Whitewater High School’s Jonathon Ashley and Kelley Bowers have been honored with a nomination for the prestigious Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. The program, awarded in conjunction with the collegiate Heisman, celebrates the achievements of the nation’s top high school seniors both in and out of the classroom.

Assistant Principal, Mike Vena nominated these two promising leaders for their academic aptitude, athletic talent and exceptional commitment to their school and communities.
“At Whitewater High School, we prepare our students for success by encouraging them to develop in all areas of their lives. Wendy’s High School Heisman is the ultimate award we can bestow on our students for their achievements throughout high school,” said Mike Vena.

Bowers and Ashley were nominated for this award based on the following accomplishments:

Ashley has a 4.0 GPA, is on the High Honor Roll and is a Governor’s Honors Nominee. He received the United States Achievement Academy Award and attended the United States Air Force Academy Summer Seminar. Ashley is a four-year letterman in football, two-year letterman in baseball, and made first team All-County in football, second team All-Area in Football and second team All-County in football. He has been a Student Athlete of the Week and has participated in Relay for Life. He is a WHS Baseball Secret Santa, a Math Team member, and has been a Beta Club member for two years. He is Vice-President of Beta Club, team captain of the varsity baseball team, team captain of varsity football team, and a class officer all four years.

Bowers has a 4.0 GPA and is a member of Spanish Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta Club, National Honors Society, Advanced mixed chorus and Inspirations Showcase Choir performing for nursing homes and orphanages. She is a varsity competition cheerleader, a member of the varsity all-star UCA National Team, the varsity tennis team, and is a mentor for high school and elementary students. She volunteers for an Atlanta soup kitchen, orphan shelters, Piedmont-Fayette Hospital, the hospital speech therapy department, church Christmas present drives, and at nursing homes including singing to residents.

“These students are the future community leaders,” said Archie Griffin, the only two-time winner of the prestigious Heisman Memorial Trophy and Wendy’s High School Heisman program spokesperson. “It gives me great pride to see young people strive for excellence on and off the field.”

For more information or to track a student’s progress in the competition, please log on to www.wendysheisman.com or call 1-800-205-6367. All nominees will be posted on the Wendy’s High School Heisman Web site in early October of this year.

Other local nominees include Christian Hunnicutt and Henry Moody from Landmark Christian School, Lauren Hohenberger from Our Lady of Mercy high School, Derrick Pugh and Jenna Jackson from Sandy Creek High School, Michael Mateos and Emily Borsare from McIntosh High School, Lauren Marchman and Robby Davis from Starr’s Mill High School and Joshua Rape and Lindsey Gunter from Fayette County High School. If you have any pictures and information on these nominees, e-mail them to sports@thecitizen.com.

Created in 1994, the Wendy’s High School Heisman program, has been celebrating youth excellence for 13 years. The program consists of five phases – Nomination, State Finalists, State Winners, National Finalists and National Winners. Entries are initially evaluated by ACT Assessment during the State Finalist and State Winner phases and then passed on to a distinguished panel of judges.

Twelve National Finalists are invited to participate in the Heisman weekend festivities during an all-expense paid trip to New York City on Dec. 8 – 10. ESPN2 will feature all 12 National Finalists during the Wendy’s High School Heisman Awards Ceremony that airs on Dec. 10.

Founded in November 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, Wendy’s International, Inc. is one of the world’s largest restaurant operating and franchising companies with three quality brands – Wendy’s, Tim Hortons, and Baja Fresh. There are more than 6,600 Wendy’s restaurants in the U.S., Canada and international markets.

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