By Mark Carpenter –

Each year a special group of high school seniors from all over the United States are honored with the Wendy’s High School Heisman, an award established in 1994 by Dave Thomas, founder of the Wendy’s  franchise.  To be eligible for the Wendy’s Heisman, seniors in the class of 2017 have to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and participate in at least one of the 43 sports recognized by the National Federation of State High School Associations.  Students must also be leaders in their school and community and serve as role models for underclassmen.

This year’s Wendy’s Heisman award list includes 10 representatives from all five high schools in Adams County, students who have set the bar locally and have been honored accordingly.  They are: Caitlin Young and Patrick England from North Adams High School, Aubrey McFarland and Logan Gordley from Peebles High School, Nicholas Huron and Miranda Schiltz from Manchester High School, Janson Kramer and Kendall Gallowitz from West Union High School, and Mariah Patton and Jacob Wickerham from the Adams County Christian School.
A joint statement from the administrators of the county schools said, “These students are known by their teachers and friends for their commitment to excellence.  We are excited and honored that a program like the Wendy’s High School Heisman is also recognizing their hard work.”
Thomas, who passed away in 2002, was a success story himself, a man who dropped out of high school at the age of 15 to work full-time, then received his GED at the age of 61.  After his own educational trek, Thomas wanted to celebrate the outstanding work of high school students, thus leading to the creation of the Wendy’s High School Heisman program.
In the past 22 years, more than 600,000 high school students have been honored, those who share the Wendy’s franchise values of giving back to the community, treating others with respect, continuing their education, and excelling on the fields of athletics.
The honorees from Adams County were recognized in ceremonies held in Huntington, West Virginia.