And the Honor Belongs to…Wendy's Heisman Announces National Winners

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The most prestigious award in high school athletics has named Frelicia Tucker, a track and field runner from South Carolina, and Daniel Orcutt, a swimmer from Florida, as National Winners of Wendy's® High School Heisman® Scholarship.  The announcement came this evening at the Wendy's High School Heisman Awards Ceremony in New York City. Chosen from high school seniors at more than 30,000 schools around the country, Frelicia and Daniel will take home a $10,000 college scholarship.

"Frelicia and Daniel are very deserving of Wendy's High School Heisman" said Eddie George, Wendy's Heisman ambassador and Heisman Trophy winner. "It takes a very unique and hard-working individual to excel in academics, athletics and still have time to give back to his or her community. These student-athletes do that every day of their lives and I am proud to welcome them into the Heisman family."

Through their passion, perseverance and commitment to their community, Frelicia and Daniel live the Heisman ideals. They go to great lengths, whether on the track, in the pool, or at home with their families, to be nothing but the best. Wendy's is excited to celebrate Frelicia and Daniel as the 2016 National Winners through its continued commitment to recognizing young men and women who believe that good is never really enough.

Frelicia Tucker, Aiken High School
Hometown: Aiken, South Carolina

Motivated by the memory of her father and her mother's support, Frelicia goes the extra mile to get past any hurdle in her way. She has set three school records in track and field, became a state champion in the 400-meter hurdle and earned letters in tennis and cheerleading. In the classroom, Frelicia is part of the top 1% and will graduate next spring as the valedictorian of her class. While she's not studying or practicing sports, Frelicia volunteers her time to inspire other and champion causes she believes in. She is the President of the state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Chapter and recently delivered a speech on education equity to an audience which included Democratic presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Daniel Orcutt, Fort Walton Beach High School
Hometown: Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Inspired by those who serve others, Daniel is happy to give his all for the greater good. A true team player, Daniel selflessly supported his school's swim team in Nationals and helped earn them a higher finish instead of focusing on his goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials. He emerged from this experience with an even stronger belief that doing the right thing far outweighs the importance of individual athletic accomplishments. Giving back to the community is also a priority for Daniel, he has volunteered more than 400 hours as an Eagle Scout, a volunteer swim coach and as an active member of the Military Deployed Family organization. But Daniel's proudest and most fulfilling role is that of brother and son, helping out with his younger siblings every day while his father has been deployed in the Middle East for two of the past four years.

"Dave Thomas established the Wendy's Heisman to celebrate the good in our country's high school students," said Liliana Esposito, Wendy's Chief Communications Officer. "Just like Wendy's, Frelicia and Daniel never cut corners. They put an unbelievable amount of effort into everything they do and make the world a better place. Wendy's is proud to help these students continue to follow their dreams."

In addition to a $10,000 college scholarship, Frelicia and Daniel will each receive a Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy, a National Winner patch, a $500 Wendy's gift card, and be recognized during the ESPN® national telecast of the collegiate Heisman Memorial Trophy presentation on December 10.

Wendy's and the Heisman Trophy Trust have honored more than 600,000 of the nation's most esteemed student-athletes since the two partnered in 1994. Year after year, they celebrate those students who exemplify the common set of values they share, wherein going above and beyond is the norm. Wendy's Heisman aims to profile the stories of these outstanding students as a way to inspire the tomorrow's senior class. Overall, one hundred students will receive a total of $150,000 in scholarships, with National Finalist each receiving $5,000 and the National Winners receiving $10,000.

The other eight Wendy's High School Heisman National Finalists are:

For more information about the 2016 Wendy's High School Heisman and the National Winners and National Finalist, as well as to view photos, please 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
Steven.Coulombe@ketchum.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161209/447754 

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SOURCE The Wendy's Company