorial Trust  in New York City has been home of the Heisman Memorial Trophy since it was created in 1935.  The Trust helped create the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, the only other award to use the Heisman name.

ACT Inc.ACT is a leading international provider of education and workforce development programs and services, serving millions of people each year in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies. ACT's guiding purpose is to help students and adults achieve education and career goals.

Ketchum will coordinate and execute all public relations and media relation activities beginning in September with publicity efforts surrounding nominated students through all Heisman weekend activities.  They are available year-round as a valuable resource.

Website
Located at www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com, this site serves as a “one-stop” shop for those people interested in the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program.  Students can fill out and submit their application form online.  Students can also track their progress as the program heats up during the fall, while the media can find up-to-date press releases, downloadable logos, as well as a program fact sheet.  The website continues to be the central location for all information about the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program. 

Nomination Deadline:
All Nominations must be completed online and reviewed by a high school official by 11:59pm, October 1.

Corporate Contacts:
Frank Vamos (614) 764-8477
Alissa English (614) 764-6804
Debbie Alloway (614) 764-3559