PORTSMOUTH — A Rock Hill Senior High School student has been named as a state finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award.

Seth Miller was named for the honor after being first selected as a school winner, two of which were named from area schools.

From the pool of school winners, state finalists are selected, before being narrowed down to two winners from each state. The 12 national finalists will travel to New York City on an all-expense paid trip, where two national winners will be named.

The Wendy’s High School Heisman Award was created in 1994 by Dave Thomas, the founder of the fast food chain. It is a joint program between Wendy’s and the Heisman Trophy Trust. Students selected are based on their athletic and academic achievements.

The Schmidt Family Restaurant Group, which operates 14 Wendy’s locations in Southern Ohio and West Virginia, extended their congratulations to the school winners before they moved on to the next stage of the program. The students were honored with a banquet at Buffalo Wild Wings, also operated by the group, on Wednesday. A plaque with the winners’ names will be placed in Wendy’s restaurants.

Rock Hill principal Dave Hopper said he had just learned of Miller’s honor, but he was not surprised.

“He’s a top-notch kid all around,” he said. “You couldn’t find a better person for the award.”