Wendy's High School Heisman Announces State Winners In Southeast Region

High-Achieving Senior Student-Athletes Advance to Next Stage of National Award Competition

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Nov 10, 2014, 09:55 ET

DUBLIN, Ohio, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Wendy's^® High School Heisman^®Program announced the names of the male and female high school student-athletes from the Southeast region as State Winners. These students are all in contention to be named one of 12 National Finalists – six males and six females – of the Wendy's High School Heisman Program. From this group, one male and one female will be announced as the National Winners at a ceremony in New York City on December 12.

The Wendy's High School Heisman Program recognizes outstanding students across the country for their athletic prowess, academic achievement and leadership within their community. The Wendy's High School Heisman Program honors exceptionally well-rounded students to help them pursue their passions.

"The State Winners are distinguished student-athletes in their own communities, and because of their desire to get better every day as students, athletes and leaders, the Wendy's High School Heisman Program applauds their success by honoring them as State Winners," said Archie Griffin, Wendy's High School Heisman Program spokesperson and the two-time collegiate Heisman Trophy winner. "Wendy's High School Heisman has been a platform for exemplary students to be recognized for more than twenty years, and I'm proud to help Wendy's honor those students' achievements."

Southeast Region's Wendy's High School Heisman State Winners:

Alabama

Rachael Yergensen, Female, Saint James School, Montgomery
Yasanka Chalasani, Male, James Clemens High School, Madison

Arkansas

Victoria Sanders, Female, Searcy High School, Searcy
Zachery Burton, Male, Springdale High School, Springdale

Florida

Holly Fritz, Female, Mariner High School, Cape Coral
Trey LaNasa, Male, Fort Walton Beach High School, Miramar Beach

Georgia

Abigail Mabry, Female, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, Fort Oglethorpe
Archie Wilson Jr., Male, Dominion Christian High School, Acworth

Kentucky

Clara Johnson, Female, Muhlenberg Co High School – West Campus, Greenville
Cody Estep, Male, Pikeville High School, Pikeville

Louisiana

Mallory Robichaux, Female Holy Savior Menard Central High School, Woodworth
Randy Harvey, Male, Destrehan High School, Destrehan

Mississippi

Rachel Talton, Female, Tupelo Christian High School, Belden
Noah Douglas, Male, Tupelo Christian High School, Tupelo

North Carolina

Abigale Verchick, Female, Union Pines High School, Pinehurst
Parker Lee, Male, Fuquay-Varina Senior High School, Fuquay Varina

South Carolina

Lisa Pieterse, Female, Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach
Stokes Brownlee, Male, Dorchester Academy, Saint George

Tennessee

Claudia Smith, Female, Central Magnet School, Murfreesboro
Gabriel Bennett, Male, Elizabethton High School, Elizabethton

Virginia

Anne Grumbine, Female, James River High School, Fincastle
Benjamin Taminger, Male, Manchester High School, Midlothian

Each State Winner will receive a silver medal, Heisman patch, and a $50 Wendy's gift card, and will move on to compete against winners from other regions across the country for a chance to be named a National Finalist. Wendy's will send 12 National Finalists and their families to New York City for the Wendy's High School Heisman Program and Collegiate Heisman Memorial Trophy Weekend. One male and one female will be named as National Winners and will each receive a crystal Wendy's High School Heisman trophy, a $500 Wendy's gift card and a donation from Wendy's to their high school in the amount of $10,000. Additionally, the National Winners will be recognized during the collegiate Heisman Trophy announcement in December 2014.

For more information about the Wendy's High School Heisman 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 Program recognizes outstanding high school seniors nationwide who excel in athletics, academics and community leadership. 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: For a list of your State Winners' achievements or to find out more about the program, please call Jenn Bins at 404.879.9062.

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SOURCE The Wendy's Company