Wendy's High School Heisman Recognizes Southeast Region Seniors For Never Cutting Corners

2016 National Program State Winners Receive College Scholarship, Advance in Competition

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Oct 20, 2016, 10:58 ET

DUBLIN, Ohio, Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Wendy's^® High School Heisman^®continues to honor high school seniors who never settle, dig deeper and reach higher by announcing the male and female State Winners from the Southeast region. Competing against hundreds of other student athletes from across their region, these seniors embodied the Wendy's High School Heisman values, qualifying them to advance to the next level of National Finalist and compete for the title of National Winners.

The Wendy's High School Heisman announces the 2016 State Winners. For the first time, State Winners will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. Competing against hundreds of other student athletes from across the United States, these seniors embody the Wendy's High School Heisman values, qualifying them to compete for the next level of National Finalists and stay in the running for the title of National Winners and a $10,000 college scholarship. Visit www.WendysHeisman.com to learn more about the program and view competition results.

For the first time in Heisman history, State Winners will receive a $1,000 college scholarship if they don't advance to the National Finalist round, in addition to receiving a silver medal, Wendy's High School Heisman State Winner patch, and a $50 Wendy's gift card.

"As a former Heisman winner, I know the level of dedication and work that these students have to put into their high school careers to get to this stage of the program," said Eddie George, Wendy's High School Heisman ambassador and Heisman Trophy Winner. "For over twenty years Wendy's has helped recognize these students' efforts in their pursuit of athletic and academic excellence and it's exciting for me to be a part of that tradition."

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

Alabama

Brady Stults, Basketball, Hamilton High School, Hamilton
Michael Hayes, Baseball, Piedmont High School, Piedmont

Arkansas

Kylie Cowan, Softball, Foreman High School, Foreman
Aaron Ngo, Basketball, Abundant Life School, Sherwood

Florida

Maura Poling, Cross Country, Lely High School, Marco Island
Daniel Orcutt, Swimming, Fort Walton Beach High School, Fort Walton Beach

Georgia

Madison McPherson, Softball, Marion County Middle/High School, Plains
Christopher Kalafut, Football, Harrison High School, Acworth

Kentucky

Emmie Harris, Basketball, Boyle County High School, Danville
Ka'Tyvin Anthony, Football, Hopkinsville High School, Hopkinsville

Louisiana

Michaela Matherne, Cross Country, Assumption High School, Pierre Part
Samuel Philley, Football, Oak Grove High School, Oak Grove

Mississippi

Bridget McMillan, Volleyball, Long Beach Senior High School, Long Beach
Tucker Boykin, Baseball, Taylorsville Attendance Center, Taylorsville

North Carolina

Mya Minter, Basketball, Lee County High School, Sanford
Sage Surratt, Football, Lincolnton High School, Lincolnton

South Carolina

Frelicia Tucker, Track & Field, Aiken High School, Aiken
Devin Srivastava, Cross Country, Spartanburg Day School, Spartanburg

Tennessee

Ireland Burch, Volleyball, Sequatchie County High School, Dunlap
William Drake, Cross Country, Maryville High School, Maryville

Virginia

Kayle Kirby, Spirit/Cheerleading, Battlefield High School, Haymarket
Daniel Mitchell, Track & Field, Chantilly High School, Chantilly

Since 1994, Wendy's has been firmly committed to recognizing young men and women who believe that good enough is never really good enough. Through the Wendy's High School Heisman program, Wendy's and the Heisman Trophy Trust have honored more than 600,000 of the nation's most esteemed students, profiling their stories of perseverance to inspire the senior class of tomorrow.

The ten National Finalist, five senior males and five senior females, will be announced on November 7. National Finalists receive an invitation to the Wendy's High School Heisman Weekend, including the National Awards Banquet in New York City, a gold medal, and a Wendy's High School Heisman National Finalist Heisman patch. The eight National Finalists who do not go on to become a National Winner will receive a $100 Wendy's gift card and a $5,000 college scholarship. The two National Winners, who will receive a Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy, a National Winner patch, a $500 Wendy's gift card and a $10,000 college scholarship, will be announced on December 9 and recognized during ESPN's national telecast of the college Heisman Memorial Trophy presentation.

For more information, about Wendy's High School Heisman, visit www.wendysheisman.com.

About Wendy's High School Heisman

Wendy's High School Heisman was created by Wendy's founder Dave Thomas in 1994. Dave Thomas dropped out of high school when he was 15 years old in order to work full-time and went on to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in history. While this nontraditional path led to his prosperity, it always worried Dave that others would follow in his footsteps and expect to achieve similar fame and wealth by not finishing high school or attending college.

Faced with this dilemma, at 61 years old, Dave enrolled at Coconut Creek High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and received his General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Inspired by this moment and with a desire to celebrate the outstanding achievements of youth in America, he launched the Wendy's High School Heisman program.

Twenty-two years later, Wendy's High School Heisman has honored more than 600,000 of the nation's most esteemed high school seniors who share Wendy's values of giving back to their communities, treating people with respect, continuing education and excelling on the athletic field.

Wendy's High School Heisman is a joint program between Wendy's and the Heisman Trophy Trust, host and custodians of the Heisman Memorial Trophy^®.

About Wendy's
The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ: WEN) is the world's third largest quick-service hamburger restaurant chain. The Wendy's system includes more than 6,500 restaurants in 29 countries and U.S. territories. For more information, visit www.wendys.com.

The Wendy's name and design and the Wendy's High School Heisman and design are trademarks of Quality Is Our Recipe, LLC. The Heisman Memorial Trophy, Heisman name and Heisman Trophy figure are registered trademarks of the Heisman Trophy Trust, used with permission.

Contact
Steven Coulombe
Ketchum Public Relations
(404) 879 - 9292
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430904

SOURCE The Wendy's Company