As the competition narrows for the 2012 Wendy's® High School Heisman® Award program, 20 of Arizona's top scholar-athletes were announced today as State Finalists for the prestigious award. These finalists are now in the running to become State Winners, the next phase of the program as applicants advance to become National Winners.
Of the 45,000 seniors who applied nationwide, 727 applicants came from Arizona and have been narrowed down to the state's 20 finalists. These finalists embody the Heisman spirit of hard work and dedication through their outstanding achievements in athletics, academics and community/school leadership.
Arizona's Wendy's High School Heisman State Finalists:
|
Student Name
|
Gender
|
Student High School
|
Hometown
|
|
Monica Huston
|
F
|
Cibola High School
|
Yuma
|
|
Taylor Hill
|
F
|
Joseph City High School
|
Joseph City
|
|
Justine Hodge
|
F
|
Cortez High School
|
Phoenix
|
|
Courtney Jackson
|
F
|
Higley High School
|
Queen Creek
|
|
Marissa Rich
|
F
|
Tempe Preparatory Academy
|
Tempe
|
|
Nneka Uchendu
|
F
|
Willow Canyon High School
|
Buckey
|
|
Bethanie Stephens
|
F
|
Mogollon High School
|
Heber
|
|
Rebecca Lydford
|
F
|
Mountain View High School
|
Mesa
|
|
Sarah Macdonald
|
F
|
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy
|
Tucson
|
|
Cristina Oropeza
|
F
|
Nogales High School
|
Nogales
|
|
Afton Ballard
|
M
|
Fredonia High School
|
Fredonia
|
|
Rand Hawk
|
M
|
Campo Verde High School
|
Gilbert
|
|
Dallin Merrell
|
M
|
Snowflake High School
|
Snowflake
|
|
Wayne Newman
|
M
|
San Manuel High School
|
San Manuel
|
|
Weston Birtcher
|
M
|
Mountain View High School
|
Mesa
|
|
Matti Groll
|
M
|
Desert Mountain High School
|
Scottsdale
|
|
Brett Ray
|
M
|
Westwood High School
|
Mesa
|
|
Connor Holbert
|
M
|
Greenway High School
|
Glendale
|
|
Forest Redlin
|
M
|
Tempe Preparatory Academy
|
Tempe
|
|
Marcel Renteria
|
M
|
Nogales High School
|
Rio Rico
|
Just as the collegiate Heisman is known for being the highest award in college football, the Wendy's High School Heisman, now in its 19h year, is one of the most esteemed awards at the high school level.
On November 5, 2012, one male and one female finalist from each state will be named State Winners. Of those State Winners, 12 will be chosen as National Finalists and will go on to compete for the National Winner title in New York City on December 7. National Finalists will be featured during a televised ceremony on ESPN® networks and will receive gold medals and $2,000 awards for their high schools. One male and one female National Winner will receive a crystal Wendy's High School Heisman trophy, a $500 gift certificate to Wendy's, and Wendy's will donate $10,000 to each winner's respective high school. Additionally, the winners will be recognized during the collegiate Heisman Trophy broadcast on ESPN, December 8.
