Are You Heisman Material?

TJ athletes are given a golden opportunity.
   

By Phillip Karlberg

    For any senior students who excel in academics and athletics, the Heisman Memorial Trophy Committee and Wendy’s has created a contest in which students are judged on academics, athletics and community involvement for the opportunity to win Wendy’s gift cards, $10,000 for their school, and a trip to New York City.
    Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria (all seniors with at least a “B” grade point average who play school sports), can register online at Wendy’s Heisman website at Wendysheisman.com. Applicants must complete the forms and have them reviewed by Athletic Director Lani Nobles by October 1, 2007. 
    The first 36,000 students to apply will automatically receive Wendy’s gift cards ranging from $5-$50, a significant amount for a high school student.  In October, two winners, one male and one female, will be announced for every school entered in the competition.  From the winners, 20 finalists will be selected from each state.  State finalists will receive a bronze medal, a letter, and a patch.  Two of the state finalists will be chosen as the state winners, and will each receive a silver medal.  Twelve of the state winners will become national finalists, who will receive a gold medal, an invitation to the High School Heisman National Award Banquet in New York City, and will receive $2,000 for their school.  From among the national finalists, the judges will select two national winners who will receive $10,000 for their high school.
    The High School Heisman award promises athletic and academic honor for whomever wins.  Nobles hopes that as many TJ student as possible will apply.  “I would like to encourage any of our deserving student athletes to apply not only to represent themselves, but also TJ,” she said.  If any students from TJ win the $2,000 or $10,000 prize, Nobles hopes to use the money in a way that benefits the entire athletic department.  New bleachers for the football field would be a strong possibility. 
Nobles, who thinks that TJ has as good of a shot as anyone at winning this competition, said  “This is an exceptional year for our student athletes.”  For successful students who want to show what they are made of and stand out among the crowd, this competition could be their ticket to fame.