For years, Nolan Henry has dedicated himself to the service of others.
Whether through a food drive or a trip to Africa, Henry is all about giving to those in need.
This week, a national audience will say thank you to Henry, a senior from Union High School.
Henry is a finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman, an award program that recognizes “outstanding high school seniors who excel in athletics, academics, and community leadership.”
Henry, the three-year starting quarterback for the Titans, traveled to New York City on Thursday for the Friday night’s ceremony. He and the other finalists will also be at Saturday’s ceremony for college football’s Heisman Trophy presentation.
Henry was named a national finalist last month. Since then, it has been a whirlwind of activity, with film crews from Wendy’s and ESPN visiting him, his family, his school.
“It’s been pretty crazy, for sure,” Henry said. “It’s been pretty cool. At first, it was overwhelming, because I wasn’t used to it.”
It is strange, he said, because he is used to doing things for others.
“I’m not one to look for recognition,” he said.
His actions, though, practically demanded it.
Henry and his father Darin began the Clark County Youth Football food drive when Nolan was a sixth-grader. By the time Nolan was an eighth-grader, he took over the food drive on his own.
Last winter, Henry raised more than $21,000 to organize a trip to Liberia for a couple of projects — one to help a farm and the other to build a sports court at a school.
Henry insists that while he might have organized a lot of these endeavors, it has been the community that has made it all possible. In fact, if he wins the High School Heisman, he knows what he wants to say.
“My parents reminded me about a week ago,” Henry said about the possibility of giving a speech. “I just want to thank all the people who have done so much for me. Every person in the community has helped me become the person I am today.”
Of all the things he has done, he said he is most proud of inspiring others, particularly with the food drive. He called it untapped potential, working with the CCYF to give to the Clark County Food Bank. It has grown every year. Every team, the team moms, they all get involved in the project, Henry said.
Next year, when Henry will be in college, Henry’s younger brother Dylan and his friend Keith Lobis, both freshmen at Union, will take over the food drive.
Darin and Monica Henry, along with Nolan and Dylan, traveled to New York on Thursday, where they were expected to check in to the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. On Friday, the plan was a tour of the city before the ceremony at the Best Buy Theater.
On Saturday, another tour and then they will be guests at the Heisman Trophy presentation. The high school Heisman winners also will be shown on the ESPN broadcast Saturday.
There are six boys and six girls finalists for the high school Heisman. Each of them receive a gold medal and $2,000 is awarded to his or her school. The winners will also earn a Wendy’s High School Heisman Trophy, a $500 gift card to Wendy’s restaurants, and an additional $8,000 will be donated to each winner’s school.
Friday’s ceremony for the high school Heisman can be seen on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. Sunday.
