Dawson County High School seniors Kane Pelfrey and Marley Hamby were recently named school winners in the Wendy’s High School Heisman program. 

“The Wendy’s High School Heisman Award is an award to recognize high school students for excellence in the classroom, on the field and within the school and community,” said Dawson County High School counselor Cherie Ferguson. “Marley Hamby and Kane Pelfrey are leaders in our school, in the community and are role models for the underclassman. Dawson County High School is proud of these two individuals for what they have accomplished in the past four years.”

Pelfrey has played basketball of four years and tennis for two. He is involved in community service through Dawson County basketball. 

He works in leadership and community service roles with his youth group and annual church fundraising events at Bethel United Methodist Church. 

He currently holds a 3.9 grade point average.

“It is pretty cool because I had no clue,” Pelfrey said. “I think it’s pretty cool I got selected to win that.”

Hamby has participated in cross country, track and soccer. 

As a part of the girls’ cross country team, she is a three-time region champ. She also has individual region championships in track in the 1600 meter and 3200m races.

She coaches track through Dawson County Parks program and her volunteer work includes efforts at the Marcus Autism Center, Emory University Hospital, Operation Christmas Child and Meals by Grace. She attends Bethel Baptist Church.

Hamby has also been a national winner in writing and design for her work on the DCHS yearbook.

She also won the Hugh O‘Brian Youth Leadership Award as a sophomore and carries a 4.39 GPA. She received the Georgia Certificate of Merit for her SAT score of 1510. 

“I got to see the recommendation that they actually sent in for me,” Hamby said. “I know that I am really involved in my school but to see that it really makes a difference to somebody is really neat. I really appreciated the fact that when they asked who somebody outstanding in your school that really makes a difference, that they automatically thought of me.”

Since 1994, Wendy’s and the Heisman Trophy have been honoring some of the nation’s brightest and best students. School winners will receive a certificate and a Wendy’s High School Heisman patch. 

The high school Heisman was created by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas in 1994. Thomas dropped out of high school at the age of 15 to work full-time. He would eventually become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in history. 

At 61, Thomas received his general equivalency diploma (GED) from Coconut Creek High School in Florida. 

After 22 years, the Wendy’s High School Heisman has honored more than 600,000 of the nations most esteemed high school seniors who share Wendy’s values of giving back to their communities, treating others with respect and continuing their education while excelling in athletics.