DUBLIN, OH ? Out of 45,000 applicants, 12 exceptional high school seniors have been chosen as national finalists for the 19th annual Wendy?s? High School Heisman? Award. On December 7, Wendy?s will honor these students at the Wendy?s High School Heisman Awards ceremony at the Best Buy Theater in New York City, where one male and one female student-athlete will be chosen as the national winners of the prestigious award.The Wendy?s High School Heisman celebrates the achievements of the nation?s top high school seniors both in and out of the classroom. Just as the collegiate Heisman is known for being the highest award in college football, the Wendy?s High School Heisman award is recognized as the most esteemed award in high school athletics because it encourages future leadership by acknowledging well-rounded students.?Wendy?s High School Heisman rewards outstanding students that not only outperform their competition in sports but strive for the highest standards of excellence in all that they do,? said Archie Griffin, two-time collegiate Heisman Memorial Trophy winner. ?These 12 young men and women are a direct reflection of what the program represents, and we congratulate them on being national finalists.?The 12 national finalists are listed below:Female FinalistsStudent Name?Student High School?Hometown?Tessa BrooksTriway High SchoolWooster, OHMargaret Midkiff ? ? ??Mount De Sales Academy ? ??Macon, GAKaitlyn KentSouth Iredell High SchoolStatesville, NCZoe AlanizW.B. Ray High SchoolCorpus Christi, TXAvalon Frantz?Boulder City High SchoolBoulder City, NVCasey PearsallWilton High SchoolWilton, CTMale FinalistsStudent Name?Student High School?Hometown?Trent HosickStaley High SchoolKansas City, MOSamuel PrakelVersailles High SchoolVersailles, OHTyler HoffmanFarmington High SchoolFarmington, CTJack Twomey-KozakOrange High School?Hillsborough, NCTyler MeidellDamonte Ranch High SchoolReno, NVDaniel JohnsonRidgeland High SchoolRossville, GAThe national finalists will be featured during the televised ceremony on ESPN2? on December 16 and will receive gold medals and $2,000 awards for their high schools. One male and one female national winner will receive a Wendy?s High School Heisman Trophy and a $10,000 donation from Wendy?s to each winner?s respective high school. Additionally, the winners will be recognized during the collegiate Heisman Trophy broadcast on ESPN?, December 8. About the Wendy?s High School Heisman ProgramCreated in 1994 by Wendy?s and the Heisman Memorial Trust, the Wendy?s High School Heisman Award 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 CompanyThe 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 U.S. and 27 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. For more information visit www.wendys.com, or www.aboutwendys.com.Media Contact:Christyne Muller,?Ketchum Public Relations [email protected]: To download bios, photos and videos of the 12 national finalists, please visit http://www.multivu.com/players/English/57930-wendys-high-school-heisman-award/. # # #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, Inc. The Heisman Memorial Trophy, Heisman name and Heisman Trophy figure are registered trademarks of the Heisman Trophy Trust, used with permission.