By Staff
Niles High School's Matt Richardson and Kate Whittaker have been nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award. Awarded in conjunction with the collegiate Heisman recognition, this award honors the nation's top high school seniors who best exemplify a supreme "cititzen-scholar-athlete."
Richardson, an offensive and defensive lineman on Niles' football team, and Whittaker, a forward on the Vikings' basketball team, were nominated by athletics director John Danaher for their academic aptitude, athletic talent and tremendous display of commitment to their communities.
Celebrating more than 10 years of commitment to youth and education, this program was created through a partnership between Wendy's, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Heisman Memorial Trophy in 1994.
The Wendy's High School Heisman Program is comprised 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 for an all-expense paid trip to New York City on Dec. 10-12 to participate in the Heisman weekend festivities. ESPN2 will feature all 12 national finalists during the awards ceremony that will air on Dec. 12.