Lemont's Taylor Campos Named Wendy's High School Heisman National Finalist

Whether in the classroom, on the cross country course or on the track, Lemont High School senior Taylor Campos has enjoyed a storied high school career. As it turns out, all of her hard work and success have been building to a tremendous honor. Campos not only has been selected as the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award female winner for Illinois, but she also is one of just 10 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award National Finalists.

Campos learned of her national finalist status Tuesday when a small contingent surprised her in class. That group included her family, district administrators, her coaches, and a representative from Wendy’s.

Campos is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Lemont High School history. She has excelled as a distance runner on the school’s cross country and track and field squads, having represented the school in IHSA State Finals competition on four occasions. In the classroom, Campos has accumulated a GPA of better than 4.50 while taking the most rigorous classes the school offers. She is one of only two students in school history to achieve a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, and is a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

The Wendy’s High School Heisman Award program recognizes outstanding students across the country for their athletic prowess, academic achievement and leadership within their community. Like The Heisman Memorial Trophy, Wendy’s believes in the pursuit of athletic and academic excellence with integrity. Additionally, Wendy’s High School Heisman is committed to inspire high school students to achieve personal bests and pursue their higher educational goals.

The 10 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award National Finalists include five males and five females; all honorees will be notified of their status by the end of the week. Wendy’s will send the National Finalists and their families to New York City for Wendy’s High School Heisman and Collegiate Heisman Memorial Trophy Weekend in December. On December 11, one male and one female will be named Wendy’s High School Heisman Award national winners, and will receive a crystal Wendy’s High School Heisman Trophy, a $500 Wendy’s gift card and a $5000 donation from Wendy’s to their high school. National winners also will be recognized during the collegiate Heisman Trophy announcement.

The national finalists were selected from the 102 state winners from across the country – one male and one female from each state and the District of Columbia. As a national finalist, Campos will be presented with a gold medal, a $100 Wendy’s gift card, and a $2,000 donation to Lemont High School on behalf of Wendy’s. She will receive these awards during the collegiate Heisman weekend festivities from Archie Griffin, the outstanding Ohio State running back who is the only athlete ever to win two collegiate Heisman Trophies.

Students, staff and the Lemont community can support Campos by checking out her profile online at www.wendysheisman.com. The Wendy’s High School Heisman Award television special will air on ESPN2 on Sunday, December 13.

Oswego High School soccer player Luke Moran was named the male recipient of the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award for Illinois.

ABOUT TAYLOR CAMPOS

• Last spring, Campos learned that she had joined a very select club, as she became just the second Lemont High School student ever to record a perfect 36 on the ACT. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students across the world who take the ACT earn the top score.

• Campos is a three-time IHSA Cross Country state qualifier. In 2014, she earned all-state honors after posting a school record time and earning a 23rd-place finish at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals. She helped her team to a fourth-place finish at the event, which is the best placement in school history. She also qualified as an individual as a sophomore in 2013, and helped her team to an eighth-place finish at this year’s state finals.

• Campos made her IHSA Track and Field State Finals debut last spring when she competed in the 3200 meter run at the IHSA Class 3A State Finals. She earned her state finals berth by finishing fourth in sectional competition with a school- record effort.

• Campos recently was named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, thanks to her performance on the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. As a National Merit Semifinalist, she is in the running for some of the $32 million of National Merit Scholarships that will be offered in Spring 2016.

• Campos took four Advanced Placement classes as a junior, and qualified for AP Scholar with Honor designation for her effort on those exams. Her schedule this year includes five more classes at the AP level or greater.

• Campos has been inducted into the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and the Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society. She has participated in state finals competition for both the Future Business Leaders of America and Worldwide Youth in Science & Engineering teams, and has even earned national medalist honors through the National Spanish Examinations program.

• Campos has demonstrated leadership abilities by serving as a class officer and as a member of the Student Council, and also is one of just eight area students to serve on Illinois State Representative Jim Durkin’s Youth Council. She has served as the Public Relations Chair for the school’s Interact Club, dedicates dozens of hours annually to various community service activities, and is a tutor for the school’s Special Education/STEM program.

• Campos plans on running cross country and track and field at the collegiate level. Her top choices include the University of Chicago, Northwestern University and Loyola University Chicago.