Every year certain students are rewarded for making contributions to the school or for just being a good person. But there are not enough awards for every student and for the past three and a half years this senior has been one of those people. Trinity’s Matt Brennan has never been much for words, so when he was asked to complete an application for the Unsung Hero Award by counselor Mrs. Sharon Bohannon, he was surprised. "I don’t really go around telling everyone about what I do," Brennan said. "I want people to like me for me, not for what I’ve done."

Eight metro Louisville Rotary Clubs recognized Brennan as a recipient of the award. "This award is based on the Rotary principles that guide its members toward service to the community and pursuit of excellence in their individual interests," said Craig Scherman, chairman of the Unsung Hero Program. "Rotarians call this ‘service above self.’" Over the past 10 years, the awards ceremony has brought a total number of 441 students. Brennan was one of 44 high school students around the state to receive the award this year. Brennan had many reasons to receive the award, one of which was his volunteer work. "I was an Eagle Scout and I had done an immense project where I cleared over an acre and a half of foreign vegetation from an area of the Louisville Nature Center," Brennan said. The project included over 20 people who completed a total of 100 hours of volunteering.

It doesn’t end there. Brennan said, "Also I volunteer at the Louisville Zoo. I’ve been doing that for four years. I have almost 350 hours there."

There he has worked with the giraffes, feeding them and cleaning the area. Along with all this he has continued to receive good grades.

Brennan, along with his parents, grandfather and Trinity counselor Fr. Dave Zettel enjoyed a buffet at the Galt House. At the banquet, more than 500 community leaders were in attendance. All Unsung Heroes received a $500 savings bond and a certificate of achievement. If pursuing a college education in Jefferson County, Brennan is eligible to apply for Rotary Scholarships, which range from $1,000 to $16,000.